Summer Safety Tips

As summer gets into full swing, it is natural to relax and have a more laid back attitude. However, summer definitely should not be the season where safety is forgotten. With outdoor bar-b-ques, swimming, camping, biking, and hiking activities, it is necessary to have safety precautions established so you are able to have a safe and enjoyable summer.

Food Safety

The summer typically is a season of grilling sessions and picnics with all the trimmings from potato salad to apple pie. However, inorder to have a successful cook-out, it is important to make sure your food stays safe from bacteria. When handling meat, remember to always wash your hands before and after. When you transport your food, keep your hot foods and cold foods separate. You can keep your hot foods in vacuum bottles or insulated dishes, and your cold foods in insulated coolers or use frozen ice packs. When grilling, all meats should reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to reuse a marinade as a sauce, boil the marinade for at least three minutes to get rid of bacteria. Avoid cross contamination - don't put cooked meat back on the same plate you had the uncooked meat on. Don't eat food that has been left out.

Insect Bites

Bugs also enjoy the great outdoors. These creepy, crawly, biting, stinging pests wonít be such a pain if precautions are taken. Discourage children from getting excited and moving rapidly when they see insects - movement encourages insects to bite. Keep sugary foods and trash cans away from outside play and eating areas. Apply insect repellent to clothing and exposed skin. Avoid using scented products, such as perfume and shampoos, which tend to attract insects.

Sun Safety

Sunburn is a first degree burn involving the outer layer of the skin. Repeated burns and overexposure to the sun increase the risk of cancer. Severe sunburn is unnecessary and dangerous. Regular use of sunscreen can reduce a person's lifetime risk of developing the two most common types of skin cancer by 78 percent. When out in the sun this summer apply SPF 15 or higher, 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun so sunscreen can penetrate. Apply it frequently throughout the day. Avoid being outside during the hottest parts of the day, generally 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dehydration/Heat Stroke

When the body fails to replenish the water lost in urination, sweat, and feces, it becomes dehydrated. Heat exhaustion occurs when your body cannot sweat enough to cool you down. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or nausea, and cool or clammy skin. During the Summer, if you aren't careful, your body temperature can dangerously rise because cooling mechanisms such as sweating do not work as efficiently in hot and humid conditions. This summer, remember to drink plenty of water - cool water leaves the stomach and disperses throughout the body much faster than any other beverages. If you drink 12 ounces of cool water, 15 minutes later only 30 percent of it will be left in the stomach. If you drink 12 ounces of a regular soft drink, 15 minutes later all of the soda is still in your stomach. Avoid working outside or strenuous exercise in the sun during the hottest hours of the day.

Water Safety

The best precaution anyone can take to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. Even if you already know how to swim, it is important to always swim with a friend, never swim alone; know your swimming limits, don't try to keep up with a stronger or more skilled swimmer. Swim in supervised areas only. Alcohol and swimming do not mix, alcohol will impair your judgement. Never leave a child unsupervised around water. At the beach stay away from piers, pilings, and diving platforms.

Canine Safety Tips

Hot weather can make anyone feel uncomfortable, especially your dog. As a responsible dog owner, there are a few summer safety tips you should remember. Never leave your dog unattended in direct sunlight or in a closed in vehicle. Each year ten thousand dogs and cats die in parked cars. Even in relatively mild weather the inside temperature of a car can reach 120 degrees within 20 to 30 minutes. Under these conditions, heatstroke can occur and lead to brain damage or death (signs of heatstroke are panting, drooling, rapid pulse and fever). Always make sure your dog has access to fresh water. Keep your dog on a leash when he/she is outdoors to prevent accidents and injuries. Try to avoid strenuous exercise with your dog on extremely hot days and refrain from physical activity when the sunís heat is most intense.

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