​Summer Safety: Keep You and Your Family Safe and Healthy

Summer is an ideal time to enjoy the variety of outdoor activities Sonoma County has to offer. However, for adults and children alike, additional risks for injury or illness are present, including heat-related illnesses, drowning, and diseases from bug bites. With some preparation, these types of injuries can be avoided.

So take a few minutes to review the Summer Safety tips and be safe and stay healthy this summer. Make this summer memorable for outdoor fun, not for a trip to hospital.

Water Safety
For children ages 1 to 4 years, swimming pools pose the greatest risk. It is important to make safety a priority in and around the water.

• Actively supervise children in or near water.
• Make sure your family knows how to swim.
• Secure pools with appropriate barriers, covers, and alarms.
• Know how to perform hands only CPR – on adults and children.
• Do not bring alcohol to the beach or for boating activities.
• Always wear a life jacket for floating on the Russian River or any boating activity

Beat the Heat
Whether you are working or playing outside in the summer, if you are not use to the heat, or if the weather is hot, you can be at risk for a heat-related illness. Take steps to protect yourself:

• Never ever leave kids or pets unattended in a car or other vehicle, even if the windows are cracked open
• Wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
• Take frequent water breaks.
• Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
• Stay cool with cool showers or baths.

Stop Bug Bites and Disease
Protect yourself and your family by preventing bites and diseases, like West Nile virus, which can be transmitted by insects.

• When outdoors, use an effective insect repellent containing active ingredients with EPA approval as repellents for the skin or clothes.
• Check yourself and your children for ticks. If you find one, don’t panic. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick effectively.

Read the full press release for more information and useful links from the County of Sonoma Health Services: www.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Health/Press-Releases/Summer-Safety-2017.