Laurels to the first day of summer, which officially arrived on Tuesday. Summer brings the bounty of gardens and farms, as well as the enjoyment of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating and swimming. Along with the burst of such activities in warmer weather, thereís also an increased likelihood of mishaps, from bee stings to sun stroke. Be careful out there, particularly regarding water activities involving young children. Drowning is the second leading accidental cause of death (after vehicular accidents) for children under the age of 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While most people are aware of the potential dangers of in-ground pools, they may not realize portable ěkiddieî pools can be just as hazardous. A recent study in the journal Pediatrics found that between 2001 and 2009, portable pools were blamed for the drowning deaths of 209 children younger than 12. Most of the accidents ó 94 percent ó involved kids younger than 5. Even shallow pools can pose major risks. Small children need adult supervision no matter the size of the pool.

Laurels to another small but hopeful sign for the economy. According to a report from Giving USA, charities saw a slight, 2.1 percent boost in donations last year, after inflation, and raised a total of $290.9 billion. This may be a sign that better days are ahead for charitable organizations, but it doesnít take much to be ěbetter.î The years 2008 and 2009 saw the sharpest declines in charitable giving in the reportís five decades. With the economy recovering slowly, you can expect philanthropy to ramp back up slowly, too. Thereís still some uncertainty in the air. Unfortunately, the increase in giving in 2010 was not across-the-board. Giving to environmental and animal-welfare groups continued to decline, going down 2.3 percent from 2009. Keep those groups in mind when considering where to direct your charitable dollars.

Dart to wildfires that have scorched more than 60,000 acres along the North Carolina coast. While not on the scale of wildfires that have ravaged Arizona and other states, the N.C. blazes are part of the same worrisome trend ó wildfire seasons that are starting earlier, lasting longer and affecting more people. The situation in North Carolina is particularly worrisome, forestry officials say, because of the drought affecting the eastern portion of the state and parts of the Piedmont. Although wildfires are a normal part of nature and help rejuvenate forests and grasslands, the scale and duration of these fires can damage wildlife and destroy neighborhoods. Firefighters could use an assist in the form of a good soaking rain.