Summer is the best time of the year for most; however don’t let safety put a damper on a fun break. Here are some tips to staying healthy and safe.

Bugs:

• Although floral and other bright colors are “in” during the summer, bugs are attracted to the bright colors so you might want to reconsider your wardrobe.
• The same goes for scented soaps and perfumes. Bugs love sweet smelling scents so keep that in mind.
• Many bug repellents contain DEET, however, if a bug spray contains over thirty percent it can be toxic.

Pools:

• Waterproof sunscreen isn’t actually water proof. So reapply sunblock every two hours because it is likely to come off when you sweat and while you are swim.
• Do not go into a pool with an open wound. Despite the filters and chlorine, hundreds of people cram into pools everyday so they are not as sanitary as you may think.

Plants:

• Know what poison ivy or other poisonous plants look like so you are less likely to come in contact with them.

Food:

• Due to the lovely weather you may attend outdoor parties, however, make sure perishable foods are not left outside for too long because they may cause a food bourne illness.
• Do not use sugary drinks to hydrate. They may feel refreshing at first but they will make you thirstier.

Bad summer memories:

Summer is not always perfect for most people.

“During one vacation I lost our hotel keys, our camera, and my cell phone. My family was really mad for the rest of the trip,” said junior Madhuri Prayaga.

“I was doing cross country over the summer and I had to run up a hill that I couldn’t see the top of,” said junior Sabrina Lamont.

“I was going crab fishing and for some reason I decided to use a fishing rod to catch crabs. When I finally caught a crab I started swinging the rod around and the crab flew off and hit a lady in the face,” said junior Jessica Ji.