Well Being Magazine

Summer Safety Tips

The dog days of summer are upon us bringing days at the pool, family picnics, baseball and other outdoor activities. Here are just a few tips to help keep your family healthy and safe during summer fun.

Protect your family from the sun: Wear protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats to avoid sun exposure when involved in outdoor activities. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 (SPF 30 is better) and reapply sunscreen to exposed skin every 2 hours, sooner if you have been in the water.

Pack foods safely: If you are traveling with perishable food, place it in a cooler with ice or freezer packs. When carrying drinks, consider packing them in a separate cooler so the food cooler is not opened frequently.

Hydrate! Drink plenty of water before, during and after physical activity to avoid dehydration. For low-calorie flavor, add slices of your favorite fruits such as melon, oranges, berries or even cucumber or mint to a pitcher of water and refrigerate for two hours.

Practice boating safety: Before leaving the shore, make sure everyone on board is properly fitted with a lifejacket and is wearing it. The majority of drowning victims are the result of boaters not wearing their lifejackets.

Avoid overheating: Limit intense activities between noon and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest. Head indoors when the heat gets unbearable, try indoor activities at your local YMCA or rec center like basketball, swimming, yoga or racquetball.

Comments are closed.