If you’re taking medications or using skincare products that make your skin more sensitive to UV rays, be extra cautious to avoid skin damage from a bad sunburn.
Keep Summer Safe: Resources & Tips from Our Experts
It’s summer time, and some of you welcome the extra sunlight. You’re thrilled to head to the pool and sleep in a hammock. Some of you, on the other hand, don’t feel excited at all. Sunburns, tick bites, fireworks, drowning, dehydration — to you, summer in Virginia poses tons of threats. You’re worried about how to keep summer safe.
Whether your lemonade glass if half full or half empty, we’ve got the hot tips you need to keep you and your family healthy.
How to Keep Summer Safe
Our UVA Health experts have weighed in on all kinds of safety issues that crop up during the summer. You can think of these dangers as:
- Natural
- Seasonal
- Situational
Summer Natural Dangers
Summer brings out magnolias and roses, but it also ushers in a time of ticks, snakes, and spiders. We cover all you need to know to avoid nasty run-ins during your next outdoor adventure.
You’ll also want to make sure you’ve prepped your family on water safety. When you’re out on a kayak, swimming in local creeks and lakes, or floating in the pool, you’ll want to stay alert and be prepared for natural dangers.
Summer Seasonal Dangers
Heat, humidity, and sun define our region’s summer. Make sure to stay hydrated and covered in sunscreen when you’re outside. Avoid heatstroke while exercising in the heat.
Summer Situational Dangers
July 4th festivities always bring with them casualties. Staying safe during this summer celebration takes a little planning.
Our emergency room also sees a rise in traffic accidents and other injuries during the summer. Of course, it makes sense that increased time outdoors leads to higher physical risks.
Then there’s the vacation weight gain due to your sudden daily ice cream habit. Or your kids spend their whole vacation inside, not moving. Eating well and staying active during the summer can seem challenging.
Don’t let caution derail your summer fun. Read up on these prevention tips. Get prepared and make plans for a safe and happy summer.
If even just thinking about snakes makes your heart race, learning the facts can help you co-exist peacefully with these reptiles.
Hot, humid days aren't just uncomfortable. They're dangerous. Knowing the signs of heatstroke can save your life or others.
Don’t let heat and humidity ruin your summer workouts. These tips can keep you safe and healthy.
Emergency room (ER) visits spike as temperatures rise and people spend more time outdoors. Here’s how to avoid common injuries and illnesses.
Two dermatologists address common myths and misconceptions that may keep people of color from taking sun protection seriously.
Many people have trouble tolerating heat. But if you have a heart condition, it might be even harder.
You may be outside even more than usual this summer. Although outdoor activities are great for de-stressing and exercise, they do come with a risk: tick-borne illness.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a wrench in many family summer plans. It can be difficult to keep everyone active and happy – especially kids.
These two emergency experts have spent years rescuing people from pools, floods, rivers, lakes. Read their stories & learn how to avoid drowning.
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