28 Easy Summer Safety Tips Everyone Needs To Know

Looking to refresh yourself on your summer safety tips?

Because, everyone wants to enjoy summer, right?

But do you know how to enjoy it in a safe and healthy way?

Since my son came along I’ve been much more aware and conscious of taking time to make sure we are all protected.

So we’re going to talk through quite a few tips so just in case you’d rather skip through to different sections here’s a quick table of content.

• Sun
• Eyes
• Skin
• Water (pool, ocean, river, lake)
• Hydration
• Outdoors
• Food

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Sun Safety Tips

We all know the sun can be damaging. But did you also know the body needs the sun to get a healthy dose of Vitamin D? A vitamin that helps us have healthier bones, immune systems and manages high blood pressure.

With that said it is definitey important to protect yourself with sunscreen and other methods.

How much should you use thought?

There are studies that have shown that those sunscreens above 30 or so are no more effective than those at 30. Meaning a 50 or 80 doesn’t do much better than a 30.

Now what you do need to remember is to make sure you reapply it from time to time.

We took a trip to Disneyland last summer and before we left for the park we’d all put on a good layer.

Because, you know you’re suppose to put it on 30 minutes before sun exposure.

When we took a break after lunchtime and my son took his nap we’d do a good reapply before heading back out into the park.

Make it part of your schedule and you’ll be good to go!

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Now , in terms of which one do you want to go with is up to you.

You can make your own (check out Pinterest, there are so many options :)) or head to your favorite retail or online store.

For my little guy we used Coppertone Water Babies 50 when he was a baby, but currently we’re using Hawaiian Tropic 30.

It’s kinda become a favorite, you wanna know why? Well, the scent is wonderful. It is sad to say, but it’s become my new ‘perfume’ lol 🙂

Eye Summer Safety

I little back history of where the strength of this tip comes from.

I had the opportunity to work for an organization that encouraged and helped visually or mobility impaired individuals to become more independent while learning to cross country skiing.

Did you know that most people don’t wear sunglasses for their health.

It’s either for glare or simply for a fashion statement.

What you might not know is that sun damage to your eyes is a real thing and can begin the effects of blindness!

And technically we only get one set of eyes right, so you’ve gotta protect them!

Protect your eyes! Wear sunglasses!

And just like the sunscreen you have lots of options.

Don’t think you have to go expensive either.

My current pair I use are awesome for three reasons!

(A) I wear glasses sometimes and these sunglasses fit over them, perfectly! But in case you don’t wear glasses they still look and fit great!

(B) They fold so they can fit easily in a pocket, purse, bag, cup holder, etc.

(C) The bag they come with not only works to protect them in a pocket, purse, bag, etc. but they are made with microfiber cloth so they are perfect to clean them from those annoying smudges and smears that always appear, whenever you need to.

Now, let’s talk about kids!

We were lucky enough before my son was born to get infant sunglasses as a baby shower gift. Now I will admit, I think my son is pretty easy going when it comes to sunglasses but we started him wearing them early on.

And we’ve never had a problem.

Sunglasses are for your health, first and should be for fashion second.

Protect your eyes!!!!!

But you’re kid doesn’t like having something on their face and they are constantly taking them off?

Get a great pair of eyeglass holders and you won’t have to worry about it.

If they ‘take’ them off or got knocked off or you go inside a building and need to take them off, they won’t get lost!

The pair he got as a baby we still have, and actually still use!

Summer Safety for your Skin

So, we’ve already talked about sunscreen but there are other options too to protect your skin.

There are great men’s and women’s pants that also SPF protection!

And then there are these shirt options for men and women that do the same.

Hats are another great way to protect your head and neck from getting too much sun.

This hat I found doesn’t just do double duty it does quadruple duty (is that a thing :)).

• Protects your head and neck from the sun.
• Has UPF protection 50+.
• Securely holds onto sunglasses.
• Contains a hidden pocket for keys or money.

