Discover six common summertime health risks and how to prevent them.

Summer wouldn’t be complete without activities and adventure, and nothing can ruin the fun like an injury or illness. Before you and your loved ones start your summer experiences, it’s important to know the most common summertime health risks and how to avoid them to keep the fun going and steer clear of emergencies.

Summer is a time for fun, vacations, outdoor activities, and trips to the beach, but it also sees an increase in some severe injuries and illnesses. According to the CDC, there are over 400 drowning deaths and over 150 heat-related deaths every July, making it the deadliest month of the year for these types of incidents associated with some of our favorite summer activities.

Learn how to protect your family from these summertime health risks and keep them safe this summer.

6 Summertime Health Risks to Avoid

To prevent health emergencies from ruining your summer fun, here are some potential risks to watch out for and avoid.

1. Sunburn

Unprotected exposure to the sun can cause severe skin damage and even worse, skin cancer. To prevent burns, practice skin safety. It is recommended to apply sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or above to all exposed skin and reapply at least every two hours. You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothing.

2. Heatstroke

When the summer temperatures are extremely high, you and your loved ones are at risk for heat-related illnesses, like a heatstroke. Heatstroke is the most serious heat-related illness that can cause permanent and serious damage, or even death, due to the body’s inability to cool down and regulate its temperature. Fortunately, heat-related illnesses are completely avoidable by:

• Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
• Moderating time outside in the sun by committing to outdoor physical activity in the early mornings
• Wearing loose-fitting and light-colored clothes and accessories that block the sun, like a hat or sunglasses

3. Animal Bites

Studies show that animal bites tend to increase when the weather is warm. Although there are no specific reasons why, there is speculation around irritability in the heat or greater access to animals from being outdoors. It is important to watch your children around animals and be mindful of signs of animal aggression.

4. Drowning

Sunny summer days are meant for spending long days at the pool or the beach but being around bodies of water presents a serious danger no matter the size. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death among children ages one to four. Before visiting your local swimming pool or traveling to the beach, keep these tips in mind:

• Learn CPR
• Have life jackets handy
• Sign your children up for swimming lessons
• Swim in designated areas with lifeguards
• Do not leave children alone
• Follow the rules

5. Food Poisoning

The heat can have a great impact on the quality of food. The summer months see an increase in food poisoning incidents due to the sweltering hot temperatures. Also, when eating outdoors without a full kitchen, mishandling complications can be common. It is important to follow the same rules you do in the kitchen, like keeping raw food separate from cooked food, thoroughly cooking your meat, keeping it at the temperature it needs to be, and more.

6. Insect Stings

Being outside in nature leaves you susceptible to interacting with different insects like bees, spiders, and mosquitos. Not only can bites or stings be annoyingly painful, but some insects carry life-threatening diseases. When you’re in insect-dense areas, like the woods or creek, it’s recommended to use insect repellent and wear heat-appropriate long sleeves and pants with your socks tucked in.

We are here for you all summer, 24/7! From dehydration to bites and sting care, NW Indiana ER & Hospital is here to get you feeling better quickly. Our state-of-the-art emergency room with advanced laboratory is ready to provide full care for you and your loved ones and get back to your summer fun.  For all your summer medical emergency needs, your neighborhood ER & Hospital is here, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, NW Indiana ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.