Leading a safe and healthy life this summer doesn’t need to be complicated. Whatever your plans, we share 10 simple tips to help you be amazingly safe, healthy, and happy during the summer months.
1. Ways to Increase Your Personal Safety:
Always act as if there is potential for crime. Ask yourself, “How can I improve my personal safety?
- Travel in groups. There’s always safety in numbers.
- Don’t meet up with individuals you meet on social media sites.
- Pay attention to your surroundings when using electronics. Don’t tune yourself out.
- Reduce or eliminate opportunities that may make you a target.
- Increase awareness in places where you’re most comfortable.
- Trust your instincts even if you feel embarrassed.
- Always let a trusted adult know who you’re with and where you’re going.
2. Drink Water
Staying hydrated is important! It is commonly recommended to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (the 8x8rule). Here are six evidence-based health benefits of drinking plenty of water.
- Water helps to maximize physical performance.
- Hydration has a major effect on energy levels and brain function.
- Drinking water may help to prevent and treat headaches, relieve constipation, prevent kidney stones, and help with weight loss.
3. Practice Water Safety
Do not swim alone! When supervising children, do not engage in distracting behaviors, such as talking on the phone or reading. Watch and listen continuously. Pool safety is everyone’s responsibility. Always wear a life jacket or personal flotation device when boating or in open bodies of water.
4. Use Sun Screen
Skin cancer cases are completely avoidable 90 percent of the time. Most of us associate the use of sunscreen with going to the beach or to the pool. The fact is, however, that sunscreen should be used any time we’re outside for an extended period of time.
5. Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses
As extreme heat and oppressively high humidity envelop many parts of the south, the Alabama Department of Public Health reminds the public to always exercise caution on dangerously hot summer days to avoid heat-related illnesses. “Be sure to stay hydrated with water and limit any strenuous activities to the cooler parts of the day,” State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris shared.
6. Exercise
Find a workout buddy and do some cardio! It’s one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health.
7. Limit Screen Time
Research has shown that kids spend more time using electronic media devices than they do on any other activity—an average of seven hours a day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Less screen time means a better mind and body!
8. Spend Time With Friends and Family
While alone time is important for creativity and inspiration, spending quality time with friends and family is just as important. Research shows that spending time with friends and family makes a big difference when it comes to happiness.
9. Don’t Vape, Smoke, Drink, or Use Drugs
Best advice is DO NOT EVER experiment or engage in tobacco, underage drinking, or other drugs.
10. Seek help for Mental Health Issues
Seeking help starts with yourself. Self-help is vital to the journey to recovery. The National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) states that you should give yourself permission to seek help by taking care of yourself. Talk to a trusted adult or friend, exercise more often and go on walks. Start watching what you eat, get extra sleep, but most importantly find out what works best for you.
To learn more about theFOCUS Program visit www.thefocusprogram.com or call 256-453-0655
Contributor, Sue Cox Jones, M.Ed., Co-Founder and Director of FOCUS
