Summer Fun

by Betty Mitchell RN BSN
Parish Nurse, Emmanuel Bethel Church, Royal Oak, Michigan

Summer is a time for young and old to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. It also means it is a time to take precautions to prevent injuries or exposure to health risks.

If you have grandchildren in your home during the summer, be certain medications are properly secured. They could mistake some medications for candy or want to try what is within their reach.

When going to a playground, look around to be sure the equipment and the area under the play equipment are safe and well maintained. The equipment should be age-appropriate for the child to prevent falls from occurring.

Water sports and activities are popular during the summer. Be mindful of wearing appropriate life jackets, and be sure they are available for everyone in the boat. Learning how to swim is a life lesson for all ages. Adult supervision is needed whenever kids are in or near the water. Accidents happen in an instant.

When having fun in the water, it is important for everyone to drink enough water throughout the day to stay properly hydrated.

Both the very young and the elderly are particularly susceptible to the effects of the sun. Plan outdoor activities for morning hours or later in the day to avoid the heat of midday.

Protect the skin from the sun’s rays with at least 15 SPF sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. Wearing loose, lightweight, light colored clothing will also protect the skin from harmful sun rays. Hats and sunglasses are a must to protect the head and eyes from the sun.

As you plan your camping or other outdoor fun, remember to stay safe from food poisoning by washing your hands before and after handling food. Thoroughly clean surfaces and utensils used in food preparation. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate. After cooking food for the proper time to reach the correct temperature, be sure to refrigerate leftovers right after the meal.

If you are out at dusk or in areas with mosquitoes be sure to use insect repellent to protect from bites and possible mosquito-borne illnesses.

Enjoy your summer and stay safe.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/KidsSafety/ ; http://www.cdc.gov/family/kids/summer/ ; http://www.cdc.gov/family/camping/

…for lo, the winter is past the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. (Song of Solomon 2:11–12)