4 Summer Safety Tips
The weather is slowly heating up! Make sure you’re super summer safe this year. Summer has the potential to expose us to threats that we don’t have to worry about as much during cooler months. Here are 4 tips to help you beat the heat and survive summer!
Stay Hydrated
The most essential tip to surviving summer heat is to stay hydrated! It’s recommended to drink water every 20 minutes when outside. An easy way to make sure that you keep up with your body’s hydration needs is to bring a water bottle with you everywhere. Make a habit out of grabbing your water on your way out. If you’re spending more than an hour outside at a time, it’s a good idea to have a sports drink. Drinks like Gatorade, Bodyarmor, and Powerade have lots of electrolytes. Electrolytes help to quickly hydrate your body. Therefore, if you’re outside for long periods of time, a sports drink will rehydrate your body ASAP!
It’s also a good idea to avoid caffeine when possible during the hot summer months. Caffeine causes you to lose water more rapidly. Therefore, it can cause dehydration quicker. We all love our iced coffees and frappuccinos, but try going for decaf during summer. You might want to also steer clear of chocolate, as it is also packed with caffeine. Unfortunately, this includes a summertime favorite, chocolate ice cream. It’s okay to have these items sometimes, but keep in mind that you may want to enjoy them in moderation when spending lots of time in the sun to avoid potential dehydration.
Be Aware of Poisonous Plants
Leaves of three, let them be! Outdoor activities like hiking and picnicking are staples for summertime. However, when taking part in outdoor activities, you have to be aware of the types of plants around you. Coming into contact with certain poisonous plants can send you to the hospital. We don’t always consider this when enjoying our summer activities, but simply being knowledgeable about these plants can save you a lot of trouble. Poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac are the more common poisonous plants you should familiarize yourself with. You should also be aware of other poisonous plants that grow in your area. Simply googling these plants to familiarize yourself with what they look like could be a big help.
Stay Protected in the Sun
Sunshine is one of the best things about summer! Too much sun, however, can be harmful. Too much sun exposure makes you more vulnerable to harmful UV rays. When UV rays reach your inner skin layers, you’ll get sunburn, which can cause skin cells to become damaged, die, or develop cancer. To protect yourself from UV rays, wear sunscreen! When choosing your sunscreen, it’s recommended to pick one that offers broad-spectrum protection (protects against both UVA and UVB rays) with a minimum of 30 SPF. Apply your sunscreen 15 minutes before you go outside, and reapply every 2 hours. You can also combat UV rays by staying in the shade when possible and wearing hats that shade your face.
Beware of Bugs
Bugs love summertime too! If you’re outside for any period of time during summer, you’re bound to come into contact with a bug! Some bugs are harmless, but some have the potential to be major threats. Mosquitoes can carry Lyme’s disease and the Zika virus. Therefore, you should do what you can to protect yourself from them. Wearing insect repellent on exposed skin can help keep mosquitoes away. Besides mosquitoes, there are other insects that sting to be aware of. Bugs like wasps and hornets are attracted to bright colors and floral patterns. Although many of our summer clothes are bright and floral, you may want to minimize how much you wear them, especially if you’re going to be outside for long periods of time. You should also minimize your use of scented lotions, soaps, and perfumes. Bugs love sweet smelling scents!
Get ready for summer, because it will be here before you know it! Summertime has numerous perks that keep us looking forward to it. However, it also brings additional threats that we need to be ready to combat. Enjoy the weather, but don’t forget to stay safe too! Stock up on your sunscreen and bug repellent, because summer is on the way!