When you are busy doing a physical activity, you are focused on the activity, not on preventing injuries. Make the following safety tips a habit so that you don’t have to think about them.
Stay hydrated. |
Keep a water bottle nearby and drink whenever you get a chance. For most people and activities, a fancy “sports drink” is not necessary. Plain water is just fine. |
Avoid heat exhaustion. |
Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after you've been exposed to high temperatures. Signs of heat exhaustion include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness. Avoid doing strenuous outdoor activities when the humidity is very high or between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., when the sun is strongest. Drink plenty of water. Take a break in an air-conditioned car or building. |
In the winter, avoid hypothermia and frostbite. |
Winter activities like skiing and shoveling snow place people at risk for these injuries. Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in core body temperature, below 95°F. Frostbite refers to the freezing of body tissue (usually skin). Frostbite is most likely to affect body parts that are farther away from the body core such as your feet, toes, hands, fingers, nose, and ears. |
Periodically, check the fit of your protective gear. |
Especially in contact sports like football, pads and helmets can shift or become loose. Each piece of protective gear needs to fit properly and be in the right place to protect you the way it should. |
When you take a break, keep your muscles warm and stretched. |
Sitting still for a few minutes can cause muscles that are warm and well-stretched to get cold and tight. If possible, keep moving and gently stretching while you take a break from yard work or wait to go back in the game. |