Summer Safety Handbook: 6 Wellness Practices to Keep in Mind
School's out, temperatures are rising, and summer has arrived. Embrace the season with these six essential tips for a healthy and secure summer.
Combat the Bite
Mosquitoes and ticks can spoil outdoor adventures. Their bites are more than bothersome — they can also spread diseases. West Nile virus and Lyme disease are examples of the vector-borne illnesses carried by mosquitoes and ticks in our area. Adopt these straightforward preventive measures when venturing outdoors:
- Utilize insect repellents that include EPA-approved active components like DEET or picaridin.
- Opt for long, loose, light-colored attire while outside.
- Shower promptly after outdoor excursions; check for ticks (on yourself, loved ones, and pets) following time spent outdoors.
Discover additional strategies to combat the bite, including methods for controlling mosquitoes and ticks.
Include Immunizations on Your Travel Agenda
When you travel abroad, you run the danger of catching and spreading diseases that are rare or nonexistent in the US. If your summer itinerary involves traveling abroad, verify what immunizations are advised for your destination. Before departing, ensure you are current on all your routine vaccinations.
Check what immunizations are necessary prior to traveling and where they can be obtained.
Don’t Welcome Food Poisoning to the Bash
Food poisoning tends to surge during the summer months when warmer weather promotes the growth of foodborne bacteria. From burgers on the grill to potato salad at gatherings, you can take measures to prevent foodborne illness, like cooking food to the appropriate temperature and preserving it correctly. Gather more food safety pointers.
Conquer the Heat
Extreme heat refers to a span of high temperatures and humidity exceeding 90 degrees for several consecutive days. This intense heat can pose risks for everyone but is particularly hazardous for seniors, babies, young children, and individuals with chronic health issues.
- Learn to identify warning signs and symptoms of heat-related conditions, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
- Keep cool and remain hydrated.
- Stay updated by monitoring local weather. You can also follow us on social media and register for alerts from Fairfax County.
Relish the outdoors without heightening your risk of skin cancer by safeguarding your skin from sun exposure. UV rays can harm the skin, leading to wrinkles and increasing the likelihood of skin cancer. Remember that even on cloudy, cold days, you might be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays. . Layer your protective measures to ensure sun safety.
- Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that shields against both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 or greater and reapply often.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays, and protective clothes.
- Whenever feasible, seek shade and avoid sun exposure when UV rays are strongest — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during daylight saving time.
Swimming and other water-related activities offer a fantastic way to stay active while cooling down. Everyone should implement strategies to prevent illness and injury whenever in and around water.
Recreational water illnesses result from ingesting, inhaling mist, and contact with contaminated water. Adopting healthy swimming habits, like refraining from swallowing water, can reduce your illness risk. It's crucial to stay out of the water if you have diarrhea, rinse off before entering pools, splash pads, and hot tubs, and take young children on bathroom breaks while checking diapers (away from the water) every hour.
Drowning can occur quickly and quietly. Follow these drowning prevention strategies to keep yourself and your family safe while swimming:
- Provide continuous supervision when children are in the water.
- Learn essential swimming skills.
- Get trained in CPR.
- Avoid swimming after sunset.
- Keep an eye out for dangers like choppy waves and rip currents.
- Pay attention to lifeguard directions and recommendations.
- Ensure pools have adequate safety features.
It's equally important to recognize what drowning looks like and how to prevent it.
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