Top 5 Summer Survival Tips

With all the summer camps, programs and holidays that exist at this time it is important that we follow these summer survival tips. They will literally help us avoid pain, sickness and even death! Be safe and be aware!

1. Make sure your children learn to swim and learn water safety: Children of all ages will be at summer camps or on holidays near water. They need to be aware of water safety and the more confident in the water they are, the more fun they’ll be able to have with their friends while you have peace of mind! 6 months is a good age to begin teaching children to be ok with water going over their head and then going under the water for quick bursts. Playing games and singing songs with toys and actions involving the water works really well.

I remember every summer holidays my parents had me at the pool for early morning swimming lessons. I am always so grateful because you always had heaps of fun at pool parties and holidays at the beach were never a cause for fear. I have had so much pleasure in the water and I know its due to the confidence I have gained through swimming lessons.

2. Staying Safe in the Sun and cover up!: Summer survival is important because we are outside so much so wear a hat with a broad brim, Keep your shirt on (very thin shirts don’t stop UV rays), slather on sun-cream (must be SPF 30+) and put it after drying yourself off from a swim as well as every 2 – 3 hours, drink lots of water (2Litres per day) and wear insect repellent. Wear sunglasses (ones that wrap around your face are best) All sorts of nasties come out this time of year!

Set up a play outside / travel pack that has all the things you and your family need in order to stay organized out in the sun! Make sure it contains bandaids! Sunburn can happen within 15 minutes and causes damage to skin you can’t see except under an ultraviolet light. And it never disappears like normal sunburn but the damage builds each time you are burnt. Try not to spend time in the sun during the middle of the day when the rays are hottest.

3. Know in advance how to treat Bites and Stings: Summer holidays are not the same when you have to nurse injuries caused by nature! The best way to treat them is to try and avoid them all together. So part of your summer survival plan should be to cover food and wipe all spills immediately, seal up garbage and put lids on all drink containers, deal with any stagnant water areas as they are a great breeding ground, wear cover-all clothing fitted at wrists and ankles, avoid scented lotions and soaps, teach children not to provoke insects (especially bees, wasps, big ants and spiders and…just everything!).

Repellents are effective but don’t use them on children under 1 year. Soothe insect bites with ice packs, teatree and eucalyptus oils, calamine lotion or cooling anaesthetic gels. With bee stings, scoop sting off with fingernail, don’t squeeze it. Bathe the area then ice it to reduce swelling. Spider bites can be fatal. Put a spider and snake (whatever you relate to depending on where you live) chart on the fridge to familiarise family with types to avoid and where they might live. I always found that beach nasties like stingers and jellyfish stings can be helped with vinegar (lots of it!).

4. Drink lots of water as it’s very easy to become dehydrated: Breastfeed babies more often or offer them bottles of bottles of tepid water, keep giving toddlers water to drink every 20 minutes, if children are red, with a rash and clammy skin get them to a doctor immediately. Always give water as a drink as tea and coffee contain dehydration agents. Look out for dry, warm skin, cramps, flushed face, reduced urination, sunken eyes, irritability and any other uncharacteristic behaviour, absence of tears. Get children in shade, loosen clothing, sponge down with water and get them to drink cool water

5. Know how to deal with Sunburn:

For many people summer holiday are their favourite time of year. If this is you, I hope these summer survival tips can help you keep it this way!

Return to LIFESTYLE FAMILY FITNESS

Return to HOME PAGE