Between the constant sunshine, celebrations, and beach days, Summer is hands down one of the top four seasons of all time. But all that sun-soaked fun can come along with increased health risks. Stay on top of summer safety by getting to know these health concerns and how to prevent them.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is more common in people who spend a lot of time in the sun, so if you’re going to soak up those rays, lather on the SPF, check yourself for abnormal moles and freckles every few months, and talk with your dermatologist about a free cancer screening.

Heat Stroke

Over 100 degrees outside? Beware of heat stroke. Extreme heat exposure can cause the body’s core temperature to rise, resulting in symptoms like confusion, shortness of breath, inability to sweat, and a fast pulse. Heat stroke can be life threatening, so call 911 right away. In the meantime, get indoors or into shade and cool the body with ice and cold water.

Food Poisoning 

We all love a nice summer picnic. Sadly, so does bacteria. Avoid a food poisoning outbreak by making sure open food doesn’t stay too warm for too long and keeping perishables in a cooler with ice. Food left out of the fridge for more than an hour in 90-degree weather, may not be safe to eat.

Swimmer’s Ear

Sometimes, all that surfing and swimming can lead to an uncomfortable ear infection. Prevent water from getting stuck in your ear canals after a day at the pool by titling your head into a towel and gently pulling your ear lobe to let the water drain out. 

Bug Bites

A bug bite can be more than an itchy inconvenience if it carries an infectious disease like West Nile or Lyme Disease. Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and pants in buggy areas and always using a good repellent.

Fireworks Injuries

Fireworks cause over 10,000 ER visits each year. So it’s probably best to leave those dazzling displays to the professionals. That said, if you choose to do them in your backyard, always keep children at a safe distance, never hold a lighted firework, and stay away from people, houses, and flammable material.