SUMMER SAFETY How to be safe in the sun, outdoors and in and around the water

The ACS notes that there are no safe UV rays, so it’s imperative that people take UV protection seriously. The following are some of the many ways to protect yourself while still enjoying sunny days outdoors.

The ACS notes that UV rays are at their strongest in the middle of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so staying inside during these hours can protect your skin. This is important in the spring and summer, as the ACS says UV rays are stronger in these seasons.

Hats with a brim that is at least two to three inches all around protects vulnerable areas such as the eyes, forehead, nose, ears, and scalp. Choose a hat with a dark, nonreflective underside, as such a hat can lower the amount of UV rays that reach the face from reflective surfaces.

A relaxing day outdoors soaking up some of the sun’s rays is how many people prefer to spend their free time when the weather allows. While the very vision of a warm summer afternoon spent outdoors can invoke positive feelings, it’s important that people take protective measures before going outside and continue to do so while they’re out there. According to the American Cancer Society, most skin cancers are the result of exposure to ultraviolet rays in sunlight. UV rays are a type of radiation that do not have enough energy to penetrate deeply into the body. As a result, they primarily affect the skin. Overexposure to these rays can lead to skin cancer.

The ACS recommends applying sunscreen before leaving the house and reapplying often while outdoors. When an SPF 30 product is applied correctly, a person gets the equivalent of one minute of UVB ray exposure for each 30 minutes he or she spends in the sun.

It may not seem especially scientific, but the shadow test is a simple way for anyone to gauge how strong UV rays from the sun are at any given moment. According to the ACS, if your shadow is shorter than you, that means the sun’s rays are at their strongest. This simple test can help people immediately determine how strong the sun’s rays are, compelling them to be extra cautious if necessary.

FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY

BROAD SPECTRUM: The words “broad spectrum” means that the sunscreen can protect your skin from both types of harmful UV rays — UVA rays (aging) and the UVB rays (burning).

SPF 30 OR HIGHER: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you select a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher. It is also important to remember that high-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs. A high-number SPF does not allow you to spend additional time outdoors without reapplication. Sunscreens should be reapplied approximately every two hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.

WATER RESISTANT: Dermatologists also recommend that you look for the words “water resistant.” This tells you that the sunscreen will stay on wet or sweaty skin for a while before you need to reapply. Water resistance lasts either 40 or 80 minutes.

UNDERSTANDING LABELS: The FDA has NOT defined the terms “sports,” “baby,” and “sensitive skin,” for sunscreen. Generally sports sunscreens are going to be water resistant and baby/sensitive skin sunscreens are like to contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as they are less likely to irritate skin. If a sunscreen label says it contains insect repellent, the AAD recommends looking for another sunscreen.

NO sunscreen is able to block 100 percent of the sun’s UVB rays.

Pools make some backyards the places to be in late spring and throughout summer. Lazy summer afternoons are a lot more enjoyable when they’re spent in or alongside a pool, and kids tend to say “I’m bored” with considerably less frequency when a pool is within arm’s reach. Pools are certainly fun, but they’re only as fun as they are safe. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2018, at least 148 children younger than age 15 fatally drowned in swimming pools or spas. While those figures represented a 9 percent decline from the year prior, 148 deaths is still 148 lives lost too early. Homeowners can employ various preventive measures to reduce the risk of pool-related accidents on their properties.

INSPECT GATES AROUND YOUR POOL: The International Code Council®, a member-focused association dedicated to the construction of safe, sustainable, affordable, and resilient structures, advises homeowners to inspect all pedestrian gates in the barrier fences around their pools. Such gates should be self-closing and self-latching, as both features ensure gates are always closed. In addition, the ICC recommends padlocking other gates around the property.

REMOVE OBJECTS AROUND PEDESTRIAN GATES: Kids can climb up on chairs, tables, large toys, and other objects left around pool gates to gain access to pools even when their parents aren’t looking or even home. Such items should be removed.

INSTALL A POOL ALARM: Pool alarms can alert homeowners to accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. The ICC recommends installing such alarms while noting that they should not be considered a substitute for barrier fences or safety covers.

INSTALL AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY OPERATED POOL COVERS: Pool covers can effectively prevent access to pools, spas or hot tubs. At the end of each pool session, cover the pool, even during the height of summer when pools are used daily. The minor task of covering the pool is worth the considerably lower risk of accident or injury if pools remain uncovered.

