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Summer safety guide: Information you need for a safe, healthy season
From MayoClinic.com
Special to CNN.com

Keeping your kids safe, healthy and happy 365 days a year is challenging. Each season brings its own set of concerns. Summer tends to be the most injury-prone season, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. No school, good weather and more unsupervised activity contribute to a higher number of injuries. Here's information regarding health and safety issues your family may encounter this summer, whether you're hiking, biking, boating or floating.

Family fitness


Get the entire family active this summer. Plan a family activity or encourage your kids to get involved in sports.

Suggestions to help you teach healthy habits, find time for exercise and keep kids interested.

  • Raising an active child: Ideas for parents
  • Take time out to listen to your child's needs and interests.

  • Youth athletics: Finding the right sport
  • Swimming is great summer fun. Follow these tips to make it a safe activity for your entire family.

  • Swimming safety tips: Stay afloat and out of trouble
  • Guidelines to help you prevent in-line skating injuries.

  • Sports on wheels: Protective gear prevents injury
  • Bicycling is a great pastime and a good way to work out. But riding without a helmet dramatically increases your risk of brain injury and death.

  • Biking safely: Got your helmet?
  • Folding bikes, tandems, recumbents — you name it, there's a bike for everyone. Here's a sample of what's out there.

  • Novelty bikes: Find the right one for you
  • The ups and downs of mountain biking include one potentially big downside — injuries. But you and your children can avoid them. Here's how.

  • Mountain biking: Tips for handling the hills
  • Great outdoors


    Fresh air, sunshine and warm weather — ah, the joys of summer. Don't let pesky bugs, harmful ultraviolet rays or an increase in pollen ruin your fun.

    Hay fever doesn't have to sideline your child from sports.

  • Hay fever and sports: Staying in the game
  • Find the right camp for your child.

  • Summer camp and your child's health
  • A suntan warns you that your skin has been burned. Ignore repeated warnings and you may end up with wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Here are some tips to protect your skin.

  • How to stay safe in the sun
  • A little knowledge about bugs, sunburn and poison ivy can help you enjoy the great outdoors.

  • Outdoors quiz: Bees, ticks, chiggers and snakes
  • There's no avoiding summertime bugs unless you stay indoors all the time. Luckily, most bug bites aren't serious. You can treat most of them yourself.

  • Bitten or stung? Here's what to do
  • When well-designed and maintained, playgrounds offer an oasis for play and opportunities to learn. But before your child starts swinging and sliding, take a minute to screen for safety.

  • Playgrounds: A checklist to prevent injuries
  • Perfect picnics


    Unfortunately, germs don't go on vacation during the summer. Salmonella and Escherichia coli bacteria contamination may be a concern if foods for grilling or picnics aren't properly prepared or stored. Follow these suggestions for safe food handling to reduce your risk of food poisoning:

    For many, summer is when the backyard barbecue becomes the hub of social and culinary activity. Keep it safe and healthy.

  • 10 tips for safe grilling
  • How to recognize and get help for a food-borne illness.

  • Food-borne illness
  • Some strains of Escherichia coli, a common bacterium found in the intestinal tract, can cause severe diarrhea and even death. Learn how to prevent bacterial food poisoning.

  • E. coli: Preventing a common type of food poisoning
  • Montezuma's revenge. Delhi belly. Stomach flu. Whatever you call it, gastroenteritis can make you miserable.

  • Gastroenteritis: First aid
  • Diarrhea is mostly inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it can lead to more serious problems. Learn when to let nature run its course and when you need to see your doctor.

  • Diarrhea quiz: Do you know when it's serious?
  • Bon voyage!

    Whether you plan on taking a weekend getaway or a weeklong vacation, it pays to be prepared before you take off.

    No matter the distance of your trip, it's important to prepare for it accordingly. Here are some helpful tips.

  • Planning your trip
  • Each year millions of Americans travel abroad. Many become ill with minor maladies such as traveler's diarrhea. Some, however, contract a serious infectious disease such as malaria or yellow fever. Travel clinics can help.

  • Global travel: Advance planning can prevent illness
  • If you have food allergies, you may get nervous about eating on vacation. Here are some possible risks and ways to avoid them while traveling.

  • Food allergies and travel
  • There are both medical and safety issues to consider before taking your infant on an airplane.

  • Airplane travel with infants
  • Make sure your child is riding safely by following our car seat safety tips.

  • Car seat safety: Make sure your little one is riding safely
  • When you travel by air, your immediate concerns may be about weather or connecting flights. But what would happen if you had a medical emergency at 30,000 feet?

  • In-flight medicine: Handling illness at 30,000 feet
  • If you cross three or more time zones, you'll probably experience jet lag. Here are some tips to help you shake this disorienting feeling.

  • Beating jet lag
  • June 04, 2002

    © 1998-2003 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.  A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.   Terms of Use.

    © 2001 Planetree, Inc. All rights reserved.
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