Memorial Day weekend, which starts Friday for many lucky folks, kicks-off the summer and lots of outdoor activities. As everyone prepares for summer travel, outdoor recreation and other summer adventures, a few health tips can help make your activities fun and rewarding. 

Travel safety: Every hour, an average of two traffic accidents happen somewhere in our state, with too many resulting in fatalities. Aggressive driving contributes to almost half of all motor vehicle deaths. From Memorial Day throughout the summer, more vehicles will be traveling Idaho roads, so be patient and arrive safely.

Other travel safety tips include:

• Check the tire air pressure (including the spare tire), as well as belts, fluids, and lighting to be sure your vehicle is ready for a trip.
• Don’t overload your vehicle.
• Make sure everyone in your car is wearing a seatbelt.
• Don’t text or talk on a cellphone while you’re driving. Don’t become distracted trying to do other things as you drive. A car traveling at 65 mph covers 95 feet per second. A one-second distraction could result in a serious accident and injuries.
• Be aware of symptoms of fatigue or “highway hypnosis.” Take a break if you feel drowsy.
• Take your time and be patient; it’s better to get there in one piece. Allow ample space between your vehicle and others on the road and pay attention to the speed limits and other traffic signs.
• Don’t drink alcohol and drive.
• Don’t leave your child or your pet unattended in the car, even for just a few minutes. It can heat up quickly to dangerous temperatures.

Food safety is always important, and the summer heat can be especially challenging. An estimated 1 in 6 people suffer from foodborne illnesses each year. To avoid unpleasant and potentially dangerous episodes of food poisoning or foodborne illness, remember to:

• Wash your hands regularly with a rich lather of soap, especially when working with raw meats such as hamburger or chicken. If you are camping and do not have access to running water, use hand sanitizer.
• Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Make sure you have enough ice to maintain cold foods at or below 40°F. Put leftovers on ice as soon as possible. Any food that has been left out for four hours or more should not be eaten.
• Cook meats and leftovers thoroughly to 165°F. Use a long-stem thermometer to check the cooking temperatures of meats. Most meat thermometers come with specific temperature guidelines for safe cooking. The color of the meat is not a reliable indicator of whether or not the meat is fully cooked.
• Keep raw meats separate from other foods such as salads or fruits.
• Don’t drink out of streams or lakes unless water is filtered or treated.

Sun Safety: More than 2 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States, which is more than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. Idaho has one of the highest melanoma rates in the nation, with nearly 1,600 invasive melanoma cases and more than 200 deaths in the last five years. Every time we sunburn, we increase our risk for skin cancer. It is easy to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays of the sun:

• Cover up! Cover as much skin as possible with tightly-woven clothing and a hat with a 2–3 inch brim or a shade cap.
• Use a sunscreen that protects against both UV-A and UV-B sunlight spectrums with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply it regularly, especially if you are swimming. Don’t forget lip balm with an SPF.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays and protect your eyes.

Water safety: At this time of year, the water in Idaho’s rivers, lakes and reservoirs can be extremely cold and hazardous. Plan your boating and swimming trips carefully to avoid fast-moving and dangerous waters. Twenty people died from accidental drowning in Idaho in 2013. Take these precautions to be safe:

• Supervise young children around water.
• Wear an appropriate personal flotation device (PFD) when boating or tubing. Children should wear a PFD on beaches, docks and riverbanks.
• Be aware that cold water can cause hypothermia and death in as little as 10 minutes.
• Avoid boating or swimming when consuming alcohol. Drinking alcohol can accelerate the effects of hypothermia.
• Irrigation canal water might look placid, but swimming in it is dangerous. On average, three children drown in Idaho canals each year.
• When swimming in pools, remember that some parasites can survive proper chlorination. To protect yourself and others, do not get pool or recreational water in your mouth, and don’t swallow it. Shower before entering a pool and be sure to wash the bottoms of your children as well. Adults and children should not swim if they have diarrhea. Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Take children on regular bathroom breaks, and change diapers in the bathroom, not poolside.

Mosquito and tick prevention: The bites of mosquitoes and ticks can spread disease. Protect yourself and your family:

• Avoid mosquito bites to protect yourself from West Nile virus.
• Apply insect repellent approved by the EPA to exposed skin and clothing. Follow instructions on the product label, especially when you’re applying it to children.
• Check for ticks on clothing, body, hair, and pets when you are or have been in tick habitat.
• If a tick bites you, use a fine tweezers or notched tick extractor to remove it as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with a steady, even pressure, being careful not to break off the head or squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick. Disinfect the bite site and wash your hands with soap and water.
• Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products to use on your pets so you are not exposing yourself or them to ticks. Ticks can hitch a ride on your pet and end up in your home.

National Moment of Remembrance: Remember what Memorial Day is about. At 3 p.m. local time on Monday, May 25, observe a minute of silence to honor those who have died in service to our country.

Be prepared this Memorial Day weekend. Idaho’s diverse geography and sunny climate offers endless outdoor opportunities, but accidents or unexpected events can happen at any time. Carry a first-aid kit and enough food and water for an emergency. Always let friends or relatives know your travel plans. With a little bit of planning and by taking precautions, your outdoor experiences can be treasured for a lifetime.