While Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) welcomes the return to gatherings this summer, the company urges its customers to put safety first and stay alert to potential dangers such as heat-related illnesses or when in and around the water.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when enjoying a summer day with the family.

Summer Safety

Make sure everyone has proper skills to swim. Keep an eye on young children and check flotation devices for leaks.

Every child under 13 must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when on a moving vessel that is 26 feet or less in length.

Don’t dive or jump into unfamiliar water. Shallow water or submerged trees or rocks could cause serious injury.

Don’t swim or play near a dam or powerhouse; these areas can have strong underwater currents, sudden water discharges, slippery surfaces and submerged hazards.

Never use generators, propane heaters, barbeques or charcoal indoors due to carbon monoxide risks.

Heat Safety

Limit exposure to direct sunlight. Reapply sunscreen often.

Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol or caffeine when temperatures are high.

During hot weather, watch for signs of heat stroke — hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; or rapid, shallow breathing. If you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke, call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place. Use cold towels to help lower their body temperature until help arrives.

PG&E reminds customers to update their contact information at pge.com/mywildfirealerts so that the utility can provide up-to-the-minute safety and service information.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.