DOH-Marion Offers Safety Tips to Enjoy the Nation’s 250th Anniversary

Festivities are already in full swing to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, and with a little planning, everyone will enjoy the fun, as we party like it’s 1776.
Adding to our regular spring and summer plans are historical reenactments, commemorative events, and larger crowds. As the excitement builds, the Florida Department of Health in Marion County offers safety tips for heat and hydration, water activities, animal safety, food preparation, and a reminder to pace yourself.

Heat and Sun Safety

As summer is right around the corner, 250th anniversary events are already popping up in neighborhoods, parks, and outdoor places. Activities in the great outdoors bring us face-to-face with heat and humidity, so try these tips to stay cool:

• Seek shade and air conditioning in the hottest parts of the day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can be a major threat in summer heat.
• Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 and reapply sunscreen often.
• Never leave children, vulnerable individuals, or pets unattended in a vehicle.

Heat-related illness is serious and includes headaches, dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness, irritability, confusion, an upset stomach, or vomiting. Watch for these symptoms:

• Heat cramps are the first sign of heat-related illness with painful muscle cramps, usually in the legs and abdomen, and heavy sweating. To treat, apply pressure on cramps and provide sips of water unless the person complains of nausea.
• Heat exhaustion includes cramps, heavy sweating, fatigue, clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, and headache. Move the person to a cooler environment, loosen clothing, apply a cool, wet cloth, and offer sips of water. Seek immediate medical attention if the person vomits.
• Heat stroke symptoms include a throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, rapid pulse, body temperature above 103 degrees, and shallow breathing. Heat stroke is serious! Call 911 or get to the hospital immediately. Do not give fluids.

Always Practice Water Safety

Remember water safety every time you’re around any body of water and never leave a child or vulnerable person alone near water. The three layers of protection help prevent drowning:

• Layer one: Supervision is the first and most crucial protection. This means a responsible person, usually an adult, is not distracted and is always actively watching when a child or vulnerable person, is in, on, or around the water.
• Layer two: Barriers and alarms like gates, fences, walls, doors, and windows physically block access to pools. Four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool safety covers, and alarm systems help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water when unsupervised. Remove all toys so children are not tempted to play near pools.
• Layer three: Preparedness includes having a phone nearby to immediately call 911 in an emergency. Know your location, what type of emergency, and what help is being administered. It is also important to learn CPR with breaths and first aid.

Protect Against Animal Bites

Certain safety tips apply to the whole year, like avoiding stray and wild animals to help reduce the chance of animal bites. Follow these tips for more protection:

• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals.
• Never feed wild or stray animals.
• Follow leash laws and keep pets and livestock secured on your property.
• Immunize your pets based on your veterinarian’s recommended schedule.

Avoid Mosquito and Tick Bites

Spring and summer are prime time for mosquito and tick bites and getting sick from the germs they can spread. Florida is home to several mosquito and tick species capable of transmitting diseases to humans, horses, and other animals. Symptoms can range from mild to very severe.

• Protect yourself from mosquitoes with bug spray, wear long sleeve shirts and pants, and avoid areas with high mosquito populations. You can also drain standing water and cover doors and windows with screens for more protection.
• Protect yourself from ticks with long clothes and treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin. Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. After being outdoors, check your body, hair, and clothing for ticks. Help children check and remember to check pets too. Remove ticks immediately.

Keep Food Safe

Every anniversary deserves a cookout or potluck, and we each have a favorite dish. Follow these precautions to cook, serve, and store food so everyone enjoys the feast and avoids foodborne illness.

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood.
• Separate food to prevent cross contamination. Use one cutting board for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and another cutting board for vegetables and fruits.
• Keep hot foods above 140 degrees Fahrenheit after cooking to prevent foodborne illness. Use ice or cold packs in insulated coolers to keep cold items at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler.
• Refrigerate perishable food within two hours. If the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, chill food within one hour.

Take Care of Yourself

We love having options, until we get overwhelmed and tired from too much activity. If you’re feeling stressed, consider fewer events and share time with smaller groups. Build in time to rest and relax and try these tips to:

• Get enough sleep to help recover from the stresses of the day. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to feel rested.
• Eat right and fuel up with fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Don’t be fooled by the jolt from caffeine or high-sugar snacks. The energy wears off, and you’ll feel more tired than before.
• Get moving with physical activity to relax your tense muscles and improve your mood. Physical activity can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Deal with stress in healthy ways that limit alcohol, tobacco, and overeating, and avoid drugs.

Even our founding fathers understood the need to plan ahead, with Benjamin Fraklin quipping: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Wise words to keep everyone safe as we enjoy the festivities leading up to July 4th.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov.