Summer Health Risks To Avoid

[caption id="attachment_832302" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Three girls sitting on swimming pool in summer relaxing, African and Caucasian girls[/caption] Most people only think about cold and flu season when thinking about how a change in weather can increase one’s risks for health problems. But keep in mind that during the summer, people become more social, putting them at risk of catching germs from other people. People also spend more time outdoors during the summer and the sun, pollen and other things you find out there pose their own risks. Furthermore, summer is the season for travel! That means you’re venturing to new places where you’ve never been, trying new food and mixing up your sleep schedule. You’re flying on planes, going on road trips and taking the train—all of which carry bacteria. You need to be just as cautious (if not more) during the summer as you are during cold and flu season. Here are summer health hazards to look out for. [caption id="attachment_707662" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Wash your farmer’s market fruit

Between the live music, food trucks, local artists and organic produce, Farmer’s markets during the summer can be a scene. Just remember that organic produce doesn’t have pesticides, which is good and bad. You get to skip the chemicals, but there could be actual pests and parasites living on and in your produce. Inspect fruits and vegetables closely, and don’t eat them before washing them.         [caption id="attachment_701538" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t eat charred foods

If you plan on using the grill a lot this summer, be careful not to burn your food. While char lines can be tasty, some studies suggest that regularly eating burnt food can increase one’s risk of cancer.   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571290/Study-finds-acrylamide-link-to-cancer-in-women.html       [caption id="attachment_623962" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Bring water on your hikes

Now that the temperatures are rising, you need to pack extra water on your hikes and for your outdoor activities. It’s easy to become dehydrated fast if you’re exercising and you’re under the sun.         [caption id="attachment_608914" align="alignleft" width="500"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Check your home for mold

Mold thrives in humidity so check your home for mold during the summer, or have a professional do an inspection. This is especially important if anybody in your home suffers from asthma.         [caption id="attachment_705378" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Wash your hands at picnics

It’s picnic season! But you may put your hand on the grass, where hidden parts of dog feces remain, before holding that sandwich. Bring hand sanitizer to your picnics, and wash your hands immediately before eating.             [caption id="attachment_717453" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Separate picnic foods

Packing picnic foods can feel like a puzzle. If you plan on grilling at the park, make sure no raw meats touch any other foods. If anyone in your group has food allergies, you should also make sure every ingredient is properly separated to avoid contamination.           [caption id="attachment_719119" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Keep your kitchen cool

While in the winter you may be able to leave the cheese or chicken on the counter for a couple of hours, during the summer, those things can turn bad quickly. If you need one more reason to put on the AC this summer, consider food safety.             [caption id="attachment_707703" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Dry your ears after swimming

Properly dry your ears after swimming in any body of water to avoid swimmer’s ear or infection.               [caption id="attachment_715357" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Exercise at the right time

Avoid exercising during the hours when the sun is the strongest. Working out at the hottest time of day can put you at risk of heat stroke—it doesn’t only affect the elderly.             [caption id="attachment_707666" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Look out for poison ivy

If you plan on going hiking, do some research on the trail to make sure it doesn’t become infested with poison ivy during the summer. Don’t be a trailblazer and go down unbeaten paths since these could be riddled with poisonous plants           [caption id="attachment_701535" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Beware of food carts

Food carts come out in hoards during the summer, but be picky about your food cart. Make sure any carts selling meat (like taco or hot dog trucks) have properly stored their ingredients. Don’t eat from fruit trucks if you see flies swarming around the fruit.           [caption id="attachment_718919" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Fix your window screens

If you’ve been meaning to patch up your window screens, now is the time to do it. Remember that mosquitos and flies can carry diseases, as well as just be nuisances.             [caption id="attachment_621329" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Cover your sodas

Keep an eye on sweet beverages from soda to fruity cocktails when you’re drinking outdoors. Bees are attracted to these, and can often land in a person’s drink when they aren’t looking.         [caption id="attachment_707084" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Take precautions at porta potties

Summer is concert season, music festival season, theater in the park season…you get the idea. It’s essentially the season of using porta potties. These can naturally be hotbeds for bacteria. Bring your own toilet paper in case the porta potty is out, or the only available TP has fallen on the floor. Also pack hand sanitizer, in case there aren’t sinks and soap.         [caption id="attachment_707661" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Beware of Lyme disease

Cover up your entire skin when you go on hikes—even if you aren’t walking through a particularly rugged terrain. Remember that ticks like wooded and grassy areas and they love humidity.             [caption id="attachment_826668" align="alignleft" width="900"] portrait of a young beautiful African American woman painting wall in her new apartment[/caption]

Be safe about DIY projects

If summer is when you bring out the power tools and paint and fix things around the house, take precautions. Properly educate yourself on using power tools, do not leave sharp tools lying around when you aren’t using them, and store toxic things like paint so dogs and children don’t get into them. [caption id="attachment_622435" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t booze and boat

Driving a boat while drinking is just as dangerous as driving a car while under the influence of alcohol. Even if you’re just a passenger, wear a life vest, and do not drink too much alcohol if you plan on walking around the boat.       [caption id="attachment_707673" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Prevent sunburns

The more time you spend outdoors, the higher risk you have of a sunburn. But also consider that simply driving a lot without sunscreen on your arms could cause a sunburn—the sun’s rays can go through glass.             [caption id="attachment_832309" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Bright beautiful colorful firework. Colored firework lights in the night sky. New Year holiday firework. Festive firework. Firework concept. Firework night. Great firework. Firework at party[/caption]

Don’t put on a fireworks show

Leave that to the professionals. Too many accidents take place when people try to put on their own fireworks shows at home.                 [caption id="attachment_704394" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Be picky about travel restaurants

If you’re traveling to a foreign country and want to live like the locals do, you should still be just as adamant that the restaurant is clean and reputable. Being adventurous and trying the place with the flooded floor could lead to food poisoning.

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