Family Health

Heating Up: Precautions to Keep Your Family Safe This Summer

Jun 25 • 2015

Summertime means the kids are out of school and the weather is ideal for outdoor family activities. However, it is important to know what precautions to take in order to keep your family safe while enjoying the sun.

Heat Safety
When your body’s temperature control system becomes unable to control itself, heat-related illnesses like heat stroke or heat exhaustion may occur. Children up to four years old are at the biggest risk for this. To prevent this:

  • Dress babies and children in loose, lightweight clothing in a light color
  • Participate in outdoor activities during morning and evening hours when the temperature is cooler
  • Wear sunscreen at all times with an SPF of at least 15
  • Take a cool shower or bath after being outside

Water Safety
Water-related activities are some of the most popular choices during the summer, especially for children. Make sure your kids are playing safely by:

  • Always supervising them around water
  • Teaching them how to swim with formal swimming lessons
  • Learning CPR
  • Installing a fence around a home pool

Bug Bites
There are many different viruses that can be transmitted by bites from bugs like mosquitos and ticks. Prevent diseases like West Nile and Lyme disease with these precautionary measures:

  • Use insect repellant when playing outside
  • Make sure your back and front yards are free of ticks
  • Check yourself and your children for ticks immediately after being outside

Making sure you are aware of these common summer safety issues can make this season more enjoyable for everyone in the family.

Visit baptistonline.org for information about Baptist’s health care services, or find a physician by visiting our Find a Doctor page.