Now that summer is here, so are a whole host of summer activities. These include boating, swimming, and fireworks. However, despite their fun, these activities often have inherent risks which should be mitigated to as great of a degree as possible.

One popular summer activity is boating. Boating carries a whole host of dangers with it; however, many of these dangers can be eliminated or reduced through simple steps. One such step is to be sure that each person on the boat has a suitable life jacket. Another easy way to mollify the risks of boating is to just avoid the activity if the weather is not suitable. For example, if the wind is too strong or the water is too choppy, then boating should not be done. Alcohol should also be avoided when boating.

Similar to boating, another summer activity is swimming. Possibly the greatest danger inherent to swimming is drowning. Although it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk, it can be avoided by knowing where safety equipment is, swimming with friends, and not diving in to shallow water. It’s also important to know that it’s possible to drown in water that has a depth of just inches, and so you can never be careful.

Shooting off fireworks is a common summer activity that can be very dangerous if not done in a careful manner. They can cause a huge amount of damage and injury; in 2011, fireworks caused an estimated 17,800 reported fires and in 2012, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,700 people for fireworks related injuries. To help avoid catastrophe when using fireworks, there are many easy steps to be taken. One is to simply use fireworks only outside. Another is to not hold lit fireworks. Although it seems like common sense, fireworks should not be shot towards other people. Once lit, people should also take several steps back from fireworks. Buckets of water should also be kept on hand in the case of duds.

Summer is a time for fun. However, this fun can quickly become disastrous if the proper precautions are not taken, so remember to be careful and aware this summer.