How To Stay Safe & Healthy This Summer

As temperatures soar, summer is the prime time for swimming and soaking in the sun. However, you don’t need to let the elements take a toll on your health and safety. Stay well in the water and summer heat by following these top safety tips.

Swimming Safety

Drowning is a very real threat to all ages. Follow these swimming safety tips at all times.

Learn how to swim through certified swimming lessons.
Only swim in areas with a lifeguard on duty.
Never swim alone.
Always supervise children when swimming.
Have inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around bodies of water.
Surround your home pool with an enclosed fence and alarm system.
Establish pool rules, including “no diving” and “no running.”
Check the depth before diving, and avoid diving head first into natural bodies of water.
Take CPR courses.

Another important swimming safety topic is rip currents. Rip currents account for most of the rescues performed by beach lifeguards. If you are caught in a rip current, do not fight it. Stay calm, and don’t waste your energy struggling. Swim parallel to the shore until you feel the current release. Then you can swim toward the shore. If the force of the current is too strong, tread water and float in the current until it weakens. Wave your arms and call for help if needed. Remember to check the conditions of the water before swimming by asking a lifeguard or looking for warning flags.

Sun Safety

Keep your skin looking healthy and young by practicing safe sun. Limit your sun exposure, especially between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Be sure to wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15, even on cloudy days, and remember to reapply often. Brimmed hats, sunglasses, and lip balm with SPF are also important things to wear in the sun.

The higher the temperature, the higher the risk for heat related illness. Heat exhaustion could quickly escalate to heat stroke if the proper steps are not taken.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion:

Cramps
Profuse sweating
Flushed skin
Heavy breathing
Nausea
Headache
Fatigue
Dizziness
Weakness

If someone is exhibiting the symptoms of heat exhaustion, move him or her to a cooler place immediately. Remove extra clothing and apply cool water to the skin. If he or she is conscious, offer small amounts of cool water to drink.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke:

Hot, dry skin
Lack of sweat
Skin redness
Vomiting
Fever
Rapid heartbeat
Confusion
Irritability
Seizure
Unconsciousness

If someone is exhibiting the symptoms of heat stroke, call 911 and move the person to a cooler area immediately. Apply cold water to the skin and ice packs to the groin and armpit areas while waiting for emergency medical personnel.

Our physicians at St. Joseph Health wish you a safe and healthy summer!