WASHINGTON, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With warm weather comes more opportunities to explore new places, spend time outdoors, and share quality time with friends and family.

Swimming, walking or having a picnic are just some of the many things you can do together during the summer.

To enjoy these activities safely and accident-free, make sure to keep these tips in mind:

Water safety

• Supervise your kids, as well as other children, when playing or swimming in the ocean, lakes, rivers or pools.
• Only use life jackets certified by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Avoid swimming in rough or deep water.
• Respect “No Swimming” signs.
• To prevent choking, make sure children do not eat or chew gum in the water.
• If your home has a swimming pool, install a protective fence around it. Be sure to place a cover on the pool when it’s not in use.
• Take cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes to help people who are drowning or choking.

Protection against sun and heat

• To avoid dehydration or heat exhaustion, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or too much sugar.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Also wear sunglasses and a hat that covers your face and ears.
• Apply sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher a half an hour before any sun exposure. Reapply several times a day, or according to the product directions.
• Keep your lips hydrated with a lip balm that contains sunscreen.
• Avoid direct sun exposure when ultraviolet (UV) rays are at their strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Try to spend the majority of your time protected by cool, shady areas.

Food safety

• If you’re camping or you plan to do any outdoor cooking, use a cooler with ice to keep your food refrigerated. Make sure to keep the cooling temperature (PDF) at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before handling any food.
• To avoid cross contamination, separate raw meat from other food, and place meat on its own plate or tray.
• Make sure meats are cooked and served at an internal temperature (PDF) of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Immediately refrigerate or freeze any leftovers. Don’t leave perishable foods out in the open for more than two hours.
• To avoid getting food poisoning, follow these tips for eating safely at fairs and festivals.

For more information about food safety contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.

To learn more about health issues, see USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov, the U.S. Government’s official web portals in English and Spanish, and part of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).