Summertime’s Special Safety Concerns

Everybody loves summertime and summertime activities! Once summer equinox has come and gone, hot weather begins in earnest—along with a host of safety concerns unique to this time of year.

Some folks refer to July and August, when temperatures become nearly unbearable, as the “dog days of summer.” Folklore once blamed summer’s extreme heat for causing dogs to go mad, but it seems to impact humans more than dogs. Numerous studies show a clear correlation between extreme heat and spikes in violent crime.  

But according to the Farmer’s Almanac, “dog days” refers to the window from July 3 to August 11, the 20 days before and after the day Sirius, the “dog star,” rises with the sun. During these days Earth’s axial tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to angle toward the sun so that its rays hit more directly and stay longer.

HOPE Family Health wants to remind you of precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family safe from summer-specific health hazards.

Heat-Related Deaths

• “Look Before You Lock.” Never, ever leave a child, a disabled adult, or a pet alone in a car, especially during the summer months. With an outdoor temperature of a relatively balmy 80 degrees Farenheit, it only takes 10 minutes for the interior of a car to reach a temperature of 99 degrees; 20 minutes to reach 109; 30 to reach 114; and 60 minutes to reach 123 degrees Farenheit.

• Stay Aware, Hydrated and Alive. Heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps pose a serious risk during the hottest summer months, especially for those working or exercising in the heat of the day. If at all possible, avoid exposure to abnormal or prolonged amounts of heat; if not, stay hydrated, try to wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing to allow for ventilation and to reflect the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them. Watch for symptoms of dizziness, thirst, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness—all signs of heat exhaustion, which, if left untreated, can lead to a life-threatening heat stroke, with symptoms of confusion, dizziness and losing consciousness.

Water Safety

According to the American Red Cross, A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen. Death and injury from drownings happen every day in home pools and hot tubs, at the beach or in oceans, lakes, rivers and streams, bathtubs, and even buckets. 

• Never leave a child unsupervised near standing water either near or inside the home.

  -Outside, swimming pools, ornamental ponds for lily pads or koi, and natural creeks and ponds all pose a hazard, no matter how small.

  -Inside and around the home, very small children can easily tumble into buckets, ice chests, tubs, toilets, and other containers holding water.

• Make sure any boating activity includes properly-fitting flotation devices in case of emergency.

• Do not let children swim unsupervised.

• Do not rely on personal flotation devices to keep children safe in a swimming pool or hot tub (particularly water wings, which fall off easily).

• If water activities are a regular part of your family’s summer lifestyle, consider learning CPR and infant and child first aid.

• Give your child swimming lessons at the earliest age offered.

• Make sure your home’s pool is contained within a childproof fence.

• Do not dive into shallow or unfamiliar water; require children to enter water feet-first.

• Keep rescue equipment and a phone with emergency numbers near the pool at all times.

Sun Damage to Skin and Eyes

Did you know skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S.? Although most skin cancers, such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, are highly treatable, how you take care of your skin now can make a big difference in the long run. Additionally, exposure to UV rays contributes to cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye issues.

• Apply water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater consistently before going outdoors for long periods of time, and re-apply every two hours.

• Stay out of the sun during peak hours of 10am to 2pm.

• Avoid tanning beds.

• When outdoors, wear sunglasses that provide 95-100% UV protection.

Insect bites

• If you or someone in your family is allergic to bee or other insect stings, make sure you

  have emergency treatment with you before you leave to adventure into the outdoors.

• Mosquito- and tick-borne diseases pose a hazard, especially during the summer months.

• If you use insect repellent, be sure to read and follow instructions for safe application.

  -Only apply spray repellent outside in open air, and do not apply near eyes, nose or mouth.

  -Small children frequently put their hands in their mouths. Do not apply insect repellent to very young children, and when you return indoors, wash their hands with soap and hot water.

• Once at home, check for ticks, particularly under arms, around navel, behind knees, and where clothing presses against skin.

Snake bites

Suffering a snake bite is not unheard of but it is relatively uncommon. According to Cleveland Clinic, reported cases of venomous snake bite in the U.S. average 7,000 to 8,000 annually, with only 5 to 10 fatalities. But the risk exists, and any snake bite should be treated as a medical emergency. If you live in an area where snakes are common, particularly between April and October, and at dawn or dusk when snakes are most active, there are steps you can take to prevent snake bite.

• Be aware of your surroundings (even on your porch or patio).

• Be careful where you put your hands and feet. Don’t step or reach into unknown spaces, holes or underneath objects without checking for snakes.

• If you are going into a wooded or heavily vegetated area:

  -wear long, loose clothing and high-top boots;

  -step on logs and rocks, rather than over them;

  -use a walking stick to poke bushes, tall grasses and weeds before attempting to walk through the foliage or clear it from an overgrown flower bed.

• Snakes can strike up to half their body length

If you or someone in your party receives a snake bite:

• DO:

  -Call 911 for help.

  -Let people around you know a snake is in the area and has bitten you.

  -Sit or lie down in a safe area away from the snake.

  -Remove jewelry and/or accessories around the bite.

  -Wash the bite wound gently with soap and water, rubbing away from the bite site.

  -Cover the bite wound with a clean, dry dressing.

  -Make a note of the time the bite occurred, and watch the bite would area for swelling or any changes to the skin around the wound.

• DO NOT:

  -Panic.

  -Wait to call 911.

  -Try to catch the snake.

  -Apply a tourniquet.

  -Cut into the wound.

  -Try to suck out the venom.

  -Put ice or water on the bite wound.

  -Drink alcohol or caffeine.

  -Take any pain-relieving medicine such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Remember, summer is a time for relaxing and having outdoor fun with friends and family. With a little awareness and a few simple precautions we can all make sure it stays fun.

Learn more:

• https://www.farmersalmanac.com/why-are-they-called-dog-days-of-summer

• https://camden.rutgers.edu/news/how-weather-affects-crime-rates

• https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness

• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heatrelated-illnesses-heat-cramps-heat-exhaustion-heat-stroke

• https://www.weather.gov/images/wrn/social_media/2017/auto_safety_infographic.jpg

• https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety.html?srsltid=AfmBOoprQoHiOYHUgoHKFVM0khopZlncsn5D6JbM2lgJyrYKMHbk3IEr

• https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15647-snake-bites