I love summer.  Love it! Every chance I get, I want to go outside, play with my daughter, hit the pool, and find lots of new ways to enjoy the sunshine.  There is so much to see, do – so much fun to experience – over the summer. To keep doing all of those things, you have to protect your health.  And you’ll probably want to help your friends, family and neighbors stay healthy this summer, too. 

Whether you love the sun or you can’t imagine why anybody would want to be outside when the temperature is above 70 degrees, here are three things that you can do to promote health and safety.

Tip 1:  Stay safe in extreme heat: 

What is extreme heat anyway? The answer depends on where you live, but in general, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat or heat waves occur when the combination of heat and humidity causes the air to become oppressive.  When that happens, take precautions.  You might want to just go inside to an air conditioned place – especially if you are an older adult, have a young child or suffer from a chronic medical condition. 

If you can’t get inside to an air conditioned spot or you just don’t want to, there are still some precautions you can and should take to stay healthy.  Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water – and avoiding sugary beverages.  Wear light-weight, light colored, loose fitting clothes.  Protect yourself from sunburn. Sunburn can significantly slow the skin’s ability to release excess heat.  If you are an athlete, limit your outdoor activity. If you are going to work out outside, do it during the coolest parts of the day.

Extreme heat can cause heat stroke or heat exhaustion.  Learn the signs of both and how to help.

Tip 2:  Protect Yourself from Zika and Other Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about the Zika virus and how it can affect your health or – if you are pregnant – the health of your baby.  You can get Zika by being bitten by an infected mosquito or by having sex with someone who is infected with Zika.

So far, there have not been cases of Zika caused by mosquitos in the United States, though there have been cases of Zika among people who have traveled to countries where mosquitos carry the virus.  There have also been cases of local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in some U.S. territories, including Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. 

If you are pregnant, don’t travel to areas where there is local transmission of Zika. If your partner has traveled to an area where Zika is being spread by mosquitoes, take steps to avoid sexual transmission by either using condoms or refraining from sex for the duration of the pregnancy.

Although there have not been any domestic cases of Zika, there have been domestic cases of other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya viruses. Take steps to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long sleeves and long pants and using an EPA-registered insect repellent.

There’s a lot of information out there on Zika – and not all of it is accurate. As the situation on Zika evolves, learn about Zika from credible sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Tip 3:  Update Your Emergency Plans

Are you traveling this summer? Are your kids going to summer camp? Are you headed somewhere you don’t normally go? If so, be sure to update your emergency plan.

If you have children, as school lets out for the summer, think about your emergency communications plan to be sure you, your kids, and the people who can for them can get in touch with each other – whether that is a summer camp or just a family member babysitting. If disaster does strike, having a plan for reunification can reduce stress for the whole family.

If you are traveling, make sure that you know the common hazards of the places where you are going and how to stay safe. For example, if you’re headed to the beach, learn a little bit about hurricane preparedness and find the evacuation routes.   

Summer can be a great time to enjoy the outdoors, the sunshine and maybe even a bit of travel.  Make sure you include protecting your health and safety in your summer plans so that you can make the most of the season. 

Got other ideas on staying safe and healthy this summer? Share them in a comment on this blog!