Summer is officially here! Oregon is a great place for summer adventure, and it’s important to stay safe in all the fun. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is encouraging residents and visitors to take some steps to protect themselves from seasonal hazards that can lead to illness, injury, and preventable deaths.
Water safety
- Learn to swim and teach children to swim. Swimming lessons reduce drowning risk.
- Fence home pools. Use a four-sided fence at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates and remove toys from the pool when not in use.
- Wear a life jacket. Use U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets in natural water and for weaker swimmers in pools.
- Avoid alcohol. Never drink before or during swimming, boating, or watching children.
- Know CPR and learn other basic life-saving skills. Many organizations offer free courses.
- Be aware of natural water dangers. Currents, waves, rocks, and poor visibility can be deadly.
- Check weather conditions and avoid swimming during or after thunderstorms.
- Use the buddy system and in open water, look out for each other.
- If someone is drowning, reach or throw a lifesaving device. Don’t go in the water—you could become a victim.
Extreme heat
- Seek cool spaces, especially air-conditioned places when available.
- Stay hydrated—drink water often, especially when spending time outdoors.
- Use cold showers, misting, and cold compresses to lower body temperature.
- Limit demanding activities during the hottest parts of the day.
- Never leave children, adults who require assistance, or pets in parked vehicles.
- Check in on people who don’t have air conditioning, especially older adults.
- Learn the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke at heat.gov/heatsafety.
Sun protection
- Limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and reapply every two hours.
- Wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses.
- Take breaks in the shade when possible.
Wildfire smoke
- Check air quality in your area. Limit outdoor activity when smoke levels are high.
- Create cleaner air at home by using air filters at home. Install a MERV-13 or higher-rated filter in central air systems. You can even use a do-it-yourself box fan filter system.
- Keep windows and doors closed during smoky conditions.
- Follow medical advice if you have asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory concerns.
- Visit OregonSmoke.org (English) or OregonHumo.org (Spanish) to find current air quality and health information.
- Review the Oregon Air Quality Activity Guide for Children and Youth before planning outdoor activities including sports events, camping, and field trips.
Mosquitoes and ticks
Mosquitoes and ticks can spread diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease. To reduce risk:
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes in areas where insects are common.
- Remove standing water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
- Check yourself, children, pets, and belongings for ticks after spending time outdoors.
Algae blooms
- Avoid water with algae blooms. It can appear as bright green, blue-green, brownish-red, or paint-like. It could also be foamy, scummy, or unusually thick, or contain floating mats of algae material.
- Avoid contact with mats of algae material that are attached to rocks, sand, or aquatic plants.
- Keep children and pets away from affected water and shorelines.
- Enjoy activities that have low risk of swallowing water or inhaling spray in and around bodies of water.
- Check for advisories for specific water bodies.
- Sign up for email and text alerts and learn more at http://healthoregon.org/hab.
Beach water advisories
Check for advisories before you head to the beach. If a beach is under advisory:
- Avoid swimming and swallowing ocean water.
- Avoid swimming in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean.
- Shower after playing at the beach.
- Wash your hands before eating or drinking.
- Enjoy activities like picnicking, walking on the beach, or flying a kite.
- Even if no advisory is in effect, avoid swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm.
- Learn more and sign up for email and text updates about beach advisories at http://healthoregon.org/beach.
Food safety
Warm temperatures can increase the risk of foodborne illness. Remember the four key food safety steps:
- Clean: Wash hands, surfaces, and produce thoroughly.
- Separate: Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from ready-to-eat foods.
- Cook: Use a food thermometer to ensure foods reach safe internal temperatures.
- Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours.
As you head out to enjoy all that Oregon offers this summer, take a few simple steps to keep yourself and those around you safe. A little preparation goes a long way toward preventing illness and injury—and helps ensure every hike, swim, backyard gathering, and beach day stays memorable for the right reasons. Stay aware, stay hydrated, stay protected, and have a safe and healthy Oregon summer.
