Contributed

As the semester finally comes to an end and summer begins, you may be considering going on a beach vacation, a cross-country road trip, a 3-day music festival or whatever else sounds like a great time spent with friends and family. However, with summer fun comes health risks you should be aware of. I’m not saying you shouldn’t book that spontaneous weekend trip to Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg, but if you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside this summer, especially in new places, be prepared! That way, you can have fun and not end up exhausted, sick or even hospitalized.

The most obvious (and often ignored) summer essential is hydration. Considering the fact that your body is about 60% water, staying hydrated during the summer months is essential. If left untreated, dehydration can have severe consequences and can even kill you. So if you’re planning on being outside this summer for long periods of time, make sure you’re drinking water.

Additionally, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be not-so-fun consequences of staying outside in the sun (especially if you’re dehydrated or sunburned). A general rule of thumb to follow during the summer is to limit your time outside: consider taking a short break in the shade or air conditioning every hour or two. If you feel sick or just not right, maybe call it a day on whatever activities you have planned.

If you’re traveling to a new place, make sure you know where you’re staying and where the nearest hospital is just in case things go south.

Not planning on traveling somewhere this summer? No matter where you call home, you’re bound to deal with bugs. Mosquitos, flies, ants, ticks, heck, even spiders– whatever kind of bug you encounter, they’re all kinda creepy and very annoying. If you’re heading outside, consider putting on bug spray, especially if you’re going out early in the morning or right at sunset. While bug spray may not smell the best, it will seriously save you from the miserable aftermath of a bug bite. When choosing the right bug spray for you and your family, ensure it’s EPA approved (a quick Google search will lead you to the EPA’s database)– EPA approval means you’re getting a spray that works, not just one that’s all natural and smells good.

If you have pets who spend time outdoors, make sure they’re up to date on their flea and tick medication. Learning how to properly remove a tick from your pet (or yourself) is also an essential summer skill.

While summer is one of the best seasons (according to some people), it’s also full of lots of nuisances and hazards you should be aware of. Do the fun and spontaneous thing, but make sure you do it while knowing the risks and what to do if it goes wrong.

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