Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet and summer will be upon us before we know it. There is plenty to look forward to—longer days, warmer weather, camp outs and barbecues, fishing, spring hunting season, and comfortable temperatures for shooting outdoors. Spring and summer come with faults, though. Weather can be dangerous. The erratic and scorching summer heat leads to illness, rolling blackouts and sunburns. As we start stepping outside again, accidents are more likely to happen. Severe weather does not escape us after winter and preparing for spring storms, flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes is just as essential as preparing for ice and snow.
In the next 30 days, I will post a new tip every day to help you prepare for the next six months. Come back every day to learn all you need to know about spring and summer preparation; including bagging more spring turkey, how to prevent mosquito bites, how to create a safe room and what to store in it, to what to wear and how to conceal carry in the summer.
First off, I would like to share some facts about spring and summer to give you an idea what types of posts to expect from this series.
Spring
Spring officially begins on March 20. However, we think of spring as starting at the beginning of March and finishing at the end of May. Days become longer in spring, starting with the official start of spring, when the sunrise is almost exactly 12 hours apart from sunset. We also spring forward in March—on March 9, Daylight Saving Time begins and we turn our clocks ahead one hour. Traditionally, we are encouraged to check our smoke detectors on this day. It is also a perfect reminder to check your long-term food preps and change out your winter gear to summer gear in your bug out bags.
Spring is also when hibernating animals awake from their slumber and start rummaging for food. Flooding dramatically increases in the spring due to mountainous snowmelt. Warmer spring air invading lingering colder air causes tornadoes and supercell thunderstorms. The United States celebrates two major holidays during the Spring—Easter and Memorial Day. Boating and car accidents always rise during holiday weekends.
Summer
June, July and August are our summer months, with June 21 marking the official beginning of summer. Drownings, injuries related to fireworks, accidents related to recreational vehicles such as watercraft and ATV accidents, and boating accidents all increase in the summer. Not to mention all the various stings and bites from pesky summer insects.
America celebrates its independence on July 4—we are served a double whammy. Just like Memorial Day, driving and boating accidents increase on July 4, but also do burns, injuries and fires due to fireworks. During the month of July, an average 200 people are hospitalized each day due to firework accidents.
Drought is more likely to occur during the summer months, which can lead to enforced water restrictions. In a 10-year period, heat-related illnesses killed nearly 10,000 Americans.
Fortunately, most summer hazards are preventable and even totally avoidable as long as you educate yourself, prepare and be cautious. Journey with me these next 30 days as we prepare for a safe and fun spring and summer.
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