While summer can be one of the best times of the year, the warm weather and new adventures can pose some safety concerns. However, just a few added precautions and safety tips can keep the fun lasting long after the sun goes down. ConsumerBell has compiled a great go-to list to keep your family safe all summer long while out and about!

Some of the biggest threats in summer are the high, humid temperatures and blaring sun rays. To protect you and your kids against sunburn and other harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure:

• Cover up – Wear a hat, sunglasses, and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
• Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

If you do get sunburned, there is unfortunately no rapid “cure”. Your skin just needs time to heal itself. To treat the pain, however, take an over-the-counter pain reliever and keep the area moisturized with aloe or other lotions. Keep the skin cool by using cold compresses or taking a cold bath. There is no such thing as a “healthy tan.” Unprotected sun exposure causes premature aging of the skin.

Heat stress is another huge risk factor. To avoid heat stress when exercising or doing excessive activity this summer:

• Reduce the intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels.
• Kids should have water or a sports drink always available and drink every 20 minutes while exercising in the heat.
• After an hour of exercise, children need to drink a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage to replace electrolytes lost in sweat and provide carbohydrates for energy.
• Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated shirts should be replaced by dry clothing.

Even when taking every precaution, heat stroke can still happen. Recognizing the symptoms, however, is the best way to relieve a victim of heat stroke quickly. The following are all symptoms of heat stroke.

• A Body temperature greater than 103°F
• Red/hot/dry skin
• No sweating – it means the body is unable to cool itself down.
• Rapid pulse
• Headache/dizziness/nausea

If a person has many or all of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. In the mean time, try to cool the victim down by moving them into a shady area and spraying them with cool water from a hose.

A lot of families love to go hiking and explore the outdoors while the sun is shining. But harmful, poisonous plants can be a threat to ruining the best days. A good rule of thumb is “leaves of three, let it be.” Poison oak and ivy are usually clustered in leaves of three. The oils on the plant causes an allergic reaction which irriates skin on contact. If you or your child gets these oils on your skin:

• Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol or a de-greasing soap like dishwashing soap and lots of water.
• Rinse frequently so that wash solutions do not dry on the skin and further spread the urushiol.
• An antihistamine can be taken to help relieve itching.

Do you have any summer safety tips to add? Post them in the comments or email us at info@consumerbell.com. Don’t forget to Like this post to share it with your friends on Facebook or tweet it to Twitter.