Although school is back in session, summer isn’t over just yet. And if you think this season has been hotter than normal, it’s not all in your mind. Sweltering temperatures the past few months have been at an all-time high, causing the first half of 2016 to be the hottest year on record, according to NASA.
On hot days, it’s second nature to flock to the pool, beach or lake. When cooling off is on your mind, it’s easy to forget about the risks associated with time spent in the water and under the sun. Before heading outdoors to soak up the remainder of the season, keep safety a top priority.
Dodge Dangerous Sunburns
If weekend plans take you outside for your kids’ softball games or play dates in the park, try to plan activities for early in the morning or later in the evening, since the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
According to the American Cancer Society, the best defense against dangerous UV rays – strong enough to cause sunburns even on cloudy days – is to stay in the shade when possible. And according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it only takes five major sunburns before age 20 to double your risk of getting melanoma later in life. Making sunscreen part of your daily routine can decrease the likelihood of developing skin cancer by 50%.
Before venturing outside, cover up with lightweight clothing, sunglasses and a hat. Slather sunscreen – a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher – on exposed areas. One coat of sunscreen generally lasts around two hours, so be sure to reapply throughout the day.
Keep Cool When the Mercury Rises
High temperatures increase the risk for heat-related illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 658 people lose their lives each year in the United States from complications involved with hot weather.
Children are among the most susceptible to heat stroke and dehydration, since they don’t think about pausing their game of tag to cool off. Monitor outdoor play and make sure your child takes plenty of breaks to refuel with fluids and stop dehydration in its tracks. If your son or daughter says they’re thirsty, they’re already dehydrated.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to offer their children at least five ounces of cold water every 20 minutes during outdoor play. If your child will be playing a sport outside, make sure they hydrate with a sports drink to replenish sodium and potassium levels in the body that are lost through sweat.
Be Wary Around the Water
Time spent in the water is one of the summer’s most popular activities, and it can easily be forgotten that drowning is an ever-present threat. According to the CDC, three children lose their lives each day as a result of drowning every year. The National Safety Council found that 75% of these drownings occur in residential pools or spas.
If you own a pool, it’s your responsibility to make it as safe as possible. The American Red Cross urges all pool owners to install a four-foot tall, self-latching fence around the perimeter. Educate your kids about water safety, make sure they have the proper floatation devices and never leave them unsupervised near water.
However, the risk for drowning doesn’t stop when your little one climbs out of the pool. Breathing in water while swimming can lead to dry drowning – which causes vocal chords to spasm, shutting off the airway and keeping oxygen from reaching the brain. Dry drowning can occur up to 24 hours after getting out of the water. If you notice your child is irritable, coughing excessively or has significantly low energy after being in the water, they could be at risk for dry drowning and need to be taken to the emergency room immediately.
Keep Safety On Deck
Make sure you have enough insurance coverage to protect you in the event of a situation in which you could be liable, such as someone slipping and falling on your pool deck, resulting in a broken bone.
Standard homeowners policies typically include $100,000 of liability coverage, but that number should increase to a minimum of $300,000 if your home has a pool. Most insurance providers will recommend having between $300,000 and $500,000 of liability coverage to help protect you and your finances from lawsuits and/or medical expenses.
As you and your family enjoy the remaining weeks of summer, you’ll want to make memories, not manage mishaps.
Shelly White writes for Quotes.Safeco.com and HomeownersInsurance.com, an online resource for homeowners and drivers across the country. Offering automobile and homeowners insurance quotes, consumers rely on HomeownersInsurance.com for competitive rates from top-rated insurance carriers. The HomeownersInsurance.com blog provides fresh tips and advice on a range of financial topics to help homeowners and homebuyers make educated decisions about their insurance purchases.
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