Are you ready to get outside and have some fun this summer? If so, don’t let your summer fun get derailed by a preventable injury! These summer safety tips for seniors can help you stay healthy and enjoy your summer to the fullest.
Summer Safety Tips for Seniors
Whether you’re spending your summer in beautiful South Carolina or elsewhere, wise seniors know planning for summer safety is essential. Higher temperatures and sunshine can make being outside a little more dangerous, but that’s no reason to spend the season indoors. Instead, you can beat the heat and keep healthy while having fun with these summer safety tips for seniors.
Prioritize Keeping It Cool
Because summer brings high temperatures, keeping your internal temperature on the cooler side is essential. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that seniors can stay cool on the hottest days of the year:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities on sunny or high-temperature days. Strenuous outdoor activities will raise your internal temperature and can lead to overheating.
- Dress for comfort by picking light-colored clothes made with natural materials, such as cotton. Wear loose, thin layers to keep your skin covered without overheating.
- Water is vital to helping your body lower your temperature and stay cool on hot days. Be sure to drink plenty of cold water, and look for other opportunities to introduce hydration into your diet. Did you know that fruits and vegetables can help you stay hydrated on hot days too?
- Cold drinks and desserts can help you lower your internal temperature as well. So go ahead and treat yourself to that ice cream. It’s for your health!
- Learn how to spot the signs of a heat stroke. If someone is nauseous, disoriented, or overly lethargic after spending time in the heat, seek medical attention immediately.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
Dealing with hot temperatures is one key to staying cool in the summer, but it’s also essential to have some sun protection on hand. Unfortunately, most seniors don’t use sun protection at all, which is one of the reasons that rates of skin cancer are so high in senior populations. You can keep yourself safe from the sun by making a few simple changes to your daily routine:
- If you don’t wear sunscreen, it’s time to start. Use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 whenever you go outside, and be sure to reapply after swimming or strenuous activities. Sunscreen should be applied liberally everywhere the sun touches your skin. Consider purchasing a specially formulated sunscreen for your face and scalp.
- Sunhats and sunglasses are smart accessories for seniors to protect themselves from the sun. A sunhat should have a wide brim and be made of a tightly-woven material that blocks out the sun. Sunglasses can protect your eyes from damage if they have an SPF rating on their label, so be sure to check before purchasing.
- Try not to do strenuous things outside between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun will be at its peak. If you must be out during this time, limit exposure as much as possible and use adequate sun protection.
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We hope these summer safety tips for seniors will help you have a fun and relaxing summer with your loved ones. Grab some sunscreen and a bottle of cold water and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors!
Are you planning to retire in Greenville, South Carolina? Be sure to check out The Gables on Pelham, a continuing care retirement community that welcomes seniors from all walks of life. We offer flexible and personalized care, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. You’ll love our cozy accommodations, fun-filled events calendar, and welcoming community atmosphere. To learn more, please schedule a tour or give us a call at 864-713-1377.