Summer time means spending more time outdoors for most people. The extra time spent outdoors brings with it some pesky problems such as creepy crawlies and sun exposure, but with a little advance planning and extra care you can keep your family more comfortable and safe outdoors. This information about outdoor safety and care for the family is sponsored by CVS/pharmacy.
Activities like swimming, camping, hiking, and picnics all require a little extra care. Even just playing in the yard or at the playground can result in bug bites, sun burn or injury.
Outdoor Care for the Family
While we are outside enjoying the beautiful weather, we also have to make sure we are protecting ourselves from the annoyances that come with summer. There is nothing worse than having a fun filled summer day ruined by sun burn, bug bites or boo-boos.
Keep the creepy crawlies at bay.
Inspect your yard regularly for things like ant beds and wasp nests. They can pop up overnight, so you’ll want to check often and treat as needed. Be sure to buy products that are safe to use around children and animals.
When at home you can also use a variety of citronella products to temporarily help keep an area free from bugs. This is especially helpful when dining outdoors.
Avoid playing in areas that are close to standing water which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Also, if you spend any time in or near the woods, be sure to check for ticks at the end of the day.
Avoid fruity smelling perfumes and body washes. If you smell like a flower or fruit, the bugs can actually confuse you with flowers and fruit. Even slight smells, like smells left on your clothes from dryer sheets and laundry soap can attract bugs.
There are a variety of insect repellents available in stores. I use Total Home Deet-Free Insect Repellent Spray from CVS. It does a great job of repelling black flies and mosquitoes. If you don’t want to use a spray, they also have an Insect Repellent Wristband that does a pretty good job of repelling mosquitoes, flies, gnats and more. It’s waterproof and lasts up to 100 hours.
Sometimes there just isn’t anything you can do to prevent insect bites. For this reason, I always have allergy and anti-itch medications on hand.
Protect your family from the sun.
Now that you know that you won’t be a bug’s lunch while you are out playing, it’s time to make sure that you don’t end up with sun burn. Always wear a good sunscreen with a high SPF when you go outdoors.
Try wearing clothes that contain SPF. There are clothes especially designed to help prevent the harmful rays of the sun from reaching your skin. While they cover more skin that your normal summer clothes, they are designed to be light weight and not feel hot and sticky on your body.
Break out the floppy hats. Wearing a big hat is more than a fashion statement. It is also one of the best ways to protect you head and face from getting extra sun.
Did you know that eating more leafy greens and other veggies can help you avoid sunburn too? It is not a replacement for sunscreen, but it can help your body naturally fight off the harmful effects of the sun’s rays.
Be prepared for extra bumps and scrapes.
It never fails. Someone is sure to get a scraped knee or some other other minor injury when we visit the park or go on a hike. A simple activity like playing in the sprinkler can result in a boo-boo. Be prepared by keeping a first aid kit in your car, along with some basic first aid supplies at home.
Follow the #FindYourHealthy hashtag for more tips and ideas for staying healthy and safe this summer.
Disclosure: I’m proud to partner with CVS/pharmacy for the #FindYourHealthy campaign. I am being sponsored by CVS/pharmacy for my posts and activities, but all opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.
I love CVS products! They work just as well as the name brand and save you tons of money!
Paige
Great tips, I love shopping at CVS. I always keep these types of products on hand.
At the beginning of summer I go to CVS and stock up on all the things I think I’ll need for the summer, plus restock my first aid kit, just in case. I bought loads of sunscreen, since we are at the pool 2-3 times a week, plus if any of our friends need it, we have it. 🙂
CVS has a lot of quality products. You featured some that are already in my medicine cabinet. 🙂
CVS has everything I need. It’s a great one stop shop to pick up the summer essentials.
The joke in the summer is that I have sweet blood because the bugs love me! I can not leave my house without bug spray.
This is a good reminder. I have the sun block but not the bug repellent.
I’ve never used Total Home before. I love CVS products though!