Top Summer Health Hazards To Avoid
The summer months are filled with long days, water parks, and cook outs, and while the warm weather is perfect for fun-filled days, there are also a number of hazards of which to be cautious. The risk factor for certain injuries and illnesses increases with the activities we gravitate toward during the summer months. Here are a few of the top summer health hazards to avoid and when to know if it’s time to see your family doctor.
Dehydration
The soaring temperature can take more than sweat out of your body. If you’re not rehydrating regularly, the summer sun can deplete your body of the nutrients it needs to keep your muscles healthy and functional. At your next routine health exam, ask your general physician how much water you should drink each day because the amount is different for everyone. Signs you’re dehydrated:
- Constantly thirsty, dry mouth
- Severe fatigue
- Confusion or dizziness
- Muscle cramps
- Lack of sweat
In extreme cases of dehydration, you may need to see your family doctor or Google “doctors nears me,” if you’re on vacation. Remember to drink plenty of water, take breaks from the sun, and if you work outside, stay in groups of pairs of two so you have immediate help available if needed.
Sunburn
Wearing sunscreen every day is important, but it’s even more crucial during the summer when the sun’s UV rays are strongest. Each day in the U.S., general physicians diagnose more than 8,500 people with skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. UV rays can trigger skin lupus, damage the skin’s ability to heal itself, and cause skin cancer. To avoid sunburn, wear SPF 50 (minimal 30) each day and other accessories that ward against UV exposure like a hat, sunglasses, or swimsuit cover.
Food Poisoning
An unexpected hazard in the summer months is food poisoning. Family picnics, cookouts, and neighborhood block parties may be fun, but they can also serve as breeding grounds for bacteria when food is left out for long periods of time. Bacteria grow most rapidly in the “Danger Zone,” temperatures between 40 ° and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes.
Your family doctor can give you tips on how to prepare and store your food to avoid contamination. Nearly 300,000 people are sent to the hospital to be treated by a general doctor each year for food poisoning – avoid the Danger Zone with your food and you won’t be one of them!
Burns
A number of summer activities and holidays can put you at risk for burns if you’re not careful. Family doctors routinely warn patients of campfires, grills, and fireworks – all major causes of burns over the summer. More than 11,100 people were treated for burns from fireworks by an emergency room physician in 2016.
- Campfire: Never use an accelerant when building a campfire. Use water to put the fire out while standing several feet away and dousing the flames.
- Grill: Use grill specific cooking tools to avoid burning your hands. Use charcoal that doesn’t require lighter fluid.
- Fireworks: Follow the directions precisely and never try to pick up a firework after it’s lit.
Summer is a great time for water fun and cookouts. Use these tips to keep your family safe and out of the family doctor’s office.
