Everyone in Texas knows summers in the Lone Star State are not just hot…they are HOT! If you don’t have a pool at home, you’ll be looking to cool off in a nearby community pool; and time at the lake, the river, or the beach is a given. There will be cookouts and campfires at nearby state parks and recreation areas; and fireworks–from sparklers to high-flying color bursts–are all the rage on the 4^th of July and at other festivities throughout the summer months. Keep in mind how to keep yourself, as well as your family members, safe during all these good times. There’s a lot of fun to be had, but there are also unique dangers that come along with summertime activities. There are some obvious ones and some not-so-obvious ones, so keep reading!

Critter Awareness

No one likes insect bites, but what if I told you one could change your life forever? Just one undetected tick, picked up from walking in the woods or just tall grass, is enough to cause Lyme disease–a bacterial infection that, when left untreated, can spread to the joints, the heart, and the nervous system, causing permanent damage. Mosquito bites come with a risk of other diseases like West Nile and Zika viruses, for which there are no treatments. While symptomatically mild in some people, these viruses can be deadly to older or immunocompromised individuals, and Zika can be passed on by pregnant women to their unborn children, causing birth defects. Your best bet is to use mosquito repellant, to wear long sleeves and long pants when walking in the woods, and to check carefully yourself, your children and your pets for ticks after being in areas frequented by deer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of safe and effective insect repellants such as DEET and Picardin (along with guidelines for applying them to children) on the CDC website. Insects are not the only critters to watch out for this summer, though. Warm weather means venomous snakes are coming out of hiding, and alligators become more active. Per Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TDPW), be careful where you put your hands and feet–use a long stick or garden tool to move aside grass, leaves, and to check around logs for snakes; don’t reach around or step until the coast is clear. Wear heavy boots if you’ll be working in areas where snakes may be nearby, and use a flashlight when moving about, even in your home yard, at night. Also be aware snakes will often hide under brush piles, overturned boats and tarps, and may even be found in crawl spaces and garages. If you do come across a snake, back slowly and carefully away from it. Alligators are frequently seen in Texas lakes, rivers, and bayous – and even the beach! They can be fun to watch from a distance, but they are not something you want to mess with up close. Normally, a gator will shy away from humans. Problems arise when alligators are fed by people, however, as the reptiles then lose their fear of humans and associate people with food. It is critically important NOT to feed alligators (from the shore, a boat, or a pier) or to outstretch a hand towards them. If you are in a kayak or on a paddleboard, it is advisable not to dangle fingers and feet off the side and in the water. If you spot an alligator heading your way, quickly paddle away from the gator. If you encounter one on land, the beach, or in the surf, back away from the alligator slowly and give it plenty of space. It is likely to go back home where it belongs. In Texas, alligators are protected by law, so shooting one is not a recommended defense. Alligator-human conflicts are rare, but if you do encounter a potentially dangerous alligator, report it to TDPW so a game warden can handle it properly.

Sun Safety

Did you know many cases of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, can be traced to childhood sunburns? Yeah, neither did I. It’s good we’ve come a long way from laying out by the pool, covered in baby oil! Yet, with all the different types of tanning products out there, it never hurts to be reminded to pick broad spectrum sunscreen that’s at least 30 SPF. Apply it 15 minutes before you’ll be outdoors–and yes, you can even get sunburned on a cloudy day–and reapply it every two hours (or more often if you’re swimming). Remember to apply sunscreen to your lips, your ears, and the tops of your feet, which are often forgotten. And ladies, if you don’t want crow’s feet (wrinkles at the outside edges of your eyes), make sure you wear sunglasses, because those wrinkles are often caused by squinting! Not to mention, your eyes can also be injured by the sun, resulting in burned corneas and cataracts, so choose sunglasses that offer 99 to 100 percent protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays. For extra protection against both skin cancer and wrinkles, wear a hat and consider covering up with long pants (or a skirt) and long-sleeve shirts. These days, you can even find swim shirts designed to get wet while providing UV coverage.

Water Safety at Home and Beyond

Growing up with a pool or near a body of water, it is easy to take water safety for granted. Nevertheless, it is so important to be emphasized in any piece about summer safety. Drowning is a leading cause of death for young and older children alike, and boating accidents take the lives of Texans every year. Aquatic accidents in home swimming pools often happen very suddenly–about five minutes or less after a child goes missing–and while parents are at home. It is critical to teach your children not to go near the water without you, and an adult should stay within arm’s reach of a young child at all times. Even older children should be carefully, actively supervised (even when a lifeguard is present). According to the Red Cross, drownings often occur when parents are distracted and the Red Cross also warns against relying on substitutes such as water wings, swim rings, inflatable toys, and other items designed for water recreation. It is important to know that someone can drown in just a few inches of water, so be just as cautious with children in the baby pool as in full-size pools. When going to the lake or to the beach, there are additional precautions you can take to keep yourself and your family members safe. First, if you are on a boat, make sure everyone is wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in case someone accidentally falls overboard. Secondly, remember that driving a boat while intoxicated is a Class B misdemeanor, with a fine up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail, and penalties go up from there on second or third occurrences. If an accident occurs that results in serious bodily injury and the accident was caused by intoxication, the driver will be charged with a felony. If you’re going to drink alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver. Secondly, when out in the water swimming or in a boat, watch out for the “dangerous ‘toos’”: too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, and too much strenuous activity. Whenever possible, have a telephone or mobile phone nearby in case of an emergency. Third, make sure swimmers know about any potential hazards such as currents, deep and shallow areas, and obstructions. Don’t swim outdoors during inclement weather. Listen for thunder and watch for storms with lightning and high winds. Only swim in designated areas, and stay at least 100 feet away from jetties and piers to avoid rip currents. Lifeguards stationed at the beach can advise on the best places to swim and about any unusual issues. If at all possible, swim with a buddy, who can assist in case of an emergency.

Fire Safety

As a last summer safety tip, don’t forget that as the weather heats up, so does the chance of forest fires. The U.S. Forest Service offers a number of tips for fire safety at home and while you’re out camping. At state parks, fire conditions are posted at the entrances to the parks, so be extra cautious if the conditions are in the danger zones. Clear campfire areas from dry leaves and use fire rings. Do not light fires in windy conditions, where sparks can fly into the brush. Check with your local county officials about burn bans and follow their guidelines. This includes the use of fireworks. While lighting up the night sky may seem like a great idea on holidays like the 4^th of July, you don’t want to inadvertently light your house or field on fire at the same time.   FACTS:

• The most common insect bite in the U.S. is the mosquito bite. According to the National Park Service, there are over 200 mosquito species across America. The state of Texas has the most different species, with 85.
• Younger people are exposed to the sun more often, and it’s estimated that 60%-80% of an individual’s entire lifetime sun exposure occurs within the first 18 years. Younger individuals tend to spend much more time outside, often due to numerous extracurricular activities outdoors.
• Swimming/Pool Incident was the highest cause of injury for children between June-August in 2022, accounting for 47,461 Emergency Room visits. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System [NEISS]).
• Fireworks! In 2022, approximately 43% percent of selected and tested fireworks products were found to contain noncompliant materials. Violations consisted of fuse violations, presence of prohibited chemicals, burnout or blowout, and pyrotechnic materials overload. Violation rate was significantly higher than previous years, and authorities are monitoring to determine if this is a trend.  (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)