Most people look forward to the summertime when they can go camping, boating, hiking, swimming, and road tripping. But because the summer also means extreme temperatures and bodies of water, there are added dangers, such as heat illness, burns, and drowning accidents.
To have a safe and healthy summer, follow these summer safety tips!
1. Never Leave a Child or Pet in the Car Alone: It’s extremely dangerous to leave children and pets unattended in cars in the summer, even if the window is cracked open. The inside of a car can quickly reach 100 degrees, which can be fatal for anyone left in the vehicle. Don’t leave a child or pet alone in the car for even one minute.
2. Stay Hydrated All Day Long: Drink water all day long and if you feel thirsty, it means you’re not hydrated!
3. Avoid Strenuous Exercise in the Heat: Avoid engaging in strenuous exercise outside during the hottest times of the day. Instead, schedule your outings for early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s much cooler outside.
4. Keep Children Safe When Swimming: Never leave a child unattended in water, even if they are good swimmers or there are life guards present. They still need your eyes on them to keep them safe.
5. Pack a Premade First Aid Kit: If you go camping or hiking, we recommend buying a premade first aid kit and packing it. Why not put one together yourself? Because it’s easy for people to forget an essential item that’s included in one of the premade kits.
6. Enroll Children in Swimming Lessons: Parents should enroll their children in official swimming lessons until the children are excellent swimmers.
7. Wear Sunscreen: Before leaving the house, slather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from UVB and UVA rays.
8. Protect Yourself Against Bugs: Insects are attracted to soaps, body sprays, perfumes, and hair sprays that smell good. To make yourself unattractive to bugs, consider using unscented versions, and avoid areas where bugs are known to gather, such as standing pools of water, gardens with blooming flowers, and uncovered food. We recommend the bug spray, DEET, to ward off ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases and viruses they carry.
