Have a Blast With the Family This Summer, but Stay Safe
Summertime. It’s the time of year to put your feet up, relax and have a little fun. So, why not make it a little safer for the whole family? The following tips can help keep everyone healthy and injury-free — and, with any luck, away from the doctor’s office!
1. Beware of food poisoning
What’s a summer without a barbecue? To make sure that your meal goes off without an emergency trip to the restroom or the ER, make sure that mayonnaise and salads with mayonnaise stay out of the sun. If these food items are brought from refrigerator directly to table, help yourself, but don’t let them sit out more than 15 minutes in the hot sun. Hamburgers should be cooked thoroughly and not be pink inside.
2. Dive into summer safety
Diving and swimming is a popular summer activity for many families and their children, but it does carry some risk.
Swimming and diving injuries are most common among children, 17 or younger. For that reason, it’s important to equip kids with the proper safety precautions at an early age. Never dive into above-ground pools or into water that isn’t clear — where sand bars or objects below the surface may not be seen. As for swimming, never swim alone! Always swim in supervised areas and avoid rip currents.
3. Follow the rules of the road while biking
More than 80 million Americans enjoy cycling because it’s an environmentally efficient way to get around, a great form of exercise and a fun activity for the whole family. However, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), bike-related injuries are the reason for more than 1.3 million visits to hospitals, emergency rooms and doctors’ offices.
To avoid being a statistic, always wear a helmet and ride in the direction of traffic. Also, don’t listen to music with headphones, talk on your phone, text or do anything else that would distract you while riding.
4. Bounce with care
Jumping on a trampoline is a favorite pastime among kids because of the thrill that comes with it. Unfortunately, it also carries risks. The most common injuries are sprains and fractures that result from falls on the mat, falls on the frame or springs, collisions with another jumper and falls off the trampoline. To protect kids, trampolines should not be used for unsupervised recreational activity.
5. Keep cool: watch out for heat stroke
Keep your family cool and ultra-hydrated to avoid heat stroke. Water is OK, but Gatorade and PowerAde with electrolytes are far better because they help replace salt and retain fluid.
Knowing the warning signs is key to staving off serious trouble. The first sign is cramping in the legs. If that occurs, cool off and drink fluids until it goes away. Cramping — especially a cramp in the leg — is a sign that the body is losing salt and electrolytes. Additional signs of heat stroke include: red, hot, dry skin, rapid pulse, throbbing headache, confusion and dizziness.
If you miss the signs and it progresses, put ice packs on the groin, armpits and neck. Other ways to cool down include immersing the body in cool water, taking a cool shower, or wrapping in a cool, wet blanket.
Sources: OrthoInfo.org and WebMD.com
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