The beauty of spring and summer lures us outside. With its sounds around us, it’s easy to get distracted and put safety in the backseat.

MLEC reminds you that letting safety slide could mean injuries. Keep these simple tips in mind when spending time outdoors:

Water and electricity NEVER mix. Keep power tools and toys away from water, including rain, wet ground, swimming pools, sprinklers and garden or water hoses.

Protect the outlets and yourself.  Put weatherproof covers and ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on outdoor electrical outlets to protect against shock. Indoor outlets near water sources should also have GFCIs.

Survey the area before play starts. Pools have their place – under power lines is not one of them. Don’t let kids climb trees near power lines. Don’t try to remove kites from a power line. The results can be shocking.