11 ways to kick off summer without bug bites and bruises

Have the seemingly endless weeks of rain got you wondering if the sun will ever come out?

As the unofficial kick off of summer approaches, Memorial Day Weekend, we promise it's still there. And though it will be completely justified, experts say don't jump for too much joy when you finally see it.

It's definitely time for summer fun, but totally carefree fun can lead to sunburn, heat exhaustion or even a broken leg. There's a 15 to 27 percent increase in emergency room visits during the summer, estimates Kaiser Permanente.

No one wants to spend the summer cooped up on the coach with a cast or watching friends dive into a sparkling pool from the snack stand.

Here are some summer safety tips to keep in mind as you stay glued to the Weather Channel searching for the sunny forecast.

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Hydrate consistently

Heat related emergencies often occur early in the summer, said Alfred Sacchetti, chief of emergency medicine at Our of Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden and spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians.

"The most common thing we are going to see is dehydration," Sacchetti said. "As you dehydrate more and more problems can occur physiologically."

People can wind up with muscle cramps, dizziness or even hallucinations.

"The heat cramps to me are a warning to stop," said Dr. Kate Cronan, an emergency room physician with Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. Cramping will occur in the legs, belly and arms.

Make sure kids have enough water before they go out to play, but Cronan said if they do overexert themselves, lead them to sit by a cool air conditioner and urge them to take a drink or take refuge in the shade.

Make quick grocery store runs a family affair (and leave the pets home)

On a hot day, a car can heat up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit within 20 minutes, Cronan said.

Even just three to four minutes in such heat can bring on illness, she added.

Embrace lathering up

Sunblock can feel icky, smelly and slimy, but it does infinitely much more good than a little discomfort. Just one bad burn raises the risk of developing melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer.

To avoid that, it's all about one thing: "Prevention, prevention, prevention," says Sue Hoffman, president of the Delaware School Nurses Association.​

Dermatologists recommend lathering up every 2 hours with at least SPF 30. Make sure sunblock is considered broad spectrum, which will protect against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays.

Leave big D.I.Y. projects to the professionals

Sacchetti even admits he's a huge fan of taking on home improvement projects himself. But he's learned over the years to let some things go to the professionals.

In fact, a survey from 3M TEKK Protection products and the National Safety Council found that more than a quarter of homeowners who completed a D.I.Y. product either injured themselves or a loved one during its construction.

Think you can fix a broken shingle if you've never done so before?

"Not a good idea," Sacchetti said.

Be vigilant by water

That means water even in bathtubs.

"Seconds can be too much," Cronan said, if a child is alone.

The number one way to prevent drowning is close supervision. That means going to the bathroom in shifts and leaving the cell phone under a towel.

Toddlers under age 4 have the highest drowning rates. Most incidents occur in home swimming pools and pool-related injuries happen quick.

"None of us should swim alone," Cronan said.

Keep food moving

Food left out for more than two hours can be a breeding ground for Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and E. coli, bacteria that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Eggs, milk, poultry, seafood, meat and potato salad, or any food that contains mayonnaise have the highest risk of causing food poisoning.

In hot summer temperatures that reach the 90s, toss food that's been left for an hour.

"Put things out in waves," Sacchetti said.

Fend off bugs

The hot topic right now is Lyme disease, Hoffman said.

It is the most common tick-borne disease in Delaware. It causes fever, fatigue and muscle and joint aches, but many people recover quickly with antibiotic treatments such as doxycycline or amoxicillin. Untreated, the disease can cause life-long pain.

Deer ticks, which spread the virus, can nestle even in the bushes of your backyard. To avoid being bitten, check your bodies, and pets, when you come indoors.

Use insecticide with Deet-containing repellent, Hoffman said.

"Try to cover up with long pants and socks if you are in an area with grasses," she added.

If you are questioning a strange bug bit, don't hesitate.

"If in question, give a call," Hoffman said.

And though it's unlikely Zika virus will hit Delaware, mosquito prevention is still crucial in the summer.

Invest in mosquito screens for doors and windows and closely monitor your property for trash and standing rainwater.

Mosquitoes flock around stagnant bodies of water and tall grass.

"It may be wonderful sleeping under the stars, but you are going to scratching for a few days after that," Sacchetti said.

Don't ditch the helmet

About 75 percent of all bicycle fatalities are due to head injuries, but only about 20 percent of cyclists actually wear a helmet.

Make sure the strap is buckled snug under the skin and does not move from side to side. The helmet should lay flat on the top of the head, not angled.

"It just makes such a huge huge difference in theses kids," he said.

Take time to take care of cuts

It's summer. Who needs shoes?

It's inevitable that people, especially kids, will ditch shoes to run in sprinklers or fresh grass, Cronan said.

But if they develop a cut, it's important to wipe it off and cover it immediately to avoid infection. More attention may be needed for a deeper cut. That is an abrasion that needs more than a Band Aid, is continuing to bleed and looks wide.

Never turn your back to a wave

As tourists and residents alike flood Delaware's beaches, officials echo a word of caution: Don't turn your back on the ocean. Hard-packed sand feels like concrete when slammed up against it.

Some people escape with only cuts or scrapes, but waves can cause serious shoulder dislocations, back sprains and foot and leg fractures.

Every year one or two people die from injuries sustained on a Delaware beach and hundreds will be injured.

To avoid a mishap, turn your body to the side so you are perpendicular to the wave and have better footing. Just dunk under an approaching wave if you are in waist-deep water.

Do a once-over of playgrounds

Kids run free on playgrounds, but adults should do a quick walk-through of a spot before the games begin, said Mary Betts, recreation superintendent at Milford Parks and Recreation.

Keep an eye out for broken glass pieces, lose bolts, exposed anchoring material and anything that looks broken or cracked. The most common injury kids (and adults too) can succumb to is a fall.

"Report it to the proper ownership so it can be repaired. That is the duty they (caregivers)  have to keep the playground safe," Betts, who is on the board of Safe Kids Delaware Coalition, said.

It's important to make sure kids do not have loose strings hanging off their clothes that could get caught in pieces of equipment and cause strangulation.

"We do encourage all parents or babysitters, caregivers to stay and supervise kids on the playground especially if they are under 12," she said.

Jen Rini can be reached at (302)324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.