Summer Safety Tips

By Nikki Walls, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

 

School is out, and that means warm weather and long days that are perfect for spending time outdoors, enjoying sports and activities, exploring nature, swimming, and traveling with family and friends. While most people associate the warmer months with fun and relaxation, it can also be a time of unpredictability, with more risks for injury. Nothing ruins summer fun like a summer injury. With more cars on the roadways, beaches crowded, and temperatures rising, it’s essential to keep yourself safe, healthy, and protected from some of nature’s less forgiving aspects, such as the sun, bugs, poison ivy, and water hazards, among others.

 

Here are some summer safety tips to keep the whole family healthy and happy, which can help avoid any unwanted trips to the clinic or emergency room.

 

Be Safe in the Sun

While some sunlight is necessary for our bodies to produce vitamin D, excessive exposure to the sun and not taking appropriate precautions can pose several health risks. Protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays is the best way to limit your risk of sunburn, decrease the risk of premature skin aging, and reduce the risk of skin cancer.  Severe sunburns, the kind that blisters and makes you feel sick, can lead to dehydration, sun poisoning, and infection. Limiting sun exposure can be achieved by staying in the shade, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved shirt, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every 2 hours, especially after swimming or sweating.

 

Stay Hydrated

High temperatures can be dangerous for everyone. It can lead to heat stroke, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and even death. Staying well hydrated and limiting time outdoors during high-temperature days is the best way to prevent heat-related illnesses. Alcoholic, caffeinated, and sugary beverages can dehydrate your body further. Plain, carbonated, or flavored water or sports drinks (sugar-free) with electrolytes should be your go-to choices when hydrating. The recommended daily intake is 64 ounces. However, this will vary depending on your overall health and activity level.

 

 

Water Safety

Sunny days spent on the water are a big highlight of the summer for many people, but they also present serious dangers to both kids and adults. There are many safety precautions one can follow to prevent water-related injuries, including always wearing an approved flotation device when on or near water, avoiding drinking alcohol while operating a boat or personal watercraft before diving into a body of water, knowing the water depths or if there are any obstacles, and always supervising children when they are swimming. Enrolling your children in swim lessons will help teach them basic swimming skills and safety. Knowing basic CPR can also help save a life in the event of a water injury.

 

Skin Safety

When the weather warms up, bugs are in full force, and plants and trees are in full bloom, which can increase the risk of bites, bumps, and rashes. Wearing shoes (not sandals), long pants tucked into your socks, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat or gloves, and staying on designated trails when possible will help prevent bug bites and stings, as well as exposure to rash-producing plants. Using insect repellents with at least 20% DEET will also help avoid bug bites and stings.

 

Ride Safely

As children head outdoors to play with friends, families are making memories, and with more people on the roadways during the summer, riding safely is essential. Wearing a helmet while on all-wheeled vehicles, including ATVs, motorcycles, bicycles, and skateboards, can help reduce serious head injuries by up to 80%. Wearing seatbelts when indicated and avoiding the use of alcohol while operating any motorized vehicle will also help ensure a person is riding safely.

 

Summer Food Safety

Everybody loves a summer BBQ cookout, but cookout foods don’t always love you in return. Foodborne illnesses tend to increase during the summer months because bacteria multiply faster in warm temperatures. Additionally, people often cook outside more frequently, away from refrigerators, thermometers, and sinks. To avoid risking foodborne illnesses, never leave perishable food out in the sun. Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from other foods before cooking to prevent cross-contamination. Refrigerate until ready to grill, and ensure that food is cooked to proper temperatures.

 

Enjoy Your Summer

By following common-sense safety precautions, you can ensure you and your family will have a safe and enjoyable summer. Most summer-related injuries are preventable. Be mindful of the sun, keep an eye on hydration, and prioritize pool and water safety. Ensure your skin is protected from environmental exposures, take appropriate precautions when riding, and follow proper food safety guidelines. Enjoy your summer, and be safe.