June is National Safety Month since the National Safety Council (NSC) established it in 1996. Its goal is to increase public awareness about the specific risks that come with enjoying this sunny season so that everyone can bask in the warmth of these months, safely!

Some people think that heat-related illnesses only happen to certain demographics; however, they can affect anyone. You can do your best to avoid them by following steps such as: Take many breaks, limit your time outdoors between 10am and 4pm, and don’t forget to drink lots of water and/or sports drinks.

Let’s take a moment to explore that last one a little further. Dehydration does not just happen to athletes. Sweating, which occurs in anyone spending time in heat, is a life-saving process that uses a lot of the water we have in our bodies. You need to replenish that water so that your cells have what they need to keep your body working. Plain water (as opposed to drinks like soda or tea) is the best liquid you can drink in order to hydrate most effectively. For more click here.

Some other best practices for summer? (Though this is applicable year-round!)  Apply a sunscreen about thirty minutes before going outside, and then reapply every two hours. You may want to reapply more often if you get wet swimming or if you are sweating a lot. Additionally, stay in the shade whenever you can.

If you are using a pool, lake, ocean, or anywhere else where there is swimming, always have a responsible adult supervising, especially children. This adult should be prepared to intervene in the case of an emergency, both for swimming and any other situations.

Also, sunglasses are not just fashion statements! UV light, which comes from the sun, can harm human eyes. Everyone, whether they are a child or adult, should don a pair of sunglasses if they are going outside. Make sure you check that your pair says it blocks 99 to100 percent of both UVA and UVB light. Tip: even dollar stores sell sunglasses that do this…but not every pair does, so be sure to check.

Want more information? For details on heart health, go back and read this blog. For a deep dive on topics like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, check out this article.

Stay safe, enjoy the summer weather, and we will see you next month for our next safety tip!