The Joys and Perils of Summer

Summer is certainly my favourite time of year. I love the warm days and long evenings to go walking on the beach, wearing shorts and sandals instead of jeans and jerseys and getting out to enjoy nature!

However, along with the fun stuff, there are some basic safety tips we all need to remember to keep ourselves and our families (including pets) safe during summer. Here are some guidelines to consider as you spend time out and about over the next few months.

1) Slow down when things heat up: in this part of the world we often experience very hot weather during the summer. At this time it is important to slow down, exercise in moderation and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.

2) Block the rays: New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, including melanoma - the most deadly. Over 90% of skin cancer is preventable through avoiding over- exposure to UV radiation from the sun. The Cancer Society recommends these steps to protect your skin and eyes from harmful UV radiation:

• Slip on a collared shirt and into shade,
• Slop on broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 30+,
• Slap on a broad brimmed hat and
• Wrap on some close fitting sunglasses to protect your eyes when you are outside.

I must confess this is a very hot topic for me, as in a previous life I was a health promoter with the Cancer Society overseeing the SunSmart schools programme.

3) Take bites seriously: Never underestimate the power of a bite or sting. They can cause major problems for those with allergies. Seek medical attention immediately if you develop hives after being stung, or have dizziness, breathing trouble or swelling around the nose and mouth.

4) Special care of your pets: If you have ever walked on sand or concrete with bare feet on a hot summer’s day, you will know it’s a very painful experience which can even lead to blistered skin.

Even though dogs have tough paw pads, they are not as robust as shoes - so it is very important not to take your dog for a walk during the heat of the day. The general rule of thumb is if you can’t hold your hand for at least five seconds comfortably on the walking surface (sand/pavement/deck) then it will be too hot for your dog, so keep them inside and in shade. Also make sure they have plenty of water available. Like us, they drink more when temperatures rise.

Never leave your dog or children in the car on a summer day. Even with the window open a crack, the air temperature gets extremely high inside the car within a very short time frame which can lead to heat stroke. Although you might think it’s easier to leave the child or pet in the car because you are only ‘popping in’ somewhere - the risk is not worth it.

5) Practice good food hygiene: obviously this is important any time, but in summer even more so because heat will make food spoil more quickly and that can lead to food poisoning.

Store, cook and reheat food at appropriate temperatures and don’t leave food sitting on the bench when it’s hot. If you are barbecuing it is very important to make sure meat – particularly chicken is cooked through. One way to ensure this is to microwave it first, so that you are browning it on the barbecue rather than cooking it from raw.

6) Cooking by firelight: Although roasting marshmallows, or brewing a pot of tea in the flames of an outdoor fire seems glamorous and romantic – we all know how dangerous fires can be during the summer months.

Before lighting a fire, check that it’s OK in the area you are in and if necessary apply for a permit. Use a designated area if there is one.

• Build a small fire pit well away from trees, bushes or any other combustibles; your fire bed should be on bare earth, not grass (especially dead grass). If you have to create your own area take care to clear away all dry plant material; at the beach, create a fire pit and find suitable sticks to burn.
• Have a bucket of water on hand to ensure you can quickly douse the flames if something goes wrong.
• If its windy, don’t even attempt to light a fire.

When you have finished make sure every ember is extinguished by covering your fireplace with sand and dirt. Use water to help to make absolutely sure there is no possibility of an errant ember flying off and starting a fire somewhere else. Cover everything so there is no chance someone could walk over your fire place and burn their feet. When you’re done, the area should look as it did when you arrived.

If we follow these simple guidelines and take the right precautions, summer will be an enjoyable time for all the whanau (including our furry friends)!