The summer is a great time to get out and do everything that you can outside before you get pushed back inside by the cold winter months. It’s just important that you stay healthy in the time that you spend outside and during the summer, as your health is the most important thing to you. So, be aware of how to stay healthy while having fun during the summertime. Here are a few tips to help you start along the way.
Drive Smart
A lot of people tend to think of winter as the most dangerous time of the year to be driving, but with millions of injuries on U.S. highways annually, there is no time when you’re not at some risk of being injured on the highway. That’s why it’s important to drive smartly and safely while you’re on the roads during the summer. The sun can cause glare that makes it hard to see, people are traveling and often don’t know where they’re going, and there are also holidays during the summer where people tend to drink before driving. So, be aware and safe during the summer.
Be Aware of the Sun
The sun is a great thing, capable of improving your mood, making a summer day joyful and warm, and even contributing to a great garden. However, you also need to respect the strength of the sun, particularly in the summer months. It can cause burns on your skin that are painful and can lead to bigger issues like skin cancer down the line. Furthermore, it can cause issues like dehydration, which can be severe if you aren’t acting safely in the sun. So, wear sunscreen, seek shade when possible, and drink enough water to make sure that the sun doesn’t have a negative impact on you.
Ask Before Petting Strangers’ Dogs
During the summer, you’ll notice a lot of people bring their dogs out more. It can be tempting to want to walk up and pet all of them, but this isn’t the safest way to act, as you don’t know the dog. It’s important to ask the owner before you pet, to make sure the dog is friendly. As it stands now, around 4.5 million Americans are bitten each year, with about half of that number being children.
Be Careful Around Water
Swimming is a great way to relax and cool off during the summer. Unfortunately, it can also be deadly if you’re not ready. For instance, murky water that you might find in a lake is difficult to swim in because lifeguards can’t see you. Furthermore, strong currents, like an ocean riptide or a river’s current, can drag even strong swimmers where they don’t want to go. So, enjoy swimming, but be respectful as you do so.
Have an Emergency Plan for Issues of Road Trips
Road trips are a great way to spend time with your family and friends. The issue is that when you’re on the open road unexpected things can happen. So, you need to be prepared. This might mean having a spare tire in case you get a flat or an extra gas canister in case you get caught low on gas. This also means having a backup plan on where to stop for the night, if need be. For RV drivers this may include one of the 16,000 publicly and privately owned campgrounds around the United States.
Before you head out to enjoy the summer, make sure that you’re ready for anything that may go wrong. That way you stay healthy and are prepared to keep a bad situation from becoming an emergency.
