happy + healthy
10
TIPS FOR STAYING
SAFE THIS SUMMER!
Contributor, Sue Cox Jones, M.Ed., Co-Founder and Director of FOCUS
Leading a safe and healthy
life this summer doesn’t need
to be complicated. Whatever
your plans, we share 10 simple
tips to help you be amazingly
safe, healthy, and happy during
the summer months.
1
Ways to Increase Your
Personal Safety
Always act as if there is potential for
crime. Ask yourself, “How can I improve
my personal safety?
Travel in groups. There’s always safety
in numbers.
Don’t meet up with individuals you
meet on social media sites.
Pay attention to your surroundings
when using electronics. Don’t tune
yourself out.
Reduce or eliminate opportunities that
may make you a target.
Increase awareness in places where
you’re most comfortable.
Trust your instincts even if you feel
embarrassed.
Always let a trusted adult know who
you’re with and where you’re going.
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2
Drink Water
Staying hydrated is important! It is
commonly recommended to drink eight
8-ounce glasses of water per day (the 8x8
rule). Here are six evidence-based health
benefits of drinking plenty of water.
Water helps to maximize physical
performance.
Hydration has a major effect on energy
levels and brain function.
Drinking water may help to prevent
and treat headaches, relieve constipa-
tion, prevent kidney stones, and help
with weight loss.
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summer safety
3
Practice Water Safety
Do not swim alone! When supervising
children, do not engage in distracting
behaviors, such as talking on the phone
or reading. Watch and listen continuous-
ly. Pool safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Always wear a life jacket or personal
flotation device when boating or in open
bodies of water.
4
Use Sun Screen
Skin cancer cases are completely avoid-
able 90 percent of the time. Most of us
associate the use of sunscreen with going
to the beach or to the pool. The fact is,
however, that sunscreen should be used
any time we’re outside for an extended
period of time.
5
Prevent Heat Related
Illnesses
As extreme heat and oppressively high
humidity envelop many parts of the
south, the Alabama Department of Public
Health reminds the public to always exer-
cise caution on dangerously hot summer
days to avoid heat-related illnesses. “Be
sure to stay hydrated with water and limit
any strenuous activities to the cooler
parts of the day,” State Health Officer Dr.
Scott Harris shared.
6
Exercise
Find a workout buddy and do some car-
dio! It’s one of the best things you can do
for your mental and physical health.
Sources: https://adph.org and https://nami.org
www.potentialmagazine.com
7 Limit Screen Time
8 Spend Time With
Friends and Family
9 Don’t Vape, Smoke,
Drink, or Use Drugs
Research has shown that kids spend more
time using electronic media devices than
they do on any other activity—an average
of seven hours a day, according to the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Less screen time means a better mind
and body!
While alone time is important for cre-
ativity and inspiration, spending quality
time with friends and family is just as
important. Research shows that spending
time with friends and family makes a big
difference when it comes to happiness.
Best advice is DO NOT EVER exper-
iment or engage in tobacco, underage
drinking, or other drugs.
10
Seek help for Mental
Health Issues
Seeking help starts with yourself. Self-
help is vital to the journey to recovery.
The National Association of Mental
Illness (NAMI) states that you should
give yourself permission to seek help by
taking care of yourself. Talk to a trusted
adult or friend, exercise more often and
go on walks. Start watching what you eat,
get extra sleep, but most importantly find
out what works best for you.
To learn more about the
FOCUS Program visit
www.thefocusprogram.com
or call 256-453-0655
Summer 2020 |
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