Summer Safety Spotlight: Your Guide to a Healthy, Happy Season

From lakeside adventures to backyard BBQs, summer is a time for fun, family, and fresh air. But with all that sunshine and activity comes a few seasonal risks. Here’s your go-to guide for staying safe, from water and heat to food, sun, and even tick bites.

Water Safety

Whether you're swimming, boating, or just relaxing near the water, it’s important to stay alert. Natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and streams can be unpredictable. These tips will help you and your loved ones stay safe while enjoying the water:

• No diving or jumping from cliffs or bridges. Hidden rocks and debris can cause serious injury.

• Swim only in designated areas during low water conditions, and always with a buddy.

• Supervise children closely. Avoid distractions like phones or books.

• Avoid alcohol when swimming, boating, or supervising kids.

• Wear life jackets that meet U.S. Coast Guard standards especially if you can’t swim. Life jackets are required on boats for anyone under 13 in Illinois and there must be one available for everyone on board.

• Learn CPR, your skills could save a life before help arrives.

• Avoid slippery rocks and fast-moving water. If you fall in, float on your back with feet pointed downstream.

• Check the weather forecast before you head to the water. Lightning and water don’t mix.

Heat Awareness

Summer heat can sneak up on you. High temperatures and humidity can lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. These simple precautions can help you stay cool and safe:

• Stay cool with air conditioning, cool showers, and light clothing.

• Hydrate often, even if you’re not thirsty.

• Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).

• Never leave kids or pets in cars even for a minute.

• Check on vulnerable neighbors like older adults and those with medical conditions.

• Know the signs of heat illness. Watch for cramps, tiredness, and stroke. If someone is confused, dizzy, or stops sweating, call 911 immediately. 

Sunburn Prevention & Treatment

A little sun can go a long way, especially when it comes to skin damage. Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays is one of the easiest ways to prevent long-term health issues like skin cancer:

·      Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours, even on cloudy days.

• Wear protective clothing like long sleeves, hats, and sunglasses.

• Avoid tanning beds as they increase skin cancer risk.

• Treat sunburns with cool baths, aloe vera, and hydrocortisone cream and avoid further sun exposure until healed.

• Seek medical help for blisters, fever, or confusion.

• Check the daily UV index at epa.gov/uv-index

Food Safety

BBQs and cookouts are summer staples, but warm weather creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Follow these tips to keep your meals safe and your guests healthy:

• Wash hands and surfaces before and after handling food.

• Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat items.

• Use a food thermometer and cook items thoroughly:

  • Burgers: 160°F

  • Chicken: 165°F

• Keep cold foods cold (below 40°F) and hot foods hot (above 140°F).

• Watch the clock, don’t leave food out for more than 2 hours or 1 hour if it’s over 90°F.

First Aid Basics

Scrapes, cuts, and minor injuries are common during outdoor play and yardwork. Knowing how to treat them properly can prevent infection and promote faster healing:

• Wash your hands to prevent infection.

• Stop the bleeding by gently pressing with a clean cloth or bandage.

• Clean the wound with running water, skip hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can irritate skin.

• Remove debris using tweezers cleaned with alcohol.

• Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist and reduce scarring.

• Cover the wound with a bandage or gauze, unless it’s a minor scrape that can stay uncovered.

• Change the dressing daily or whenever it gets wet or dirty.

• Seek medical help when there are signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or increasing pain), you haven’t had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years and the wound is deep or dirty, or you can’t remove all debris from the wound

Tick Bite Prevention & Treatment

Ticks are more than just a nuisance, they can carry serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Here’s how to protect yourself and your family while enjoying the outdoors:

• Wear long sleeves and pants in grassy or wooded areas.

• Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET or Picaridin.

• Shower within 2 hours of being outdoors.

• Check your body, pets, and gear for ticks.

• Remove ticks promptly with tweezers, don’t use heat or oils.

• Monitor for symptoms like rash or fever and contact a doctor if they appear.

Mosquito Bite Prevention & Care

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying, they can spread serious illnesses like West Nile virus, dengue, and Zika. Whether you're enjoying a backyard BBQ or hiking a wooded trail, here’s how to protect yourself and your family:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents with DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), or PMD. These are safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals.

• Wear protective clothing: long sleeves, long pants, and socks help reduce exposure.

• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin (but never apply it directly to skin).

• Use screens on windows and doors and repair any holes to keep mosquitoes out.

• Eliminate standing water: Once a week, empty and scrub containers like buckets, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, and toys—mosquitoes lay eggs in water.

•  If you get bitten, wash the area with soap and water, apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. Use anti-itch creams or oral antihistamines if needed.

Final Tips: Be Prepared

Keep a summer safety kit stocked with:

• Sunscreen

• Insect repellent

• First aid supplies

• Thermometer

• Water bottles

• Cooling rags

• List of emergency contacts