Summer Survival

 

General Information

Check out these general guides for summer safety tips on a range of topics.

A Primer on Summer Safety from the Food and Drug Administration.

Ideas for a Healthier, Safer Summer from the Center for Disease Control.

A Summer Survival Guide from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

Insects: Don’t Let Them Bug You

Mosquitoes

View maps of West Nile Virus cases by species provided by the United States Geological Survey.

Learn more about the West Nile Virus and how to protect yourself from West Nile Virus with these tips from the Center for Disease Control.

Learn about mosquitoes and encephalitis from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Ticks

Recognize a deer tick with this image from the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Learn to identify, control and remove ticks with this information from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Other Insects

Learn to identify and control bees and wasps near your home with help from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Insect Repellents

Learn how to use insect repellents safely with this page from the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Food Safety: BBQ not Botulism

Savor the flavors of summer, but keep these food safety tips in mind for healthy summer eating.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture provides information on foodborne illnesses and safe barbecue habits.

The Fight Bac! campaign, working to “keep food safe from bacteria”, is brought to you in part by the USDA.

FoodSafety.gov is a gateway to government food safety information.  This page on summer safety covers Summer and Vacations.

 

Recreation

Stay active, but stay safe with these tips about summer recreation.

The Forest Service provides information about outdoor activities and fire safety.

Summer Fire Safety information about fireworks, barbecues, and campfires from the US Fire Administration.

Learn to recognize (and avoid!) poison ivy.  Check out this Poison Ivy & Kin factsheet from the Department of the Interior.

Swimming pool and spa safety from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Illinois Department of Public Health also provides this page on bathing beaches, including a list of Illinois beaches and beach closings.

While enjoying more outdoor activities, stay aware of the increased risk of animal bites and rabies.

Articles on sports safety from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

 

Safe Fun in the Sun

Enjoy time in the sun without the damaging your skin.  Be aware of the facts about skin damage and take precautions to enjoy the sun’s rays safely.

Skin cancer statistics from the Center for Disease Control.

Sunwise publications from the National Environment Education Foundation.

Links to many articles on sun exposure from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Information about sunscreens from the Federal Drug Administration.

Heat can pose its own dangers, especially in older adults.  Use the following guides to learn warning signs and preventative measures.

Information about heat stress from the Centers for Disease Control.

Information about extreme heat from the Center for Disease Control.

Heat illness coverage from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Hot weather information from the Illinois Department of Public Health

 

Wild Summer Weather

Summer is not all sunshine.  Summer storms can be violent, so it is important to stay aware of weather warnings and proper precautions.

Fire Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service.

Tips for severe weather safety from the National Weather Service.

Storm Prediction Center from the National Weather Service.

 

Be Green: It’s Cool To Conserve

Summer can be as hard on the environment as it is on us.  Follow these tips for conserving energy and reducing toxins while enjoying your home and garden this season.

Summer Energy Saving Tips from the Department of Energy.

Put your yard to work by landscaping for energy efficiency.

Look at this site from the Minnesota government for information on Growing a Healthy, No-waste Lawn and Garden.

The University of Illinois Extension provides this information to read BEFORE you use pesticides.

This information on pesticides from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health covers poison prevention, safe use of insect repellent and much more.