Whether you’re working or playing outside in the summer, anybody not accustomed to the heat is at risk for a heat-related illness. Take steps to protect yourself:
- Wear appropriate clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat.
- Take frequent water breaks.
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
- Never leave kids or pets unattended in a vehicle.
More than one in five drowning victims are children 14-years-old and younger, and most incidents happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. Keep your kids safe in the water.
- Find age-appropriate swim lessons for your child, but keep in mind that lessons do not make your child “drown-proof.”
- Don’t rely on lifeguards to watch over your children.
- Never leave your child unattended.
Everyone loves a picnic keep your picnic safe by following these tips:
- Wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food.
- Separate uncooked meats, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.
- Bring hand sanitizer if your picnic site doesn’t have hand-washing facilities.
- If you are going to cook on the grill, bring a food thermometer to be sure grilled foods are cooked enough.
Mosquitoes and ticks are more than just itchy and annoying — if infected, these pests can pose a major health risk to people by possibly transmitting diseases. Follow these tips to prevent mosquito and tick bites this summer:
- Use insect repellents.
- Consider staying indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots.
- Use a rubber band or tape to hold pants against socks so that nothing can get under clothing.
- Tuck your shirt into your pants. Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see tiny insects or ticks.
- When hiking in woods and fields, stay in the middle of trails. Avoid underbrush and tall grass.
- If you are outdoors for a long time, check yourself several times during the day. Especially check in hairy areas of the body like the back of the neck and the scalp line.
- Inspect yourself carefully for insects or ticks after being outdoors or have someone else do it.
- If you have pets that go outdoors, spray with repellent made for their breed/type. Apply the repellent according to the label and check your pet for ticks often.
- Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying sources of standing water outside of the home, such as from flowerpots, buckets and barrels.
Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades, firework displays – and plenty of visits to emergency rooms. Keep safe by following these tips.