And if you’re like me and don’t do hats (for several reasons 🙂 ) why not use an umbrella?

The word itself – umbrella- comes from the Latin root word ‘umbra’ that means shadow or shade.

Now, have you seen these new umbrella’s they have out?

They reverse fold, meaning instead of folding down on top of you they fold out so the water won’t get on you!!! And they’ve got such cute options!

Studies show that having five sunburns in early adulthood increase your chance of skin cancer by 80%.

All these little steps will help keep that from happening!!!

‘Cause remember, you’re skin is your largest organ. And because of that we must protect it!

Protect your skin this summer!

Now, let’s talk about feet.

If you will be going to a beach/water park, get some water shoes!

Not only will they protect from walking on something that might be icky but sand and cement can get awfully hot and scorching when the sun has been beating down on it!

I know, you might feel silly (I’ll admit I do) but I’d rather not suffer or have burnt soles (could you imagine the pain!).

Water Summer Safety Tips

Let’s talk about water safety, in the pool, ocean, lake or river.

We all know that with summer comes going to the one of these water places. And of course that means there’s plenty of need for summer safety tips regarding being around water.

So, let’s get started!

~Never leave children unattended for even a second. Statistics show that accidents can happen in less than 2 inches of water.

~Wear some type of flotation device. Remember this is only helpful, but still don’t take our eyes away from your little ones.

Now, know that you should give them time to learn how they work, what it does and how they can work with them .

For example, we knew we were going to be going on vacation where we’d be doing some island-hopping.

Because my son hasn’t learned how to swim, we wanted to make sure he’d be safe.

We made sure to get the appropriate, coast guard approved life vest and every chance we had to go the the local pool we took it and put him in it.

He didn’t understand or trust it at first. But then he finally got it.

He understood it a bit better and was having the time of his life, without having to be gripping onto me.

And I’ll be honest, it was nice to not be clung to and seeing his happiness was so awesome 🙂

So, making sure that if he accidentally fell in or heaven forbid we had an accident he’d be safe.

Thankfully it never got used that way. We were, though, able to take him out a a few feet into the ocean which he was in love with.

~Even as an adult you should wear a life vest of some sort if you’re going to be in or on water.

Even once my brother and I got older, although we could swim and typically canoed in lakes, we always had to wear our life vest. It was never an option not to and never was even questions.

I guess sure, I thought about it, why if I can swim should I wear a life vest but I always did and still do.

It’s just good water safety practice!

~Be aware of undertow. It’s a current in the ocean that can be strong enough to hold you under.

~Rivers can have very strong currents too depending on the time of season and whether it’s rained recently.

~So speaking of undertow and strong currents – always swim with someone.

You always hear safety in numbers and that counts in the water too!

~If you end up heading down river by yourself make sure you go feet first and on your back.

Not only does this help keep your head above water, you feet would strike a log or rock first and allow you to ‘bounce’ off of it.

~Never underestimate water.

Have you ever tried to walk out of the ocean when there was a strong tide?

It’s easy to lose your balance and a child even more so!

~If you’ll be swimming somewhere tropical and or know there will be jelly fish make sure you have some vinegar on hand. It will help ease the pain from their sting. ( I know from personal experience!! :))

Hydration Summer Health Tips

Let’s talk about water, and all the different variations we need to cover.

Water, alchohol and soda/pop.

So, our bodies are made up of 60% water, which means when it’s hot and sunny outside and youre’ sweating a lot you’ll be losing so much of that water you need to replace it.

And your first and best option is water.

Side note: If you happen to be going somewhere that’s dry (not humid) you might not notice yourself sweating as much which only means you need to be on top of your hydration game even more!

This means possibly increasing your salt intake. Not only will it act as electrolytes but it will also help retain the water you drink in you rather than coming out of you.

But you don’t like plain water!

I hear ya. Sometimes I want something different.

You’ve got so many options it’s not even funny.

