June is Nat'l Safety Month and more

June Birth Flower: Rose ~ Symbol of Love & Beauty

June is National Safety Month! (We like that)
June 7 is National Cancer Survivor's Day
June 21 is Father's Day
June also happens to be Drive Safe month, Audio Book month, Vision Research month, Fresh Fruit & Vegetables month, and Dairy month to name a few.

Starting with National Safety Month, I'd like to mention a couple of personal safety products you might like to know about:

Electronic Key chain Pocket Whistle This 4" key chain emits a loud 120db whistle for as long as you push the button. Useful in sporting events, a locator in emergencies (earthquakes, collapsed buildings), referee whistle, dog handling and as a safety alarm for college students and crime prevention.

Do you know the difference between a TASER® & Stun Gun? The TASER® allows you to repel the attacker from up to 15 feet away; while a Stun Device requires direct contact using high voltage to stop an attacker. Touching a person with the prongs on the stun gun quickly immobilizes the attacker. Again, both devices are non-lethal but you must check your local laws because they are restricted or illegal in some states.

For the fishing enthusiast, June 6-14 is National Fishing and Boating Week.

From RBFF.org:

Free Fishing Days, offered by many states to coincide with National Fishing & Boating Week in June, are an ideal time to schedule an event that includes fishing and boating activities. In general, Free Fishing Days allow the public to fish without a license. This information may be helpful in planning dates for your fishing, boating and aquatic conservation event.
Free Fishing Days information for many states is available on TakeMeFishing.org.

Here are some safety tips from Ronnie Garrison at About.com for going fishing with kids:

"For safety’s sake, you’ve got to bring the right attitude Safety Comes First as well as the right stuff. Here’s the Safety-Comes-First checklist that (Hooked on Fishing International) HOFI has developed to guide the adult volunteers who supervise all those children (some as young as 5) in more than 1,800 fishing events held at the water’s edge."

§ Establish rules. No running. Keep your shoes on, and look around before you cast.

§ Set up a buddy system. The youngest anglers need an adult "buddy" and constant supervision.

§ Make sure each angler, swimmers and non-swimmers alike, wears a personal flotation device at all times -- on the boat, on the dock, or on the shore.

§ Bring a long-handled fish net, not just for netting fish, but in case you need to reach out to someone in the water. It will also retrieve trash or valuables from the water.

§ First Aid Kit. You should have a kit with medical supplies to deal with all manner of cuts and scrapes, bruises and bumps, bites and boo-boos. You’re likely to be some distance away from professional medical assistance so remember, in the meantime, you’re the "doctor." Johnson & Johnson First Aid Pocket Pals are a smart addition to the tackle box.

§ Cold drink breaks. Summer temperatures can get pretty warm, so bring lots of cool water and other healthy drinks and make sure the young anglers drink fluids often to prevent dehydration or even heat stroke.

§ Sunscreen. The ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun can do a lot of damage to skin, eyes and lips. Outfit young anglers with proper sunglasses, a billed cap, and clothing appropriate to the climate and sun conditions. Avoid fishing in the middle of the day. Cover face, neck, ears, the back of hands and all exposed skin with sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher. Apply chap protection wax on lips.

§ Insect repellent. Mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other insects not only sting, they can carry diseases of one kind or another. Apply insect repellent. Follow the directions on the container. If your insect repellent contains "Deet," it may be better to apply it to the clothing instead of the skin.

§ Safety comes first. All the checklists in the world can’t anticipate all of the safety problems you or your young anglers might encounter on a fishing trip. So the best advice is think safety at all times. Look for trouble before it finds you. If it finds you anyway, know how to deal with it.


In addition, there is an organization for Women's Fly Fishing - Women’s Flyfishing® is run by Cecilia "Pudge" Kleinkauf who offers instruction and guided trips in Alaska. More info here: http://www.womensflyfishing.net/index.htm