It is summer and that means road trips, concerts, backyard BBQs, pool days, and sunshine. However, nothing ruins fun like being sick.
Whether you’re heading out of town or hopping from one cookout to the next, staying healthy is important. Here’s a guide to feeling great all summer.
1. How to Stay Cool in the Heat
When it’s hot, drink water. Always carry a bottle and sip often. Wear light, breathable clothes like cotton or linen, and avoid activity during the hottest hours usually between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or stop sweating, your body needs a break. Find shade, drink water, and rest. If you still feel off, seek medical help because it might be heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
2. BBQ and Picnic Food Safety
Summer’s great for grilling, but heat can make food spoil fast. Stay safe by:
- Keeping cold foods chilled until ready to eat
- Cooking meat thoroughly
- Not leaving food in the sun too long, especially mayo or dairy-based dishes
- Traveling abroad? Stick to bottled water, skip raw veggies if unsure, and avoid ice unless it’s from clean water
3. Vaccines Matter in Summer Too
Even without flu season, you can still get sick, especially with crowds and travel. COVID and other viruses don’t take the summer off.
Before you go, make sure your vaccines are current. Also pack a thermometer, like the very accurate and easy-to-use, Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer. All it takes is a swipe across the forehead by gently touching it to catch early signs of fever.
4. Your Summer Health Kit: Five Must-Haves
Pack these essentials to stay cool, hydrated, and ready for anything:
- Foldable fan
- Electrolyte packets
- Cooling mist
- Hand sanitizer
- Thermometer (like Exergen’s temporal artery forehead thermometer)
5. Don’t Skip Handwashing
Clean hands matter, especially before eating. Use soap and water when you can. If not, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol works too.
6. Keep Mosquitoes Away
If you’re near water, woods, or buggy areas, wear light-colored long sleeves and pants in the evening. Use bug spray with DEET or picaridin. Traveling somewhere with mosquito-borne illnesses? Talk to your doctor ahead of time for guidance. If you are camping, pack a mosquito net.
7. Sunscreen: Apply Early and Often
Use SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours or right after swimming or sweating. Most people don’t use it enough, so be generous. If you get sunburned, cool your skin, apply aloe or lotion, and drink plenty of water.
8. Beating Jet Lag
Crossing time zones? Start adjusting your sleep a few days earlier. Once you arrive, spend time outside to help reset your body clock. Stay awake until local bedtime.
Summer is for fun, not fighting off colds or heat exhaustion. With a little planning and a few essentials, you can stay healthy and make the most of every sunny moment.
So, pack sunscreen, load the cooler, hit the road, and don’t forget your water bottle.
Wishing you a happy, healthy summer, from all of us at Exergen.
Source,
Exergen P/N 850494