Every year, magazines, television shows, and newscasts (and parents!) talk about the importance of summer safety.  We think it’s an important enough topic to join in and talk about it here, too.  Too many people – children and adults alike – end up with serious conditions when they do not heed advice such as the tips we’ve provided here.  We don’t want you to end up being one of those who suffers.  So please read on and heed this advice … and have a safe and fun summer!

Wear a water-resistant sunscreen.  Yes, we know you’ve heard this a million times from your parents.  Well, they’re right.  And remember to cover your feet, nose, ears, and lips.  Oh, and apply it 30 minutes before going outside.

Enjoy the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  We know you want to go out and play.  Go ahead!  But take a few minutes here and there to cool down.  This will help you avoid sunburns and heat stroke.

Drink lots of water.  And then drink some more.  The Institute of Medicine says most adults need 11 to 15 cups of water (or other fluids) every day to stay fully hydrated, and even more if you are very active.

Know how to use a first aid kit … and have one nearby.

Keep fresh fruit, raw veggies, and ice or water handy.  If you’re going to the park or headed out for a day trip, take some along in a cooler.  You’ll save money by using snacks from home, plus you won’t be as tempted to snack on high-calorie snacks from a convenience store.

This one is for parents:  Even if your kids can swim, they should never swim alone and they need constant supervision.  Don’t lose sight of them, particularly if you’re at the beach.

Heed beach warnings!  Rip currents, mistakenly called undertows, can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including lake shores.  If you do get caught in a rip current, don’t fight it. Stay calm and swim or float parallel to shore. Once you’re out of the current, you can swim toward shore.

Floaties, inner tubes, and other flotation devices are not life-savers!  Children and adults alike may have a false sense of security while using them, so be sure you and your family members know how to swim.  And ask the lifeguard about using flotation devices; sometimes they are not even allowed at public pools and beaches.

Take care of our planet and the animals on it by (a) keeping your trash off the beach, (b) recycling as much as possible, and (c) cutting the rings off plastic six-pack holders so turtles, birds, and other ocean inhabitants don’t get tangled in them or mistake them for food.

This is just a partial list of ways you can be safer this summer.  For more information, search “summer safety” at www.aap.org and www.safekids.org.

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