| |
SUMMER SAFETY TIPS
Warm weather means activities and fun under the sun! Whether you love putting on shorts and feeling the warm outdoors, or find adventure riding your bike, or hiking in the woods or taking a dip in your pool, here are some safety tips to protect you and your family this summertime.
Water Safety |
• |
Learn to swim |
• |
Take a CPR course |
• |
Swim only in areas supervised by a lifeguard |
• |
Never swim alone |
• |
Keep your eyes on children at all times. Adult supervision is recommended when in private pools |
• |
Stop swimming at the first sign of bad weather |
• |
Always enter feet first and diving head first in clearly marked areas for diving |
Sun Protection |
• |
Play in shade during peak hours 10AM-2PM |
• |
Cover up with hats and shirts |
• |
Use sunscreen everyday SPF 15 or greater |
• |
Use sunglasses to protect your eyes and the tender skin around them from harmful UV rays |
• |
Always drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks when working or playing outside in the hot weather |
Lyme Disease Protection |
• |
Wear light colored clothing |
• |
Wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt |
• |
Tuck your clothes in, shirts into pants, pants into socks. |
• |
Use an insect repellant |
• |
When hiking, stay in the middle of trails, and avoid underbrush, fallen trees, and tall grass |
• |
Do a tick check when coming indoors. Shower immediately after coming indoors. If you find a tick on your body, remove it by doing the following: |
|
- |
Using a pair of fine tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly, steadily, and firmly. Avoid crushing the tick’s body. |
|
- |
Once removed, clean the area with antiseptic, such as alcohol. |
|
- |
Save the tick in a jar of alcohol or tape it to a piece of cardboard so it can be identified by your local health department (if desired). |
Enjoy your summer and have great family fun, just remember these safety guidelines. For more information on these and other health and safety tips go to the following web site: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html |
