What's the

most dangerous season? The icy winter? The spring full of

wild weather? It is actually summer. Not only can the

heat get you, causing medical problems, but cooling off

can also be very dangerous.

the risks of summer activity and ways to prevent them,

you and your loved ones can enjoy the remaining few weeks

of summertime fun.

According

to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, an average of 384 people die from heat

related problems each year. These tips sound like common

sense, but they still must be followed. Avoid vigorous

activity during the hottest part of the day (noon to 4

p.m.), avoid overexposure to the sun, and drink plenty of

water regularly.

In a study

done by the Suntory Water Group, Atlanta residents had a

less than 10 percent recognition of the symptoms of

dehydration. Twenty-three percent of the residents were

not aware of any of the symptoms of dehydration. That's

pretty scary, considering how hot it can get here.

"You

don't have to be thirsty to be dehydrated," said

Laney Hixon, a dietitian at Northside Hospital.

"When the body starts getting dehydrated, the signs

are both physical and mental." Just a 3 to 5 percent

drop of water in the body can cause light-headedness,

headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Though it

is important to be hydrated and keep cool, water also can

be dangerous. In the United States, drowning is the

number one cause of death in children under the age of 2.

Again, it seems like common sense, but children need

adult supervision while swimming or playing near a pool.

Never leave children unsupervised, even for a few

seconds.

To prevent

accidents, horseplay should be discouraged, the area

surrounding a pool should be clear of bottles, glasses,

toys and other possible accident hazards, and never swim

alone or allow others to swim alone. If you or your

neighbor owns a swimming pool, you should also take CPR

classes, in the event that an accident does occur.

If an

accident does occur, remove the victim immediately, and

sit him/her upright holding the head down for five

seconds to drain the water from the mouth. If the victim

doesn't respond, start CPR and call 911.

These tips

have been drilled into our heads for years and yet

accidents still happen. Perhaps the best advice is to

assume that things may go wrong without using common

sense and preventive techniques. It is far better to be

safe than sorry.

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