health tips
wellness
Summer Safety
Summer presents its own set of safety hazards for children and
adults alike. Here are some tips to help you and your
family to enjoy summer safely.
·
Sun
exposure.
Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher whenever you
spend time in the sun, and reapply it as needed. Some
sun screens fade with sweat.
·
Heat
stroke.
To avoid life-threatening heat stroke (a core body
temperature above 104°F); avoid strenuous activities
during high temperatures. Do activities during cooler
evening hours. Drink plenty of water or sports drinks
for hydration.
·
Diving
injuries.
Severe spinal injuries can occur if people dive and hit
their head on the bottom of a pool, lake or other body
of water. Don’t dive if you don’t know the depth of the
water. Be aware that even if you know the depth in a
river or lake, theses depth can change over time.
·
Swimming.
Swim only in designated swimming areas and never swim
alone. You never know when you might get a cramp.
·
Insect
repellents.
Wear repellents, especially when hiking or camping, to
prevent Lyme disease (spread by ticks) and West Nile
virus (spread by mosquitoes).
·
Transportation.
Children and adults should wear helmets when riding
bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards or all-terrain
vehicles (ATVs). The most effective way to prevent head
injuries is to wear a properly fitting helmet.
·
Burns. Always watch children and pets when grilling outdoors,
and never bring a grill inside if the weather turns bad.
When lighting fireworks, keep flames and fireworks away
from you. The safest thing is to not use fireworks at
all.
·
Alcohol.
Summer festivals, sporting events and other activities
often include alcohol. To prevent injury to yourself or
others, be a responsible drinker and always make sure
you have a designated driver. Many boating accidents are
related to alcohol use.
·
Bee stings.
Cover soda cans to prevent attracting bees.
Source:
Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin |
