‘Tis the season of cookouts, ball games, camping trips, lake days, festivals and afternoons spent at the pool. Summer is the prime time of the year for fun under the sun! Ensure this summer is the most memorable one yet by practicing these simple safety tips.
• Protect yourself from pesky insects. If you plan to spend your day enjoying the great outdoors, avoid using scented soaps, perfumes or hairsprays as these can attract insects. When heading to your child’s evening baseball game, cover up with long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks to prevent potential bug bites. Always apply bug spray before spending an excessive amount of time outside. This not only prevents bug bites and their irritating symptoms such as burning, itching or swelling, but it also can prevent insect-related diseases like Lyme Disease from ticks and West Nile from mosquitoes. Be sure to read the repellant’s instructions to discover how often you should reapply it. When coming back inside, always wash off the bug repellant with soapy water as soon as possible.
• Protect yourself from the sun. When you are out spending time in the sun, wear light clothing, sunglasses and a hat to cover as much skin as possible. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and be sure to reapply it throughout the day. Most sunscreens require you to reapply it at least every two hours. However, you should always read the instructions beforehand to make sure. When swimming or sweating, you should reapply more frequently for stronger coverage. Try to limit your direct exposure to sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as that is when its UV rays are the most powerful and damaging.
• Stay hydrated. With the summer’s rising temperatures, it is critical to your health to remain hydrated. The amount of water your body needs depends on certain conditions such as the weather, the amount of clothing you are wearing and the physical activity you are enduring. A good rule of thumb in remaining hydrated is that the more you are perspire, the more you need to drink, so that you can replenish the fluid that your body is losing. If you find yourself not sweating while performing physical activity in the heat, this could mean that you are already dehydrated and you should rest and drink plenty of water. Whether you are sitting outside reading a book or going for an evening jog, drinking plenty of water is imperative to prevent health problems such as a heat stroke.
We know that summer can be a hectic time. However, taking the time out of your busy schedule to practice these safety tips will ensure that you beat the heat and have a healthy and happy summer season!