We're halfway through the Summer break! When the weather is warm many of us can not wait to get outside, and though the outdoors offers us many health and lifestyle benefits, it also comes with some risk. Have you let safety take a backseat to all the outdoor fun?
Let's review some common Summertime dangers and how we can make safer choices.
Helmets:
Head injuries account for 62% of bicycle crash deaths! The lack of a helmet also contributes to head injuries and deaths from skateboarding, rollerblading and ATV's (four-wheelers, motorcycles, and snowmobiles).
By wearing a helmet you can reduce head injury deaths from bicycle crashes by 74 to 85% and from ATV crashes by 42%! Helmets should be used whenever and wherever you bicycle, skateboard, four-wheel, scooter, etc. Choose helmets that are meant for the sport (i.e. bicycle helmets for bicycling or motorized vehicle helmets for ATV use).
By wearing a helmet you can reduce head injury deaths from bicycle crashes by 74 to 85% and from ATV crashes by 42%! Helmets should be used whenever and wherever you bicycle, skateboard, four-wheel, scooter, etc. Choose helmets that are meant for the sport (i.e. bicycle helmets for bicycling or motorized vehicle helmets for ATV use).
*The Health Department has a limited supply of reduced cost helmets for all ages! Call Jann Fawcett to make an appointment for a helmet fitting at (801) 399-7186*
Water:
Swimming is the most popular summer activity but it's also dangerous for young children. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related deaths for children ages 1 to 14!
The best thing you can do to help your family stay safe is to enroll in age-appropriate swim lessons. Read the Healthy Living Resource Guide to find local area pools and swim lessons. In addition, always supervise young children around water; don't trust a child's life to another child and teach children to always ask permission to go near water. Another good idea is to always swim with a buddy; even at a public pool or a life guarded beach, use the buddy system!
The best thing you can do to help your family stay safe is to enroll in age-appropriate swim lessons. Read the Healthy Living Resource Guide to find local area pools and swim lessons. In addition, always supervise young children around water; don't trust a child's life to another child and teach children to always ask permission to go near water. Another good idea is to always swim with a buddy; even at a public pool or a life guarded beach, use the buddy system!
For more water safety information visit the Red Cross' website.
Sun:
The warm sun is calling us outside and while the sun's rays feel good, too much sun can be a bad thing! A sunburn can happen in as little as 15 minutes of sun exposure. Repeated sunburns can lead to skin cancer. Sun exposure is even more dangerous for those with moles or freckles, very fair skin and hair, or a family history of skin cancer.
To protect yourself from the sun make sure to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, 30 minutes before heading outside and reapply every hour. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with total UV protection. If possible, stay inside during peak UV radiation hours which are typically between 10 am and 4 pm.
The warm sun is calling us outside and while the sun's rays feel good, too much sun can be a bad thing! A sunburn can happen in as little as 15 minutes of sun exposure. Repeated sunburns can lead to skin cancer. Sun exposure is even more dangerous for those with moles or freckles, very fair skin and hair, or a family history of skin cancer.
To protect yourself from the sun make sure to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, 30 minutes before heading outside and reapply every hour. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with total UV protection. If possible, stay inside during peak UV radiation hours which are typically between 10 am and 4 pm.
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