With the unofficial start to the summer season upon us, we are sharing some reminders for five healthy habits (in no particular order) that can help you have a healthy and safe summer.

Swim and Splash Safely

Swimming, and other water-based activities, are fun and healthy ways to be physically active. Everyone should take steps to prevent illness and injury every time they are in and around the water.

Recreational water illnesses are caused by swallowing, breathing in mists, and having contact with contaminated water. Healthy swimming habits, like not swallowing water, can lower your chance of getting sick. It is also important to stay out of the water if you are sick with diarrhea, to rinse off before getting into pools, splash pads, and hot tubs, and to take kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers (away from the water) every hour.

Drowning often occurs quickly and silently, so it is vital that adults actively supervise and avoid distractions when children are in and around the water. It is also important to know what drowning looks like and how to prevent it.

Fight the Bite

Mosquito and tick bites are more than annoying — sometimes they transmit diseases. West Nile virus and Lyme disease are two of the vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks, respectively, in our region. Get in the habit of these taking simple prevention measures when you go outside, for example:

• Use insect repellents that contain EPA-registered, CDC-recommended active ingredients like DEET or picaridin to prevent tick and mosquito bites.
• Wear long, loose, light-colored clothing when outdoors.
• Shower soon after outdoor activities; and make sure to perform tick checks (on yourself and family members) after outdoor activities.

Find more ways to fight the bite, including how to control mosquitoes and ticks.

Get Fired up for Food Safety

Food poisoning peaks in the summer months when warmer temperatures cause foodborne germs to flourish. If grilling is part of your summer kick-off, you may already know to use a food thermometer to make sure your food is cooked to the right temperature. But there are a few more food safety tips you should know beginning at avoiding cross-contamination at grocery store to how long your leftovers can sit out.

Be Sun Smart

Play — and work — outside without raising your skin cancer risk by protecting your skin from the sun. Tanning damages the skin. Skin damage leads to wrinkles later in life and it increases your risk for skin cancer. Remember, you can be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light even on cloudy and cool days. Layer up on your protection to be sun safe.

• Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that filters out both UVA and UVB rays with a SPF of 15 or higher.
• Wear protective layers like a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays, and protective clothing.
• Whenever possible, find shade and avoid being in the sun when UV rays tend to be strongest — between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time in our area.

Keep it Cool

We are no strangers to summer heat in Fairfax, but that doesn’t mean we can be complacent, especially in extreme heat. Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. Extreme heat can be dangerous for everyone, but it may be especially dangerous for people with chronic medical conditions.

• Learn to recognize warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.
• Stay cool and stay hydrated.
• Stay informed by paying attention to local weather. You can also follow us on social media and sign up for alerts from Fairfax County.