During the summer, more outdoor activities occur and danger abounds. A casual swim in the lake or an accidental fall into a family pool can be fatal for small children and adults. We don’t mean to ruin your summer fun, but we do have a few tips to keep you and your family safe through the summer.

Put a gate on it.

We have read an unfortunate amount of tragic stories about drownings because a toddler wondered away for a moment and fell into a pool. In situations like that, moments can mean life or death. Putting a gate around your pool will give you some peace of mind as well as allow for children to know that the pool is unsafe for them to visit alone.

Supervise children closely near bodies of water.

A child can drown in even just a few inches of water, so it’s important that an adult is around at all times to be able to retrieve a child from the water in case of emergency. Community pools and some beaches have life guards on duty, but it’s easy for a drowning child to go unnoticed in a group setting.

Enforce speed/safety near the pool.

In addition to maintaining supervision of young children at the pool, enforcing strict rules is also vital. Children should not be allowed to run or rough house near a pool because hard surfaces make it easy for an injury or fall near the pool. Set rules early so children know the importance of pool safety.

Learn CPR

Perhaps the most important safety lesson you can have this summer is learning how to perform CPR properly. We read a news article recently about a mother who saved a stranger’s toddler in a community pool because she was the only one of the adults there who knew CPR. In fact, some of the adults were sticking their fingers down the child’s throat in hopes to get the water out. The woman, Jennifer Richardson of Boca Raton, FL, got to the child in time and began chest compressions immediately. Fortunately, the water came pouring out after chest compressions commenced and the girl made a full recovery.

CPR, when done correctly (or at all) can truly mean the difference between life and death. So, learn how to do CPR, and urge others to do the same. You never know when you’ll need to save a life.

If it hadn’t been for Army 2nd Lt. Jason Ausman’s serendipitous and swift timing, Dick Talley might not be alive today. After suffering cardiac arrest right after doing a few laps in a go-cart at Autobahn Indoor Speedway in Jessup, Maryland, Talley became unconscious and unresponsive.

As it so happened, Ausman was just about to take a few spins in the go-cart as well and came out to the track just as Talley had become unconscious. Tally’s heart was stopped for 30 seconds before Ausman rushed over to give assistance.

Ausman, who spent eight years as a paramedic, paramedic instructor and flight medic with the Lee County EMS in Fort Myers, Fla., was able to perform life-saving CPR almost immediately after Talley fell to the ground.

Ausman later said, “They teach you that if a person is not conscious and not breathing normally to go ahead and start CPR.” Ausman also refused to let anyone else take over for him.

“I have seen lots of people do CPR,” Ausman went on to say. “I have also seen lots do poor CPR, and if there’s a chance for the victim to make it, you’ve got to keep up good perfusion.”

When the paramedics arrived, Ausman briefed them with what had happened and told them that he believed Talley was in cardiac arrest. Though the paramedics initially didn’t believe him, a cardiac monitor revealed that Talley suffered from ventricular fibrillation, which is a fatal form of cardiac arrest.

In fact, in most cases, a heart attack like that has a 2% survival rate. Due to the speed and effectiveness of Ausman’s CPR assistance, Talley was helped right away. And because the paramedics were 10 minutes away from the speedway, every moment was imperative for Talley’s survival.

After he recovered from the heart attack, Talley began trying to track down his speedway hero. After calling the Autobahn Indoor Speedway directly, he was finally able to track down his savior.

In a voicemail message to Ausman, Talley said, “The circumstances that allowed our paths to cross and your actions are as big as life itself. Just to say ‘thank you’ seems insignificant for what you did for me. Thank you for life itself!”

Without a doubt, it was the skill and fast thinking of Ausman who saved Talley’s life. Being prepared with life-saving skills like CPR can save the life of a loved one, or someone else’s loved one. Be prepared: learn CPR!

1. The Famous Baby on the Highway CPR

Photo cred: AP

When Pamela Rauseo’s infant nephew stopped breathing in the car, she knew she had to do something. Even though her most recent CPR certification happened seven years ago, she saved his life by performing CPR on the side of the road.

2. Boy Saves His Bother’s Life Hours After Passing a First Aid Class

Photo cred: Wales News Service

When James Reed finished his first aid training earlier in the day, he didn’t think he’d have to apply his knowledge so soon. But just a few hours after completing the course, he saved his choking brother using the skills he learned.

3. Woman Saved Fellow Diner in Portland

Photo Cred: Fox12

When a diner at a table next to her went into cardiac arrest, Lauren Hammond stepped in without hesitation. Having gone through an ordeal a few years prior wherein her young son suffered a seizure and a stranger ran to her aid, she knew this would be a good way to pay it forward.

4. A Student Learns Life-Saving Skills Over the Phone to Save His Dying Father

Photo Cred: James T. Mulder

Although David Hornstein didn’t know CPR when he found his dad having a cardiac arrest, he learned it quick enough to administer life-saving CPR to his dying father. A family friend and doctor was able to coach the 21 year old student while help arrived. Given that he was able to learn CPR so fast, we think he’ll do just fine with the rest of his studies!

5. Near Fatal Tug of War

Teachers were engaged in a tug of war at a school event dubbed “Crazy Sports Night” when fourth-grade teacher Lonnie Hughes collapsed. Lucky for the teacher, three fast-acting EMTs sprung into action to save him. Thanks to the incident, the local fire district will give CPR training courses to further equip citizens with CPR skills.

6. There Was a 95% Chance Her Husband Would Have Died Without CPR

When Elizabeth Schimpf’s husband slumped over the wheel of his car before he was to drive her to work, she thought he was joking. But the sudden cardiac arrest he was going into was no joke. In fact, most sudden cardiac arrest victims don’t make even make it to the hospital before expiring. Luckily, Schimpf had undergone CPR training numerous times in her career and she was able to save her husband of 18 years.

7. Father Pulls Son Out of the Pool and Performs Life-Saving CPR

A toddler was out of his parent’s sight for just a minute, but was found in the family pool with a faint pulse. Having recently renewed his CPR certification, the child’s father was able to respond quickly to save his toddler from permanent brain damage.

8. An 18 Year Old Saves Her Grandfather Who Suffered a Heart Attack the Day After His Birthday

Alex Davenport had just learned CPR thanks to a program at her high school when she had to use it for her grandfather who had just suffered a heart attack. She learned the “hands only” method of CPR, which uses minimal mouth-to-mouth, and focuses on strong and fast chest compressions to the beat of “Staying Alive.” And thanks to his granddaughter’s CPR training, he did just that!

9. Oregon Governor Performs Life-Saving CPR on Drug Overdose Victim

Photo Cred: Getty Images via CNN

Before he was the Governor of Oregon, Gov. John Kitzhaber was an ER doctor. His skills certainly came in handy when he jumped out of his car (bringing medical equipment with him) to save the life of a woman who was suffering from a heroin drug overdose. We’re sure his campaign is now off to a great start! 😉

10. Man Suffers Heart Attack While Driving and Tradesman Steps In

Photo Cred: Jim Schluter

Jason Mackintosh was driving to work when he saw an animal control vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. Jason through that maybe he was blocking the road for an animal, but when he got closer to the vehicle and tapped on the window, it became clear the man needed help. So, he pulled the man out of the vehicle and performed life-saving CPR!