The summer months are a time for fun in the sun with cookouts, pool parties, and trips to the beach.\u00a0 Amidst all the fun, it becomes very important to remember the dangers involved with heat and sun exposure.\u00a0 Children and the elderly are especially sensitive to things like skin damage and heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Below are 6 simple tips to help you and your family have a safe and happy time outdoors this summer.<\/p>\n
#1 \u2013 Stay Hydrated<\/strong><\/p>\n The most common cause of heat related illnesses is inadequate hydration.\u00a0 Make sure that you and your children are drinking a bottle of water every couple of hours, and more frequently if you are physically active.\u00a0 If you begin to feel thirsty then you are already in the beginning stages of dehydration.\u00a0 Other signs of dehydration include flushed-red skin, dizziness, and a decrease in sweating while active.<\/p>\n #2 \u2013 Protect your skin<\/strong><\/p>\n Sunscreen is vital to protect your skin from burning, premature aging, and skin cancer.\u00a0 Children are especially vulnerable since they will often not realize they are being burned until it is far too late.\u00a0 A person with light skin can begin to burn within 15 minutes of sun exposure.\u00a0 Even a dark skinned person can begin to experience sun damage within an hour.\u00a0 Be sure to use at least a 30 SPF sunscreen for adequate protection, and reapply every two hours.<\/p>\n #3 \u2013 First Aid Supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n It is very important to have a simple first aid kit during any outdoor activities.\u00a0 Kids will inevitably trip and fall, get splinters, and a variety of other minor injuries as they explore the outdoors.\u00a0 Purchase or build a small first aid kit that includes Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, and tweezers.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a good idea to include some Benadryl in case of insect bites to prevent an allergic reaction.<\/p>\n #4 \u2013 Face Protection<\/strong><\/p>\n It is a good idea to provide everyone with sunglasses to prevent damage to sensitive eyes.\u00a0 Hats are also very beneficial as they can help shade your face from the sun.\u00a0 Lightweight straw hats are ideal for trips to the beach or time in the garden, since they protect the face, ears, and neck.<\/p>\n #5 – Cell Phone<\/strong><\/p>\n We all hope that no major incident will occur during our outdoor family time, but the reality is that bad things happen.\u00a0 One of the most important ways to deal with a major accident is to have a cell phone available.\u00a0 This way you can call for help, or even an ambulance in case of a severe injury or illness.\u00a0 Having a cell phone available could quite possibly save the life of a family member, so make sure it is charged and readily available.\u00a0 Also, teach your children how and when to dial 911, because you never know, it might just be you that needs the help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The summer months are a time for fun in the sun with cookouts, pool parties, and trips to the beach.\u00a0 Amidst all the fun, it becomes very important to remember the dangers involved with heat and sun exposure.\u00a0 Children and the elderly are especially sensitive to things like skin damage and heat exhaustion. Below are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_autoblog_aioseo_focus_keyphrase":"","_autoblog_aioseo_title":"","_autoblog_aioseo_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-health-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t