Summer is knocking on our door, and as the temperature rises we are slowly switching into the summer mood. Although there will be lots of fun this summer we need to think about the safety. Do you know that most common dangers are sun burns, insect bites, backyard pool drowning, diseases lurking from the swimming pool water and food poisoning?

Sunburn is more frequent than it should be, because many people think it’s just bright sun we need to worry about. Actually it’s the sun’s ultraviolet or “UV” rays, 80% of which penetrate thin clouds, haze, and fog. These rays can create short and long-range damage regardless of how bright the sun is. UV damage to the skin isn’t just temporary. Excessive exposure over the time, regardless of our own skin type, can lead to sagging and wrinkling of the skin and premature age spots. It will increase the risk of skin cancer. And don’t forget that kids have thinner skin and they are even more sensible to UV rays, actually, more than 80% of person’s lifetime exposure to the sun occurs before the age of 21. And it’s not just long-term consequences you need to think of, sunburns can cause severe pain.

Insect bites may be cause a lot of discomforts. Although, the vast majority of people will only have a localized reaction to a bug bite or sting, about 3 percent of the population may develop an allergic reaction, including symptoms of a rash and hives that are distant from the site of the bite or sting that will require medical attention. Mosquito bites can be painful and cause itchy skin but they are not the insects you should worry about. Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Their bite is usually painless with little or no local reaction. Two diseases that can be spread by ticks are Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and Lyme disease symptoms include high fever, headache, rash, fatigue and muscle aches. Symptoms can start up to a few weeks after the tick bite and the outcome can be life-threatening.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 260 children under five years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The Commission estimates that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents each year. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage. Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under five. In some states such as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five.

Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols from, or having contact with contaminated recreational water. Over the last 31 years (1978-2008), the number of reported RWI outbreaks has steadily increased, from as few as 5 in 1986 to as many as 84 in 2007. The most notable increases in the number of RWI outbreaks occurred after 1997. These overall increases are the result of a surge in the number of reported outbreaks of acute diarrheal illness (gastroenteritis) linked to recreational water venues treated with chlorine, such as swimming pools.

Although most foodborne infections are undiagnosed and unreported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year about 76 million people in the United States become ill from pathogens in food. Of these, up to 5,000 die. Bacteria are present throughout the environment in soil, air, water, and in the bodies of people and animals. These microorganisms grow faster in the warm summer months. Most foodborne bacteria grow the fastest at temperatures from 90 to 110 °F. Bacteria also need moisture to flourish, and summer weather is often hot and humid.

In order to be prepared for the following summer you should be prepared and follow these tips:

- Apply the sunscreen in a thick coat at least 30-45 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours, wear protective clothing and sunglasses, including a hat and long sleeve shirt and long pants and limit sun exposure when it's at its strongest from 11am to 4pm. Note that Illness and some medications can increase our sensitivity to UV rays. If you’re not sure whether this applies to your illness or a medication you’re taking, check with your physician.

- Cover exposed skin with clothing and avoid bright colors that attract nectar-gathering insects and stay away from areas with lots of weeds and blooming plants that attract bees and wasps. Garbage and food also attract these scavengers. Use screening, nets and enclosures and insect repellents. Those with DEET are considered safe if used according to directions. Use formulations with less than 10 percent DEET, especially on small children.

- Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. Completely fence the pool, install self-closing and self-latching gates. Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Keep toys away from the pool area. Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere.

- Don't swim when you have diarrhea and don't swallow the pool water. Practice good hygiene, shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.

- When eating away from home, find out if there's a source of clean water. Wash plates, utensils, and cutting boards that held the raw meat or poultry before using again for cooked food. Take your thermometer along. Meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns very fast on the outside, so be sure that meats are cooked thoroughly.

Follow these simple steps and enjoy your summer.