The weather is changing!  We’re seeing warmer, sunnier days, more greenery, and a lot more people enjoying the outdoors.  Below are a few tips on how to stay safe during the warmer weather so you can enjoy them comfortably.

Hydration: With higher temperatures, it’s easy to get dehydrated.  It’s important to keep water handy and to drink, drink, drink!  While the amount of water you need varies depending on several factors, it’s a good guideline to know that on hotter days, or days where you are engaged in more strenuous activity, you should drink more water.  The recommended amount is up to 13 cups for men and 9 cups for women.  That’s a lot!  The Mayo Clinic refers to “total beverages” you drink a day, meaning juice and other drinks count, but water is the healthier option.

Cover Up: The idea of covering up in warm weather seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it?  However, protecting your skin from the sun is important to avoid immediate health issues like sunburn, and of course long term health problems like skin cancer.  Wearing sunscreen whenever you spend time outdoors, or wearing a hat to protect your face, are important steps you can take to prevent short term and long term health problems.  Remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied frequently, and even if you do wear sunscreen and a hat, try to avoid sitting in direct sunshine for any long periods of time.

Activities: More sunshine means more people out and about enjoying it.  Pay attention to your surroundings; look both ways before crossing a street or a path as cyclists and other pedestrians are using those spaces, too.  If you’re driving, make sure to check your blind spots for cyclists out for a ride.  If you’re the one of your bike, make sure you wear your helmet and keep an eye out for distracted drivers.

The summer season is a great time for people to get out and enjoy all the Pacific Northwest has to offer.  However, it’s important to do it safely so that you can continue to enjoy all those activities as the days get warmer and longer.