California Summer Safety 101

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Summer in California means warm weather, endless sunshine, trips to the beach, longer days, and lazier schedules. Instead of the constant go-go-go schedules that the school year brings, there's more time for hiking, swimming, building sand castles, and traveling to slow things down for a bit.

However, more adventure means an increase in risk as well. This safety survival guide includes tips on how to avoid drowning, heat stroke and heat exhaustion, snake bites, along with safety tips for backyard barbecues.

How To Beat The Heat

Longer days mean more time to play sports, exercise outdoors, and have picnics in the park – all great activities to do in the warm summer months. However, the California heat can soar into the triple digits, making for an increased risk of sunburns, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.

Outdoor Safety Tips:

• Take extra precautions when working outside – apply sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and stay in the shade when possible.
• Only conduct strenuous activity in the early morning or late evening.
• Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which include: throbbing headache; dizziness/light-headedness; lack of sweating despite the heat; red, hot and dry skin; muscle weakness or cramps; nausea and vomiting; rapid heartbeat; and rapid, shallow breathing.
• Wear light-weight, loose fitting clothing

Car Safety Tips:

• Never leave pets or children inside a car unattended
• If you see a child or pet left alone in a car in the heat, you should call 911 immediately. Those who need to break a window to save a person or pet from the heat won't be held liable in California.

Sunburn Aftercare:

On average, a person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns in their lifetime, according to skincancer.org. If you're looking like a lobster after a pool day, here are some tips to ease the pain from the American Academy of Dermatology Association:

• Take frequent cool baths or showers to help relieve the pain.
• Use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe the burn.
• Take aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling, redness, or discomfort.
• Drink lots of water and wear loose-fitting clothing.
• If skin blisters, allow the blisters to heal.
• Protect your skin. Limit your amount ofsun exposure between the peak hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15.

Drowning Prevention and Water Safety

Swimming in the summer is an absolute luxury. There's nothing better than a dip in the pool, or a swim in the ocean on a hot day. Whether you're swimming in a pool, lake, stream, or ocean, there are risks that come with swimming.

Swimming Safety Tips:

How To Handle A Snake Bite

The beautiful desert landscape of California is home to more than just sun-bathing lizards – rattlesnakes are commonly found on hiking trails and even backyards. In order to peacefully coexist with the slithery snakes, here are some tips on what to do if you see a snake:

• If you see a snake, stop and keep a safe distance. Give the snake room to move away on its own.
• Do not try to handle a snake. A snake will bite if provoked, so do not handle them.
• When walking or hiking, stay on trails, sidewalks and cleared pathways.
• Wear boots or closed shoes and long pants when working outdoors or walking in wooded areas.
• Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris.
• Use a flashlight if walking at night in areas where snakes might be present.
• Keep dogs on leashes and pet cats indoors to reduce their chances of encountering a snake.
• If you find a sick or injured snake, contact the Sheriff's Department non-emergency line to be connected with Animal Control.
• If you are bitten by a snake that you believe could be venomous, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Symptoms of a rattlesnake bite include numbness in the face or limbs; light-headedness; weakness; nausea or vomiting; sweating; blurred vision; and difficulty breathing. To treat a rattlesnake bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

While waiting for an ambulance, Healthline offers these tips to minimize your risk after a rattlesnake bite:

• Don’t raise the area above the level of the heart, because it can cause the venom-filled blood to reach your heart more quickly.
• Stay as still as possible, and keep the panic to a minimum, as movement and worry will increase your blood flow and the venom will circulate faster.
• Remove any tight clothing or jewelry before you start to swell.
• Let the wound bleed, as this may allow some of the venom to be released.
• Don’t wash the wound. Medical professionals may be able to use some of the venom from your skin to more quickly identify the correct antivenin.
• Don’t cut the wound, as this doesn’t help and you could cause an infection.
• Don’t try to suck the venom from the wound, as you then introduce the venom to your mouth as well as introduce the bacteria from your mouth to the wound.
• Don’t apply ice or water.

Rattlesnakes aren't the only pesky creature to watch out for – tick-borne diseases are on the rise in California.

Food Handling Safety Tips

Backyard barbecues are a great way to enjoy the long summer evenings – it's warm enough to forego a sweater and sit outside. However, it's always a good idea to ensure the way you buy, store, and cook the food is safe to enjoy. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, here are the top 10 tips to keeping your food fresh and safe to eat:

1. Wash hands with soap and water – Warm water and soap does wonders. If possible, dry your hands with a clean paper towel and then use it to turn off the faucet.
2. Sanitize surfaces – A solution of one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach diluted into one gallon of water can be used to sanitize surfaces.
3. Clean sweep refrigerated foods once a week – Throw out refrigerated foods that are no longer edible. Leftovers are good for four days, raw poultry and ground meats are only good for one to two days.
4. Keep appliances clean – Pay particular attention to buttons and handles where cross-contamination may occur.
5. Rinse produce – Rinse your produce under running water just before eating, cutting, or cooking.
6. Separate foods when shopping – Place raw seafood, meat, and poultry in plastic bags.
7. Separate foods when preparing and serving – Use a clean cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for meat, poultry and seafood.
8. Use a food thermometer when cooking – Barbecue chicken is a summer staple, but without a food thermometer you risk serving undercooked meat (and salmonella!).
9. Cook food to safe internal temperatures – Checking the internal temperature of seafood meat, poultry, and egg dishes will help ensure safe cooking practices.
10. Keep foods at safe temperatures – Hold cold foods at 40° F or below, and keep hot foods at 140° F or above. Foods are no longer safe to eat when they have been in the "danger zone" between 40-140° F for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature was above 90° F.

Patch staffers Ashley Ludwig and Bea Karnes contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock