50 Essential Summer Safety Tips Gallery

Everybody knows that proper hydration and sunblock are essential during the summer months. But did you know that there are other important times (and places) to practice summer safety? Whether you're prepping food for a picnic, going for a run, or simply walking around town with your pup, unexpected pitfalls can put a damper on the season. Luckily, there are precautions to take before any warm-weather calamities ruin your day, or worse, your long-awaited vacation or that big barbecue you've been planning for weeks.

With increased temperatures and outdoor activities come increased safety concerns. But never fear, because we've got you covered with these handy tips that will keep you happy and out of harm's way all summer long! While your summer won't be any less sweaty, it will be a whole lot safer.

Be mindful of the sun's rays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when they are strongest. It's safest to stay indoors during these hours, but if you do go outside, protect your skin with tightly woven clothing, a hat, and sunblock to avoid sun damage. Have trouble remembering to reapply? Here are the 10 most common times that people forget to wear sunblock.

Carry your own utensils as a backup, be it chopsticks or travel knives and forks you have packed for your trip. To reduce your chances of picking up a bug while traveling, you can bring sanitizing wipes — one of those 12 travel accessories you didn't know you needed.

Avoid swallowing pool water (this sounds gross, but many people do it), and remember to rinse off after swimming in a public pool or anywhere you might have come into contact with contaminated water. Recreational water illnesses include many different types of infections, such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye, skin, and ear infections.

Make sure to always grill with long-handled tools to keep hands and arms as far away from the fire as possible. Here are 10 grilling tools every outdoor cook needs.

Because they're composed of 95 percent water, munching on cucumbers can combat the onset of heat stroke and dehydration. The crunchy vegetable has also been known to provide sunburn relief when mashed on the inflamed area of the skin. Try this recipe for grilled salmon with creamy cucumber salad.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, frozen food can safely be defrosted in the refrigerator so that the food thaws at a temperature that will prevent bacteria from growing.

Double-check depths and look for any obstructions before jumping into a pool. To protect your neck, it's always safest to go in feet first.

When working with utensils, make sure you have a designated set for handling uncooked food and another for cooked food. This is often overlooked in the case of summertime grilling, when many are guilty of using the same tongs they started with to remove the cooked meat from the grill.

They might make you sweat, but these potent peppers could be your new best friend during the muggy summer months. Chile peppers contain capsaicin, the compound responsible for the spiciness of the pepper, which also acts as an irritant for many species, including mosquitos. After you eat capsaicin, bugs will sense the pepper in your scent and steer clear.

Drinking water straight from the tap (or jug, or even stream) is often not a safe option, whether you're at home or abroad, so it is best to avoid it. When traveling, arrive prepared with water purification tablets and your own water bottle, or buy a bottle of water.

Pomegranate seeds are high in ellagic acid, a natural antioxidant, and can help protect your skin by reducing the effects of UVB radiation. These intense rays can cause cell damage and even skin cancer. Looking for some ways to incorporate this fruit into your next picnic? Here are some our best pomegranate recipes.

Swim where the lifeguard can see you. But how do you know? The general rule is that if you can see the lifeguard, they can see you. The swimming area where a lifeguard is positioned on the beach is chosen for good reason: The water is usually calmer, not too deep, and typically free of riptides.

Make sure that any matches and lighter fluid are stored far away from the grill (and out of the reach of children or pets) once the grill is lit. Make sure that other items that could catch fire (like oven mitts or kitchen towels) are a safe distance from the grill as you cook.

Knowing how to swim is a key factor in preventing many water-related accidents. If you or a loved one don't know how, check out your local community and recreation center for lessons this summer. There are often adult sessions available, for those who never learned as children. Once you know how to swim, you can safely enjoy all bodies of water, including the 30 best hotel pools in America!

If you exhibit signs of sickness, whether it's a cough, sore throat, or something as bad as a fever, you should never be handling food, especially food you are planning to serve to others at a picnic or get-together. Even a relatively minor exposure could infect others with your illness.

A jellyfish sting can pack a serious punch, even when the jellyfish is tiny. Apply white vinegar to deactivate the stinger, and use a hot or cold compress to ease the pain. Seek emergency help immediately if the person who's been stung appears to be having a severe or systemic reaction. Check out these foods to help fight sunburns, insect bites, and other summer hazards.

Leave any area that contains open flames under the supervision of a responsible adult at all times. Even if you're just running into the kitchen to grab another bottle of barbecue sauce, ask someone to keep an eye on the fire and nearby people or pets.

Summer weather is an opportunity to do everything outdoors that we are forced to do inside during the remainder of the year. When running or exercising outdoors, remain aware of your surroundings. You may love running while listening to music, but the noise and distraction can make you less aware of potential dangers such as uneven terrain, approaching cars or pedestrians, or dogs on leashes. If you can't give up your music, try taking one ear bud out, or lower the volume a bit.

Another overlooked summer food safety step is knowing when to wash your cutting board. As with a knife, always wash and sanitize your cutting board after handling bacteria-friendly raw foods. It's also helpful to use plastic cutting boards (as opposed to wooden cutting boards) when working with raw foods such as beef, poultry, or seafood, because the bacteria from the raw food can more easily be washed away.

This soothing ingredient is used in many skincare products, and with good reason. The compounds in oatmeal relieve many types of skin discomfort, including itch from heat rash or bug bites and pain from sunburns.

This is one of the less obvious ones, but the National Restaurant Association warns that storing raw food such as meat, seafood, and poultry over ready-to-eat foods in the refrigerator, like shown in the photo above, can cause cross-contamination due to the raw food leaking and dripping onto the ready-to-eat food below.

Many people think that a cooler will do its job all on its own, but whenever transporting food, raw or cooked, make sure it's stored at a temperature below 41 degrees. That may mean you need to have ice packs ready if you're taking a long journey!

Just because you washed your hands before starting does not mean you're in the clear. Make sure to wash your hands after handling any raw foods.

Even if you know how to swim, if you are zipping around the lake in a speedboat or out on open waters on a sailboat, it's not a bad idea to wear a life vest as a precaution. Children and adults who aren't strong swimmers should always wear one.

Wear comfortable and supportive shoes while beachcombing and climbing slippery rocks. Proper shoes can protect your feet from hot sand and the sharp objects hidden within, like jagged shells, glass, and trash. Wearing proper gear not only makes your day at the beach more comfortable, but can help you avoid some of the 25 biggest summer health hazards.

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