Warmer weather and longer days allow the community to take advantage of the Colorado sunshine and have fun exploring the great outdoors. It’s important to take precautionary steps to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy — all summer long.

Common health issues for patients during the summertime include overexposure to the heat of the sun, bites from pesky insects and accidents while participating in outdoor or water-related activities. To prevent accidents or mishaps this summer, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind throughout the hotter months..

  1. Be vigilant about water safety.

If your summer activities will include swimming or any water sports, be sure to take common-sense precautions. Stay indoors if there’s lightning in the area. Be sure anyone who’s in or near the water can swim well and has a life vest on when appropriate. Children should be constantly supervised by adults and/or lifeguards when they’re around water.

Holiday Hours

Prowers Medical Center Clinics and support offices are closed Monday, July 4, but the emergency room is open 24/7 for your emergent needs. For more information, call the hospital’s main line at 719-336-4343.

  1. Stay hydrated.

The CDC recommends drinking water regularly throughout the day. The hotter it is and the more you’re outdoors, the more water you need. Proper hydration helps regulate your body temperature and ward off heatstroke.

Signs of dehydration include dry/itchy skin, headache or dizziness, confused thinking, muscle cramps, rapid breathing and lack of urination or dark-yellow urine. If you’re drinking things other than water, try to drink a glass of water between each of the other beverages.

  1. Avoid sunburn.

An awful sunburn can be more than a pain—it can cause blisters, swelling and even sunstroke (aka heatstroke)—a life-threatening condition in which your body’s internal core temperature can rise to dangerous levels, leading to damage to your heart, brain, kidneys and muscles. It can even cause death. In the longer run, sunburns accelerate skin aging and are the leading cause of skin cancers.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply it generously (use two heaping tablespoons to cover your body) half an hour before going outside, and then reapply every two hours if you’re still outside. In addition, stay in the shade as much as you can.

  1. Beat the heat.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can also occur without sunburn. While getting your daily dose of Vitamin D, try wearing hats and covering any exposed skin by wearing loose-fitting, breathable clothing and taking advantage of shaded areas. Also keep hydrated, and consider drinking Gatorade or another electrolyte-based beverage to minimize any electrolyte imbalances that can arise when you sweat a lot. If you’re overheated, plunging into cold water is a good way to lower your body temperature quickly.

Use extra caution when it’s hot outside and you’re in your car. Never leave children or pets in a parked car because the temperature inside can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. An internal body temperature of 107 degrees is fatal for a child, and their body temperatures rise much more quickly than they do in adults.

  1. Protect yourself from pests.

Be on the watch for dangerous insects. Mosquitos are usually harmless but can carry the Zika and West Nile viruses. Bug repellants that contain DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon or eucalyptus, or IR 3535 offer the best protection.

Ticks can carry various diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Spraying shoes, clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin helps ward off ticks. It’s also essential to check your body and clothing for ticks if you’ve been outdoors, especially in wooded, brushy or grassy areas. If you develop a rash or fever in the weeks after a tick bite, see your primary care provider.