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With summer in full swing, many of us are hitting the pool or the beach. But intense summer heat and unsupervised time in the water can spell big trouble. 
Brittany Wilson, a certified registered nurse practitioner at the Mansfield Laurel Health Center, joins us with important tips for enjoying our summer safely. 

Why Water Safety Matters:
A dip in the water is a great way to cool off in the summer heat, but it’s important to enjoy the water safely. The news is full of tragic stories about accidental drowning deaths and boating accidents. In fact, drowning remains the leading cause of death in teens and young children.

Stay Safe in the Water This Summer with These Helpful Tips:
– Never swim alone. No matter your age or skill, accidents happen; if you have an emergency or fall unconscious, your risk of drowning is greatly reduced by supervision.
– Enroll children early in swim lessons. Teaching kids how to float and swim saves lives.
– Not a strong swimmer? Use floatation aides like arm bands (floaties) and life preservers.
– Be vigilant, especially around young children. It only takes a moment for tragedy to unfold.
– Lifeguards aren’t babysitters. They cannot keep track of every person at all times.
– If your child is missing, immediately check the pool or any nearby body of water. Time is critical in rescuing and resuscitating.

Beating the Heat:
We’re all ready to soak up some sunny weather, but it’s important to keep an eye on time spent in the summer heat. When temperatures rise, so does our risk for heat cramps, exhaustion, and heat stroke. Minor heat illnesses can quickly progress to more serious conditions when left untreated, so if you suspect someone is suffering from the heat, it’s important to act fast.

Stay Cool with These Heat Safety Tips:
– Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated; alcohol and soda dehydrate the body further.
– Plan outdoors activities for early or late in the day when the sun is less intense. Avoid outdoor activities from 10 am – 3 pm when possible.
– Take breaks. Seek out shade, a cool shower, or step indoors for a blast of AC. If you don’t have air-conditioning at home, visit a public place that does like a library or store.
– Never leave people or pets in parked vehicles during warm weather no matter how quickly you plan to dash into a store or run an errand.
– Know your risks. Certain medications like antihistamines, anti-depressants, diuretics, and blood pressure drugs can make it more difficult to regulate your body temperature.
– Learn to recognize the signs of heat illness and take quick action to keep it from progressing. Heat cramps are an early warning sign of heat illness, followed by headaches, nausea, irritability and loss of concentration. Get to shade or the indoors and rehydrate.
– Suspect heat stroke? Call 911. If someone passes out or experiences dizziness, rapid pulse, and red dry skin in the heat, call 911. Heat stroke is a medical emergency in which the body can no longer cool itself down and can cause permanent injury and death. Remove their clothing, place ice along the groin, armpits, wrists, and neck, cover the person with a wet sheet, and blow a fan over them until help arrives.

Need more summer safety tips? Visit the Laurel Health Centers are laurelhc.org.
For more information on the Laurel Health Centers, or to make an appointment, call 1-833-LAUREL-H-C today or visit laurelhc.org!