Recreational activities entice people to embrace the great outdoors, particularly in summer. Stand-up paddling is one such activity that has become more popular in recent years. Recent research from the Physical Activity Council, a collective effort on the part of eight leading trade associations in sports, fitness and recreation, found that 3.5 million Americans participate in stand-up paddling. Participation in the sport is split up almost 50-50 by gender (51 percent female, 49 percent male). In addition to serving as a relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of nature, stand-up paddling gets some of its appeal from its relative ease of participating. Would-be paddlers who are curious about the availability of places to paddle should know that more than half of all stand-up paddlers travel less than 10 miles to paddle, proving that just about any body of water provides an opportunity to engage in this activity. People interested in stand-up paddling, but unwilling to make any significant financial commitment before trying it out should know that 42 percent of people who do not own paddleboards rent them from local businesses such as on-site rental providers at boathouses or marinas and independent outdoor specialty stores. That makes stand-up paddling among the more accessible activities for people looking to enjoy the great outdoors this summer and beyond.

When the weather warms, yards beckon, hiking trails look even more inviting and even a patch of grass can be a welcoming respite. Lots of fun can be had outside, but caution is needed. While this time of year is prime for outdoor frolicking, it’s also a time when tick populations explode.

Ticks are small crawling bugs in the arachnid (spider) family. There are hundreds of different kinds of ticks in the world. The creature subsists on meals of blood from a host animal.

Disease-spreading ticks can be extremely hard to detect because of their diminutive size, especially when they are in the larva or nymph stages. Therefore, preventing tick bites remains the single-best way to stay ahead of Lyme disease and other illnesses.

Lyme disease poses a threat to millions of people across the globe. The misconception that Lyme disease is exclusive to the United States, and the northeastern portion of the country in particular, is understandable. Hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, but the 2017 U.S. Geological Survey found that 95 percent of those cases are in the northeast, mid-Atlantic or northern midwest regions. In spite of that, no one is immune to Lyme disease, regardless of where they live. The World Health Organization notes that, in addition to the United States, there are foci of Lyme borreliosis in forested areas of Asian and in northwestern, central and eastern Europe, proving that Lyme disease is a global issue. With that in mind, it behooves everyone to take steps to understand Lyme disease and how to reduce their risk of getting it.

According to Lymedisease.org, an online resource that supports science-based advocacy, Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease can affect any organ of the body, and it is often misdiagnosed because it tends to mimic symptoms of other diseases. Lyme disease may be misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and even psychiatric illnesses like depression. Such misdiagnoses can delay treatment of the underlying infection.

The majority of Lyme disease patients get the disease from the bite of a nymphal tick. Nymphs are immature forms of ticks that are very small, typically the size of a poppy seed, according to Lymedisease.org. The bites are painless and, when coupled with the size of nymphal ticks, that increases the likelihood that people will not even realize they’ve been bitten. Ticks can stay attached to the body for several days, feeding all the while. Lymedisease.org notes that the longer the tick stays attached, the more likely it will transmit the Lyme and other pathogens into the bloodstream of the person it’s attached to.

The Global Lyme Alliance, which funds research aimed at preventing, diagnosing and treating tick-borne illnesses, notes that practicing tick bite prevention habits is the best way to prevent Lyme disease. Through its “Be Tick AWARE” campaign, the GLA urges people to follow these simple steps to reduce their risk for Lyme disease: • Avoid high tick traffic areas, like tall grass and leaf piles. • Wear proper clothing, including long pants, sleeves and socks. Avoid walking in grass barefoot or in open sandals, even when grass has been cut short. • Apply tick repellant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. • Remove clothing upon entering your home, tossing clothing into the dryer at high temperatures for 10 to 15 minutes to kill live ticks. Note that the GLA says putting clothes into the washer will not kill live ticks. • Examine yourself for ticks every day.

FROM THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Lyme disease is a potentially dangerous condition transmitted by the passing of bacteria from deer ticks to their unsuspecting hosts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. But Lyme disease also affects animals, including popular house pets like dogs. Tufts University says that the Lyme bacterium can cause serious illness in some dogs. Dogs with Lyme disease may exhibit various symptoms. These include loss of appetite, fever, joint swelling, decreased activity, and lameness. Lyme disease can be difficult to detect and cause serious and recurring health problems. That is why it is essential for pet parents make concerted efforts to reduce the risk that their dogs become infected.

• Speak with your veterinarian about a tick preventive product that is right for your dog. These can include repellant collars, topical treatments and ingestible medications.

• Vets may recommend vaccination against Lyme disease if you live in an area that is home to high tick populations. Recommendations also may be based on your pet’s lifestyle and overall health, among other factors.

• Address conditions in the yard that are conducive to ticks. Mowing the lawn regularly is one way to make the backyard less attractive to ticks, as is removing leaf litter.

• Keep a clean home and landscape. Rodents and other wildlife can carry deer ticks. Securing trash cans, picking up food scraps, removing hiding spots and potential dens, and other strategies can keep these carriers away.

• Conduct a daily tick check if your dog spends time outside. Pay attention to bumps on the skin and part the fur so you can see where the coat meets the skin. Don’t forget to look in the ears.

• When possible, avoid areas where ticks may be found, such as tall grasses, wooded areas and marshes. Stick to trails when spending time in wooded areas.