Summer Vacation Health and Safety Tips

Summertime means fun outdoor activities: swimming, sunbathing, hiking and snorkeling, just to name a few. It's tempting to throw your cares away and play worry-free in the bright summer sun. But with the hotter temperatures come several health and safety risks that are easy to overlook, and even easier to overlook when you're busy enjoying a vacation away from home! No matter where you're traveling, you need to be aware of basics like how to avoid heat stroke. And if you're going to a foreign country, it's even more important to take care of your own health on vacation.

Take a healthy, safe summer vacation this year by remembering these very important tips.

Always, always wear sunscreen.

Even if it's cloudy outside, lather up with plenty of sunscreen. Go for high SPF sunscreens, especially with kids and babies. Many brands make sunscreen especially for little ones, so pick up the right sunscreen for each member of your family and reapply often. Not only are sunburns painful, they also have long-term health risks. You're much better off preventing sunburn, but don't forget to pack some aloe just in case you do burn.

Protect your head and face from the sun.

In addition to sunscreen, you should shield yourself from the light to avoid headaches and heat exhaustion. It isn't excessive to bring both sunglasses and a hat for everybody in the family. Wide-brimmed hats are the best because they shade your shoulders too. But remember that even the best hat isn't a replacement for sunscreen.

Drink plenty of water.

Dehydration and overheating are unpleasant and dangerous, and you can avoid them both if you drink water. Bring bottles of water, especially if you're in a foreign country where tap water may not be safe to drink, and keep them in the shade. Try to drink before you feel thirsty by keeping a bottle at hand at all times. Children become dehydrated more easily than adults, so pay extra attention to the kids!

Avoid the peak of day.

The sun is brightest from noon to 2 pm, so try to stay inside. Come home to your Florida vacation condo or Cape Cod rental cottage for lunch and take a siesta until the afternoon, or plan to visit indoor attractions during the sunniest and hottest times of day.

Stay in air conditioned areas as much as possible.

Try to choose a vacation rental with air conditioning, especially if you're going to be vacationing someplace hot. If you can't find air-conditioned vacation rentals (some Ocean City rental condos and other rentals in the northeast may not have A/C), then ask about ceiling fans.

Eat meals regularly, on a regular schedule.

As much fun as a vacation can be, it's easy to get carried away and forget the basics like eating. Especially if you're traveling with kids, who absolutely have to eat regularly or else they'll be cranky, you need to keep track of time and plan around meals. Pack snacks like granola bars or veggie kits to stave off hunger in case something unpredictable like traffic prevents you from eating on time. Rent a vacation home with a kitchen and you can return home to a fully stocked fridge.

Pay attention to allergen levels.

If you have allergies and/or asthma, you need to know what the pollen level is before spending any amount of time outside. This is even more important if you're in an unfamiliar location with allergens you might not ordinarily know about. You can usually catch the daily pollen levels if you read the weather section of the newspaper, or check online.

Pack a safety kit.

In addition to the ordinary first-aid kit, bring along a summer health and safety kit that's specialized for the risks of summer. This includes aloe for burns, insect repellent, calamine lotion to put on insect bites if the repellent isn't enough, and baking soda to put in the bath in case you wind up with a rash.

Don't eat food that has been sitting out.

Food spoils quicker in the heat, so if you take a picnic or carry a lunch with you outside, be careful with the leftovers. Dispose of food that has been left in the heat. When packing food to bring with you, choose options that won't spoil (like granola bars or fruit) or invest in a good cold pack to keep things cool. If you choose to stay in vacation rentals, like a Kihei rental villa or a Los Angeles vacation condo, you'll have a refrigerator in your own full kitchen to store leftovers.

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