Whether you're hosting pool parties, heading to the beach, or planning a road trip, summer fun also brings seasonal risks. At Vault, we believe protecting your lifestyle starts with proactive risk mitigation—helping to prevent accidents and reduce the severity of loss.
From backyard pools to open water, here are key summer safety tips to keep your home, family, and guests safe.
Featured Resource:
Safety Tips for Summer Fun
Our top safety tips to keep you and your family safe, happy, and healthy no matter where your summer adventures take you.
Pool Safety: Preventing Accidents at Home
Residential and community pools are a source of summer fun, but also a leading cause of injury, especially for children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, unintentional drowning is a top cause of death among children ages 1–4.
While children are most at risk, practicing swimming safety for all ages is the smart approach:
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Ensure young children and weak swimmers wear Coast Guard-approved life vests.
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Stay alert—never leave children unattended around water.
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Install essential pool safety equipment, such as fencing, pool alarms, drain covers, safety covers, and rescue hooks.
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Avoid alcohol consumption when swimming or supervising near water.
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Drain and store kiddie pools when not in use.
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Talk to your children about swimming rules and safety boundaries.
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Take a CPR and first aid course to be prepared for emergencies.
- Take swim lessons. Become a stronger swimmer yourself, and have your children learn how to swim well.
- Check the pool or water first if a child goes missing.
Know the Signs of Drowning
- Silence. Drowning is often quiet.
- Head tilted back, and mouth open, trying to get air.
- Vertical in the water. Little to no movement or flailing arms.
- Hair over eyes.
What to Do if Someone is Drowning
- Call for help and have someone call 911.
- If possible, throw something to the person rather than jump in, such as a life hook, and pull them out. If not possible, pull the person out as soon as possible.
- Begin CPR immediately if no pulse or breathing is detected.
- Seek medical attention, even if the person appears to recover quickly.
Risk Reminder: Homeowners with pools should consider adding excess liability insurance to enhance protection in case of an accident. Vault offers custom guidance on coverage and pool risk mitigation for added peace of mind.
Open Water and Beach Safety
Whether you're boating, kayaking, or swimming at the beach, use these open water safety tips to stay protected:
- Wear a life vest on any watercraft—even if you're a strong swimmer.
- Shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on stingrays or sharp shells.
- Swim near lifeguards and check beach warning flags before entering the water.
- Sudden summer thunderstorms are common and can pop up fast. If you hear thunder or see lightning, exit the water immediately.
- Avoid rip currents—if caught in one, float or swim parallel to the shore and signal for help. Don’t fight the current.
- Stay sun-safe with high SPF sunscreen and regular hydration.
Car Safety During Summer Travel
Long drives, hot cars, and increased traffic make summer driving safety more important than ever.
- Never leave a child or pet in the car, even for a short while. Every year, about 38 children die of heatstroke from hot vehicles. Always check the backseat to make sure no one is accidentally left behind.
- Perform routine summer car maintenance. Check your vehicle's coolant levels to prevent engine overheating.
- There are more fatal crashes among teens during the summer months than at any other time of year. Talk to your teen drivers about safe driving habits.
- Drive responsibly, have a designated driver, or use a rideshare after summer gatherings or holiday parties.
- Rest when tired. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as impaired driving.
- Watch out for cyclists and motorcyclists, and share the road respectfully.
Outdoor Safety Tips for Summer Activities
Whether you're hiking, grilling, or watching fireworks, stay prepared with these summer outdoor safety tips:
- Wear sunscreen and reapply every 80 minutes.
- Drink water consistently to prevent dehydration or heat exhaustion.
- Take breaks in shaded areas or indoors to cool down.
- Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle.
- Use insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease-transmitting bugs.
- Practice firework safety. Use only where legal, away from your home, trees, and people, and do not use in drought or wildfire conditions.
- Never leave grills unattended and always grill in well-ventilated areas.
- Ensure pets have access to shade and fresh water.
- Share your summer plans with others. For your safety, let friends or family know your location when heading out for outdoor plans or travel.
Enjoy a Fun, Safe Summer
At Vault, we know that protecting what matters most is about more than insurance—it's about awareness, prevention, and thoughtful planning.
Through education, custom risk consulting, and tailored coverage options, we help high-net-worth families take a 360-degree approach to risk management. That’s the Vault difference.
Want to better protect your home, pool, or lifestyle assets this summer?
Request a quote and discover how Vault’s homeowners insurance and excess liability coverage can help safeguard what you’ve built.
Related Products: Homeowners Insurance, Excess Liability
Featured Resource:
Safety Tips for Summer Fun
Our top safety tips to keep you and your family safe, happy, and healthy no matter where your summer adventures take you.
While Vault believes the information provided in this article to be accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information provided. Vault is not responsible for, and does not adopt, endorse or approve any third-party webpages, or their content, that may be hyperlinked from this page. Nothing on this page alters any terms or conditions of an insurance policy and is not intended to be taken as legal, medical, or other professional advice.
