HealthWise Summer Health Tips The sun is shining and the water is warm. Summer is a fun time of year! To make sure that you and your children make the most of this summer, here are six quick tips for keeping safe. Tip#1 It’s fun to spend time out in the sun but be careful. It only takes 30 minutes for some people to get a bad sunburn. Babies under 6 months of age should stay out of direct sunlight. When in the sun, they should be dressed in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats. Small amounts of sunscreen may be used on their faces and hands. Kids over 6 months of age should use sunscreen SPF 15 or greater on all exposed areas. Reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming. It’s easy to forget about sunburns and it happens very quickly, so watch out. Tip#2 Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the pediatric age group. Always supervise the children in your pool or at the lake. Don’t leave for even a short break. A fence with a good latching gate should always enclose a swimming pool. Make sure the gate is locked when not in use. It’s easy for neighborhood kids to get into your pool without authorization, so use a lock. And, of course, a life jacket or other floatation devices should always be used. Tip#3 Sports safety is a year round endeavor but there are special concerns in the summer. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke get to more people in the summer because of lack of hydration. Don’t be complacent by letting your kids run off to practice or the game without a large water bottle with iced water. Pack a small ice chest with water and sports drinks. Don’t count on someone else providing it either. Heat exhaustion leads to other injuries like sprains and strains. Drink plenty of water throughout the day so that the body stays hydrated during the big game. Tip#4 Summer is the time to head to the park or playground. Know what you’re getting into. Playground equipment with protruding hooks or pointed ends are one of the leading causes of summertime cuts. Make sure there aren’t any sharp edges, moving parts, or exposed nails that can cause cutting and pinching. Tip#5 Bicycle injuries lead the way in summertime injuries. While minor scrapes and contusions are the most common ailment, head concussions and even brain injury rank right up there as top bicycle injuries. Helmets are a must. Don’t compromise! Many accidents happen right in the driveway, so don’t wait for the long bicycle outing to get the protection on your child’s head. Be a good example by wearing a helmet yourself when out on family rides. Tip#6 Summer is often the time for those big household projects. Cutting down trees, cleaning out the attic, repairing the fence, painting, trimming the bushes, lawn work and moving heavy objects often require plenty of muscle work and lifting. Be smart, lift careful, don’t try to take on to much. Strains and sprains are very common in the summer months and many can be avoided by getting help and not trying to do too much too fast. Take breaks and avoid exhaustion and you’ll get that project completed injury free.