10 Outdoor Safety Tips to Keep Summer From Turning Into Bummer

Newswise — Planning your summer time exercise bucket record? Before doing so, Stephanie Lareau, an assistant professor of emergency medication on the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, says a bit of frequent sense and the proper preparation will go a great distance in maintaining your summer time plans secure and enjoyable.

1. Wear sunscreen or sun-protective clothes

While it’s essential year-round, it’s crucial through the summer time to put on sunscreen or sun-protective clothes similar to solar shirts and hats when outdoor. Not solely is sunburn uncomfortable, however can even enhance danger of pores and skin most cancers and predispose you to warmth associated sicknesses. With sunscreen it’s essential to re-apply each 2 hours, or extra typically if within the water. About 1 oz, which is a shot glass full, is advisable. 

2. Check for ticks

Tick-borne sicknesses are additionally frequent in summer time months. It is essential to examine for ticks after being outdoor, particularly in tall grasses or wooded areas. To take away ticks, use tweezers and grasp as intently to the tick’s head as doable. Lyme illness is without doubt one of the extra frequent tick borne sicknesses. It can current with flu-like signs together with muscle aches, joint ache, fevers and a bull’s eye rash. We additionally see plenty of alpha gal allergy. This causes a pink meat allergy the place individuals typically current with allergy and even anaphylaxis after consuming pink meat. This comes from the lone star tick, which is identifiable by a white spot on the tick’s again.

3. Wear a bicycle helmet

There is an uptick in trauma — particularly pediatric— through the summer time. Make certain kids (and adults) put on helmets when biking or utilizing scooters.

4. Take a ship security course

If you’re spending time on the lake, contemplate a ship security course. Also, watch the lake monitoring info for areas you should not swim. With heavy rains, agriculture, garden chemical compounds, and animal waste from farms can contaminate water, making it unsafe for swimming.  

5. Exercise early to keep away from noon warmth

Heat-related sickness is extra frequent in summer time months. Get outdoors early to keep away from noon warmth. Wear light-colored, breathable clothes and ensure to drink loads of fluids. Exercise tolerance can lower when it’s sizzling, so plan accordingly and slowly enhance train to assist your physique turn out to be acclimatized to growing temperatures. Adjust your actions accordingly on days with excessive warmth index: contemplate going for a swim or operating on a treadmill indoors as an alternative of operating outdoor.  

6. Stay hydrated whereas doing outside chores

If you’re employed outdoor through the summer time, it’s essential to remain well-hydrated. A great rule of thumb is ensuring your urine appears to be like gentle yellow to clear. Make certain you have got water obtainable and are ingesting it at common intervals. Take frequent breaks and get out of the solar. If doable, attempt to get work accomplished within the early morning or late night when the temperatures are decrease. Look on the forecast and attempt to decide days with not solely decrease temperatures however decrease warmth index, which takes under consideration each temperature and humidity. When the humidity is excessive, sweating is much less efficient, making it tougher on your physique to control temperature.  

7. Take swim classes; put on a life jacket when wanted

There can be a rise in drowning through the summer time. Make certain to have a chosen particular person to observe kids round water. Ensure kids have well-fitting life jackets on lakes and rivers. It’s additionally a good time to get kids enrolled in swimming classes. If you witness somebody drowning, early CPR with rescue breaths is important for enhancing probabilities of survival whereas ready for assist to reach. Consider taking a CPR class.  

8. Check water ranges earlier than tubing

If you’re planning to tube or float a river, be certain that to examine water ranges earlier than you go. Websites such americanwhitewater.org present ranges. If you aren’t aware of the degrees, examine with an area clothing store earlier than you go. Many rivers which are enjoyable for tubing at low ranges may be very harmful at excessive ranges and have new hazards. Everyone ought to put on a life jacket whereas on transferring water. Alcohol can be related to an elevated danger of drowning, even in good swimmers. It’s additionally essential to know risks in waterways like low-head dams to keep away from boating accidents. Additional hazard can come from down bushes and particles in rivers after storms. Consider taking a water security course in case you take pleasure in recreating on rivers.  

9. Prepare for longer hikes and outside actions

When taking longer journeys in the summertime, it’s essential to have satisfactory entry to water; bear in mind in sizzling climate you make want extra water than common. If you’re planning on acquiring water from streams or creeks, discuss to these aware of the realm to ensure they aren’t dry. If you’re doing strenuous actions, it will also be essential to incorporate electrolyte drinks as nicely to keep away from exercise-induced hyponatremia: low sodium or salt ranges, which might result in confusion and even seizures.

If you’re on drugs for blood strain, coronary heart issues, or psychiatric situations, it’s price speaking to your physician about these drugs and your outside plans. Some drugs can predispose people to warmth sickness or dehydration. As with any outside exercise, it’s additionally useful to get acclimated to the warmth earlier than embarking on bold adventures.  

Ensure you have got a plan in case you get caught in dangerous climate. The Southeast area usually sees plenty of pop-up storms over the summer time. Have a plan to hunt shelter and keep dry. 

10. Prevent warmth stroke

The most severe medical drawback associated to summer time warmth is warmth stroke. Any time somebody is out within the warmth and begins having altered psychological standing, that is warmth stroke. Altered psychological standing may very well be confusion or not having the ability to stroll appropriately; this can be a medical emergency and probably life-threatening. You ought to name 911 and work on cooling the particular person down. Simple issues like spraying them with cool water, immersing them in water (if they’re awake and capable of assist), and getting them out of direct solar may also help if you are awaiting extra assist. 

About Lareau

In addition to her work within the Carilion Clinic emergency division and educating at Virginia Tech, Lareau is a board member of the Wilderness Medicine Society, which helps medical professionals get further coaching in environmental emergencies similar to hypothermia, hyperthermia, and different climate associated outside issues. More here.