Summer Safety Tips For The Whole Family
From sunburn to air pollution and from insect bites to dehydration, summer comes with its own set of risks to our health and safety—but whatever the issue, we’ve got you covered.
See the tips and strategies below. And when in doubt, get in touch with your doctor for additional information, clarification and advice.
Protect Your Skin
Says Dr. Jack Levy, assistant attending dermatologist and assistant professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, it’s important to protect yourself from sun damage and reduce your skin cancer risk by taking the following steps:
- Use sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using products containing SPF 30 or higher.
- Apply it 30 minutes before going out into the sun to give it time to penetrate. Apply it liberally, and reapply it every 2 to 3 hours throughout the day.
- Wear sunglasses with a UV rating of 400.
- Wear a hat with a brim at least 3 inches wide.
- Cover up. Wear sun-protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and pants, with a UV protection factor of at least 15.
- Seek shade.
“Gentle sun rays are important for vitamin D production, mood elevation and regulation of your sleep cycle, so don’t hide from the sun; enjoy it wisely,” he says.
Avoid insect bites
In the New York Metropolitan Area, mosquitoes don’t transmit most of the diseases they’re famous for, such as Zika, dengue and malaria—but West Nile virus is a notable exception.
Mosquitoes tend to bite around dusk and dawn. If you’re out and about just after sunset, right before sunrise or anytime in between, avoid getting bitten by using bug spray, especially one with an active ingredient like DEET.
You can also keep ticks and Lyme disease at bay via the following preventive measures, especially when walking through wooded areas:
- Use bug/tick spray.
- Dress yourself and your children in long pants, long sleeves and shoes that cover all parts of the foot.
- Stick to trails and avoid walking in brush or grass.
- Wear light-colored clothing that allows you to see ticks more easily.
- Perform tick checks when you return indoors, paying special attention to your armpits, groin area, scalp and under skin folds.
- If you find a tick attached to your skin, grab it as close to your skin as possible with clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Pull upward and straight out with steady pressure to remove the tick. Then, wash your hands and the area where the tick was with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Minimize the effects of air pollution, especially when the air quality index (AQI) is poor
Dr. Michael Niederman, professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, offers the following recommendations when the air quality is potentially hazardous to your health:
- Postpone vigorous exercise and avoid heavy exertion if you experience chest tightness, coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath.
- If these symptoms persist, rest and limit your activities. Try to stay indoors in air conditioning, and keep the windows closed.
- Consider investing in an air purifier.
- Try to avoid indoor air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, incense, candles and smoke from cooking.
- Wear an N95 or KN95 mask if you need to go outside. Wear it on public transportation as well.
- When traveling to work by car, keep the windows closed and use air conditioning.
Air quality forecasts and real-time information can be found at Airnow.gov—a website provided through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Stay hydrated
- Adults are advised to drink extra fluids when it’s hot or when they’re sick. The National Academy of Medicine recommends about 13 cups of water per day for healthy men and 9 cups for women.
To keep your child hydrated this summer…
- Make sure they drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
- Send your child to the playground or day camp with a water bottle. Put fruit infusers in it, or add slices of citrus, berries, pineapple, melon or even cucumber.
- Include silly straws or fun cups, and decorate water bottles with stickers.
- Offer your child a beverage at every meal and between meals.
- Include hydrating foods such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit, berries, cucumber, lettuce, celery, tomatoes and homemade popsicles.
Prevent heat-related illness
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast so that you can prepare in advance before the next heat wave strikes.
- Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and limit caffeinated beverages.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
- Limit exercise to cooler periods of the day.
- Wear a hat and loose, light-colored clothing.
- Apply a wet towel to your neck, or wear a wet headband.
- Try to avoid being outside or in direct sunlight when the temperature is higher than 95 degrees. Better to stay indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned environment.
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
- Check in on your older neighbors and those who may not be able to help themselves.
…and the CDC adds a few important “don’ts”:
- Don’t use the stove or oven to cook during a heat wave as these will make your apartment hotter.
- Don’t rely on a fan as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside. Use air conditioning instead.
- Never leave infants or children unattended in a parked car, even if the windows are open. Children left unattended in parked cars are at risk for heat stroke and even death.
Grilling safely
- Only use your grill outdoors.
- Grill away from your house and any overhanging tree branches.
- Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the grill at all times, and that includes while the grill is cooling down.
- Open the lid of the gas grill before lighting it.
- If the flame goes out on a propane grill, turn the grill and the gas off, and wait 5 minutes before relighting it.
- Regularly remove fat or grease buildup. That’s easiest to do when you finish cooking.
- When using a charcoal grill, only use lighter fluid made for that type of grill.
- Let the coals cool completely before disposing of them.
“If a flame is involved—if your clothes catch on fire, for instance—stop what you’re doing, drop to the ground and roll,” says Dr. Philip Chang, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Trauma, Burns, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. “For a burn injury, the cooling process is very important. Run the affected area under cool, running water for at least 10 minutes to help decrease the progression of the injury. Ice is not a good idea, though, because it can drop the temperature of the skin too much, causing blood flow to that area to stop.”
If the burn does not appear serious, next steps include applying petroleum jelly two to three times daily and keeping it covered with a nonstick, sterile bandage. Taking over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help to minimize pain.
Stay safe before, during and after your travels
Before you depart:
- Check the CDC’s destination pages for travel health information. See what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.
- If you plan to do strenuous activities in the heat such as hiking or biking, try to adjust before you travel by exercising 1 hour per day in the heat.
- Research options for care at your destination.
- Bring copies of your family’s prescriptions with you.
- Consider bringing a first aid kit.
While you’re away:
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.
- Rest often and try to stay in the shade when outdoors.
- Use insect repellent.
- Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher when traveling.
- Protecting yourself from the sun isn’t just for tropical beaches—you can get a sunburn even if it’s cloudy or cool. You are at the highest risk for UV exposure when you’re traveling during summer months, near the equator, at high altitudes or between 10 am to 4 pm.
- If your summer travels include water activities, be careful when swimming, boating, or diving, especially in countries where emergency services may not be readily available.
- Avoid swimming in fresh water lakes and rivers. Infections such as schistosomiasis and leptospirosis are spread by contact with fresh water.
After you return:
“Diarrhea, fever and rash are the most commonly reported symptoms among post-vacation travelers,” says Dr. Ashima Oza, a primary care physician and an instructor in the Division of Medicine.
In most cases, illness after travel is due to a viral infection that usually resolves in 5 to 7 days.
“For mild symptoms such as a runny nose, congestion or a sore throat, supportive care is sufficient,” she says. “That includes acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief, warm fluids and rest. However, in the case of more severe infections that come with fever, chest pain or trouble breathing, get in touch with your doctor’s office or go to the nearest Emergency Room.”
Stay in touch with your doctors using the Weill Cornell Medicine Connect app. You can access your medical records and prescriptions from anywhere, and even schedule a video or virtual urgent care visit if needed.