Summer health and safety tips
June 2007

The importance of taking simple, commonsense precautions that everyone can do to help keep families safe as they enjoy their summer, cannot be overstressed.

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors activities like swimming, hiking, traveling and of course making some barbecue. But it is also important to steer clear of accidents and injuries. By taking simple, common-sense precautions, we can have fun and stay safe at the same time.

Everybody should be encouraged to get out and be active but should as well be reminded to play it safe during outdoor summer activities to stay healthy and fully enjoy the benefits.

Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays appears to be the most important environmental factor involved in the development of skin cancer. Summer time can mean more time in the sun and more need to protect yourself from exposure to the sun’s rays. 

Studies show that millions of cases of the most common forms of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Even a few serious sunburns can increase your risk of getting skin cancer.

You can protect yourself during the time of day when the sun's UV (ultraviolet) rays are strongest – between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – by wearing long sleeves and pants, and by applying sunscreen and a protective lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Be sure to reapply frequently especially after swimming.

Heat exposure is a cause of many deaths each year. Most heat-related deaths occur in the hot summer months, and the elderly, the very young and people with chronic health problems are most at risk.

Because even healthy people can fall victim to summer heat, take the following precautions to reduce your risk:

1. Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages
    
2.  Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that is light in color
    
3.  Reduce strenuous activities or do them during the cooler parts of the day

In relation to water safety, we should not forget that thousands of people drown each year, and thousands more are injured or killed in boating accidents. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children age 14 and under.

Follow these common-sense precautions for safe summer fun in the water:

1. Always have an adult closely supervise young children any time they are swimming, playing or even bathing in water
    
2.  Never swim alone or in unsupervised locations
    
3. Teach your children to always swim with a buddy
    
4. Never drink alcohol before or while swimming, boating or water skiing, and never drink alcohol while supervising children
    
5. Learn to swim, as swimming lessons benefit adults and children age 4 and up
    
6. Properly maintain your pool to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Never swallow pool, lake, or river water

Summer is the season for outdoor barbecues and picnics. Food safety measures and precautions are even more imperative in summer because of warmer temperatures.

Food-related illness can put a damper on your outdoor fests. According to CDC estimates, 76 million Americans get sick from food-related illness every year. More than 300,000 end up hospitalized and about 5,000 die each year from foodborne illness.

Protect yourself and your friends and family in these ways:

1. Cook meat, poultry and seafood thoroughly
    
2. Use a meat thermometer to be sure your grilled meats are “done.” Ground beef, for example, should be cooked to an internal temperature of  71 degree Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit)
    
3. Don't cross-contaminate one food with another. Wash your hands, utensils and cutting boards after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry and before they touch another food
    
4. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature, so refrigerate leftover foods promptly
    
5. Wash produce thoroughly to remove visible dirt, and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage