If you’re anything like me, you’re rejoicing the fact that warm weather is finally here. Sure, winter has its own kind of charm, but with warmer temperatures comes exciting changes in how we spend our free time. Keep these tips in mind while shifting gears into spring so you can stay healthy and happy all season long.
- Travel Safety
If you’re thinking of taking a family vacation for spring break, go the extra mile to ensure you’re traveling as safely as possible.
Learn as much as you can about your vacation destination and don’t post about your absence on social media. Whether you’re bringing the whole family along or you’re traveling solo, have a plan for action in case of emergency.
- Safety Outdoors
We’ll all be playing outdoors a bit more this season, so make sure you and your little ones are practicing safe habits when leaving the house. Wear bug spray, sun screen, and only bike with proper safety equipment. Remind your children about playground safety and the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street.
And since it’s almost warm enough to pull those bathing suits out from storage, it’s also the perfect time for parents to become CPR-certified or to get re-certified. Knowing CPR is a must, especially if you’ll be spending a lot of time with your kids at the pool. And while you’re at it, take some time to remind your children about water safety. Make sure they know never to go near the pool if you or another adult isn’t out at the pool with them. Set clear pool rules for them and make sure they understand each one.
- Seasonal Health Concerns
Spring brings pollen, which means lots of sneezing and sinus headaches for those who suffer from allergies. You can alleviate allergy symptoms simply with over the counter allergy medication, so stock up on it for the season and try to avoid heavily pollinated areas.
Ease yourself into the spring season by gradually increasing your level of bodily movement. Since most of us stay quite stagnant during the cold winter months, our body needs time to get back in the swing of things before jumping into strenuous physical activity. Stretch regularly and gradually build back up to your previous level of physical activity and your body will thank you for protecting it from sudden back and neck strains.
- Safe Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning can pose risks to your health when done with improper supplies. Be sure to read the labels on the cleaning products you’re using so you’ll know whether or not you need to wear protective gear when using them. Wear a mask when scrubbing those particularly grimy areas you usually skip with routine cleaning–the more confined they are, the more likely you are to inhale dangerous chemicals. Open up a few windows and turn on a fan to get some ventilation going in your home if you decide to paint or clean with harsh chemicals.
- Don’t Forget to Take Time to Yourself
As activities start to pick back up with the warmer weather, don’t get so carried away that you lose that ever-important “me time.” If you’re a parent or family caregiver, this can be especially important in maintaining both physical and mental health.
Even if it’s just thirty minutes, give yourself some time to decompress every day. You can’t care for your loved ones if you aren’t caring for yourself, so don’t let yourself feel guilty about a little solo quiet time!
Who knew the arrival of spring could bring about so much potential for health and safety risks? While safety concerns for the spring are thankfully less serious than they are other seasons, they still deserve your attention. Keep these tips in mind so you can enjoy the season to its fullest and before you know it, it’ll be summer again.
Jennifer McGregor has wanted to be a doctor since she was little. Now, as a pre-med student, she’s well on her way to achieving that dream. She helped create PublicHealthLibrary.org with a friend as part of a class project. With it, she hopes to provide access to trustworthy health and medical resources. When Jennifer isn’t working on the site, you can usually find her hitting the books in the campus library or spending some downtime with her dog at the local park.
