Summer Safety

Sunscreen is important all year round...well...except in our lovely rain. There are lots of different kinds. Face only. For sports. For babies. It is a protective barrier placed on top of the skin. The sun can cause damage. Damage now can be a sunburn or blisters. Damage that happens later can be sun spots or cancer. Pick something you can afford & easily get.

1. Zinc Oxide

   • A natural sun blocker. It usually stays white on the skin. You can get cream or powder. Cream is good for small areas like nose and forehead. Cream can be mixed with other sunblock to make it stronger. Powder can be mixed with lotion to make sunscreen.

Sunburns might happen, even if you wear and reapply sunscreen. There are some good remedies that could help.

1. Aloe

   • Soothing and hydrating. Some have lidocaine (a pain reliever) in them which can be helpful. Look for ones with LESS alcohol because it sucks the water out of the skin.

   • Apply directly to skin.

2. Lavender

   • Lavender essential oil is fairly inexpensive. It is an old remedy for burns of all kinds. Helps with pain and heat.

   • Apply directly to skin.

We have to keep the noodle (brain) safe. No matter the activity. Skateboard. Scooter. Bike. Mountain bike. Wear the right helmet for the right activity. It may be hard to get your kids to wear them. "It's not cool." "It doesn't fit." "My friend doesn't have to wear one."

Helmets help protect the brain from injury and concussions. These can be traumatic to the brain and can cause short or long term damage. Head and brain injuries are very serious and should always be checked by a doctor.

Adults - 8 or more glasses a day

Kids - 4 or more glasses a day

Increase these numbers on hot days. It helps cool your body. It helps stop skin drying. This will help with heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Both are dangerous and need medical attention.

Some things you might notice if your water intake is low:

1. Fatigue

   • Tired all the time. No energy.

2. Headaches

   • Headaches that don't stop with medicine or massage.

3. Muscle cramps

   • This could be low water. It could also be an imbalance of body salt and water. Electrolyte tablets and powders have salt and/or sugar to help water stay in the body.

4. Nausea

   • Sick to your stomach. Feeling an overall ick. Maybe even vomit.

Who you gonna call? Nope...not ghostbusters. You can't help but say it anyway.

Help your family plan for different emergencies. Not every situation needs a 911 call. Some can be managed at home. Some need a call or trip to the doctor. How do your kids know what to do when something happens? Practice. Be detailed. Let them come up with an event. Have them choose what they'd do. You agree or disagree. Put them in one of the 3 categories below.

1. Call 911.

   • Emergency.

   • Examples of a few: Fire that cannot be controlled. Unknown person outside or inside the home. Unknown person in a car attempting to talk to or take them. Head injury.

2. Call an adult.

   • Serious.

   • Example of a few: Fire that is out but was scary. Someone hurt themselves and might need a doctor. Big fight that had kicking, punching, hitting with objects, or someone leaving the home.

3. Can be handled by themselves.

   • Minor.

   • Example of a few: Scrape that needs to be cleaned and get a band-aid. Dog pooped in the house. Burned skin on oven or stove.