Why not try cutting up some of your favorite fruits, like strawberries, kiwis, peaches or mangos to add some extra flavor to your water.

Or, if you’d prefer vegetables, then try cucumbers.

Those still don’t float your boat?

There are plenty of powder mixes you can get that should fit the bill.

And to make it even easier to get in that water, look into getting a great water bottle or camelback.

There’s a water bottle I love and for a few awesome reasons.

1-It holds 32 oz which is a good amount. 2-It has a locking mechanism to keep the mouth spout from opening up on you when you don’t want it to. 3-The mouth spout is covered and hidden when not in use. 4-It has a clip carrying handle so it can be attached to a bag or purse without any trouble.

And the camelback, well, it’s hands free. Plus it has little pockets here and there for essentials.

But, my beer….

Now, if you’re still saying there’s no way you can enjoy water but you do plan on enjoying some alcohol, let’s look at some safe practices.

Because, even though I am not a big drinker myself, I know that everyone says that a cold beer tastes so good when it hot outside.

And I don’t doubt it, so have you ever heard of the one for one concept?

It’s simple, alternate each alcoholic drink of your choice with a glass of water.

Not only will this cut down on the chance of getting drunk or having a hangover but you’ll be doing your body a favor by keeping it hydrated!

But, my pop…..

O.k., so, I’ll admit, this is typically my go to especially at get together, outing, amusement park visits, ball games, etc.

But don’t forget, just like alcohol, pop/soda can have diuretic effects.

Meaning, it creates dehydrating effects on the body and causes you to lose more fluid quicker.

So, trying to use the one for one method when drinking pop too.

This is one of the best ways to keep your body hydrated during the summer.

Outdoor Summer Safety Tips

~Don’t forget the bug spray!!

We are typically an OFF! family. They have spray options but also toweletts which are super convenient to carry with you when you’re on the go.

But depending on where and what you’ll be doing you might want something stronger or just need something light.

If you’re looking for a natural option, many essential oils act as bug deterrents including peppermint, lavender and tea tree oils.

Currently we’re using a version from Repel that uses lemon eucalyptus oil, and it’s working great!

~Don’t forget the medicines that treat bug bites!

It still always seems inevitable.

No matter how much bug spray you use, how close you stand to the bug zapper, or if you even stay indoors, you’re bound to get a bug bite or two throughout the summer.

Depending on how allergic you are to different bites will determine what you need but the basics to have around would be:

• Calamine lotion – helps with itching and pain.
• Hydrocortisone – helps with itching.
• Antihistamine – helps with pain and itching. (Something like Benedryl)

Other Summer Health Tips

Even though we’ve already touched on sunscreen, wearing long pants and long shirts and using an umbrella there are two other simple tricks that can be used during the summer to help protect your skin and eyes.

~It should go without saying but try and stay in the shade as much as possible.

My dad still teases my mom that when they were dating she would always walk wherever the shade was, even if that meant crossing the street to get to it!

~Outside of that, do your best to not go outside during the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest, between 12-3.

So, if it’s at all possible, try to do things in the morning or wait until later in the day.

Summer Safety and Food Tips

Food. There’s so much good food to be enjoyed during the summer months.

My favorite is s’mores 🙂

Just make sure it’s all done in moderation.

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The one biggest summer safety tip I have for you for food is:

If it’s been left out for over two (2) hours you should discard it.

Yup, that’s not only for colder items like egg or macaroni salad but that even goes for cooked hot dogs and hamburgers too!

Basically, anything that’s been cooked should not stay out longer than about two hours, otherwise you need to have a cooler with some ice or another way to refrigerate the items so they don’t go bad.

In Conclusion

Well, there you have it!

If you’ve stuck with me this whole time – Thank You Bunches 🙂

I hope there was at least one nugget of summer safety in here that you learned.

There’s so much to enjoy during the summer and these are some of the ways to do it safely!

What did you learn about summer safety? Which one is the most useful to you? Please share with us in the comments! Thanks!!