Here's to Your (Summer) Health

Summer is a great time of year.  It's a time to be outdoors hiking, swimming, bike riding, camping, playing games, and being active.  It's also a time to be cautious and mindful of your health, something I was reminded of recently when my husband needed to be rushed to the ER.

Here are some important tips to follow in keeping safe and healthy during the hot summer months:

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  When it's really hot outside, be sure to drink plenty of water, even when you don't feel too thirsty.  Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are no laughing matter.
• Use sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.  Sunburns and skin cancer are nothing to joke about.  Slop on that sunscreen and slap on that hat to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.
  
• Use insect repellent.  Mosquito bites are itchy and uncomfortable, and stings from bees or wasps can be dangerous.  Spray on the repellent and keep away from buzzing airborne things.
  
• Check for ticks.  There is currently no cure for lyme disease, which is serious and causes a whole array of health issues.  When going outdoors in tick-inhabited areas, tuck long pants into socks and do a body check for the pests as soon as you get home, pulling out any ticks from skin and seeking medical care.
• Food safety.  Everyone loves a summer barbecue or picnic, but no one wants to get food poisoning.  Don't keep salads and sandwiches with mayonnaise out too long, and be sure to cook meats thoroughly.
• Swim safety.  Even if you're an experienced swimmer, it's always a good idea to have a swim buddy, and it helps to swim where lifeguards are present.

So, get outside and enjoy the weather!  Have plenty of fun this summer, but don't let safety take a vacation with you.

With warm summer wishes from the perch.