How to be safe in the summer on LI

Summer on Long Island starts this weekend. Yes, the official season doesn't start for another three weeks. But Memorial Day weekend is for many the traditional start of the season.

As you get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine, it's also a good time to refresh your knowledge on how to stay safe round the grill, the pool and elsewhere. Experts say drownings and drunken driving accidents spike in the coming months. Here are some ways to prevent accidents and make the most of the summer weather.

Fire safety

A lot of things can happen to a grill sitting in the garage. "Believe it or not, bugs will make their nests in these grills," said John Murray, a fire safety instructor at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum, a former fire chief and 42-year firefighter. "[People] go to light the grill, and the next thing you know, you get a gas buildup and that leads to an explosion."

Before turning on the gas or lighting charcoal, check and clean every part with soapy water and a grill brush. On a propane grill, Murray said, spray soapy water onto each connection. Water that bubbles on a spot can reveal a leak.

Set the grill onto a flat, stable surface with nothing hanging overhead. "Keep them away from trees or anything combustible," Murray said. Don't let children nearby, and make sure an adult has an eye on the flames at all times. Don't pour lighter fluid onto a live fire or wear loose clothing that could catch fire.

On a propane grill, when the cooking's done, turn off the burners, then the gas tank. If any switches get stuck or fire starts to spread, get away from the grill and call 911, Murray said.

With charcoal, let the coals cool overnight. Dump them into a metal container the next day or the next time the grill is used.

Pool safety

The backyard pool can pose a tremendous hazard to children if adults don't take the right precautions - or have a few seconds of inattention.

"All it takes is a brief moment for a child to disappear and end up being a victim of drowning," said Peter Silver, head of the pediatric intensive care unit at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

June and July are the peak months for drowning accidents, said Silver, also the assistant chief of the Syosset Fire Department.

Every backyard pool should have fences on all four sides, including the side facing the house. The fence should have a gate with a spring that pulls it closed, and it should prevent children from climbing over, Silver said.

Keep a long hook and a flotation device near the pool. A pool alarm that detects breaks in the water surface can be useful, though birds and strong wind can trigger false alarms.

But the only childproof safety measure, Silver said, is "100 percent complete observation." Before anyone steps in the pool, bring outside the telephone, snacks and anything else that might be needed later. Every homeowner with a pool should also learn CPR, he said.

If you're hosting a party, choose a "designated pool observer" to watch the water at all times.

Drunken driving

Thomas McCoy, the executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving's Long Island chapter, calls the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day the "100 Deadliest Days." There are more drunken driving accidents and deaths between the two holidays than any other 100-day period during the year, he said.

The reason? "Barbecues and beach parties and concerts. . . . People tend to have a few drinks and then get on the road," he said. About 8,000 DWI arrests occur every year in Nassau and Suffolk, McCoy said.

Plan ahead - choose a designated driver beforehand, or take a cab or public transit. At home, set limits on alcohol and enforce them, McCoy said.

"Be aware of what your guests are doing," he said. "Don't let friends or family drive drunk. Take those keys. Don't worry about the fight that will ensue."

In addition to existing penalties for DWI, a state law passed last year now makes it a felony for a person to drive under the influence with a child in the car. "It's just not worth it," McCoy said. "There are always alternatives to drinking and driving."