8 ways to be safe during July, the deadliest month

July is the deadliest month of the year when it comes to preventable deaths, according to the National Safety Council.

Why? There are more fatal car crashes, drownings and deaths due to extreme temperatures, among other events.

"Sun, sand and vacation selfies mark July as the peak of summer," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "Making safe choices can ensure July is the best month of the year, not the most deadly."

The Itasca-based organization is predicting this weekend we will see 409 deaths and 49,500 injuries on our roads this weekend alone.

But the key part of the statistic is that these are preventable deaths.

Here are some tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe this month:

1. Avoid speeding, texting and talking on your cellphone. In 2011, 3,417 people were killed in car crashes in July.

Crashes involving speeding and alcohol are highest in the summer, and cellphone use quadruples your chance of getting into an accident, even when using a hands-free device, according to the National Safety Council, (NSC).

2. Do no drink and drive. Period.

3. Do not drink and drive a boat. Period.

4. Make sure there are flotation devices for everyone on your boat. In 2011, 759 people drowned in July, according to the NSC.

5. Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim. Each year, more than 20 children drown in pools over the July 4 holiday weekend. "Fatal drownings don't look like they do in the movies - they're silent, happen in an instant and devastate families for a lifetime," said Elliot F. Kaye, chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Pool Safely campaign.

"There are simple steps, though, that families can take to be sure that their time around the water is safer this holiday weekend: Adults need to be designated as Water Watchers and ensure their only task is to watch kids in the water. Fences with locking gates should completely enclose the pool, and kids need to be signed up for swim lessons with certified instructors. Drowning is 100 percent preventable."

6. Also protect swimmers by installing a 4-foot fence around your pool, never leave children unattended, designate a watcher who won't text or talk on the phone while kids are swimming and learn how to perform CPR.

7. Be safe with your fireworks. Sparklers can heat up to 1,200 degrees, which is pretty hot for little kids with short arms. Do not wear lose clothing or light fireworks in a house or near dry grass. If a firework doesn't go off, never lean over it or try to reignite. Always keep a bucket of water and/or a fire extinguisher handy.

8. While it's cool this weekend, the heat could hit later. Stay hydrated and avoid being outside for long periods of time in the extreme heat. And don't leave kids in hot cars. In 2011, 270 people were killed in July because of extreme temperatures. In 2013, 44 kids died from heatstroke because they were left in hot cars.

P.S. Don't forget your pets

To us, fireworks are the sparkling embodiment of July Fourth. But to dogs, they truly are bombs bursting in air. The pops and explosions, raucous block parties and other loud noises during holiday festivities can scare dogs into leaping over or digging under fences to escape the thunderous blasts, leading them to get lost or injured.

Here are some tips to keep your pets safe this weekend:

Do

• Get collar IDs and microchips.

• Use a crate or keep animals in a room where they can't flee.

• Crank up music or the television to mask the sound of fireworks.

• Provide water and food: Fear makes dogs pant, and unfamiliar food makes them anxious.

• Offer chewable toys or treats as a distraction.

Don't

• Take a pooch to see fireworks unless it's a noise-trained police K-9 or guide dog.

• Leave them outside, where they jump or dig to escape the yard.

• Approach dogs who look scared because they can attack.