How to Stay Safe This Summer: 24 Hazards to Avoid

Sharks get all the attention, but the real danger at the beach is an unexpected rip current, which can sweep even the strongest swimmers away from shore. More than 80 percent of U.S. beach lifeguard rescues are of people caught in a rip current.

—Stephen P. Leatherman, professor of coastal science at Florida International University and coauthor of Aquatic Accidents

This could be a bad year for tick-related diseases. The ticks that carry Lyme disease thrive in warm and humid weather, and many areas of the country have had an exceptionally mild winter, with plenty of precipitation.

—Goudarz Molaei, chief scientist and director, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Passive Tick Surveillance Program

More than 60 percent of injuries sustained by pickleball players 60 and older resulted from slips, trips, falls or dives, according to our recent study of people who went to U.S. emergency departments. Wrist fractures are more common among women, while men are more likely to develop strains and sprains.

—Charles DiMaggio, director of injury research, NYU Langone Health, and coauthor of a study on pickleball injuries

Summertime is peak season for foodborne illnesses, thanks to bacteria-friendly high temperatures.

—Londa Nwadike, extension associate professor of food safety for Kansas State University and the University of Missouri

Hot, dry weather this summer is expected to increase the presence of stinging insects, including wasps, hornets and yellowjackets.

—Nathan P. Charlton, M.D., member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council

Nothing spoils summer fun like a sunburn. Plus, even one burn can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

—Gregory G. Papadeas, osteopathic physician and dermatologist, Aurora, Colorado

With its built-in map, compass and GPS, your smartphone may be your best friend on a hike. But it also has a battery and requires a wireless signal; relying on it alone could turn your outing from bad to disastrous.

—Tom Hanrahan, former registered Maine guide and author of Your Maine Lands

Poison ivy is thriving thanks to rising soil temperatures and carbon dioxide in the air.

—Donald Belsito, M.D., professor of dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City

Plenty of people are still getting COVID, even if the pandemic has passed. To stay alive and out of the hospital, top off your vaccines. Adults 65 and older should have had the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine primary series, plus at least one bivalent booster. If you haven't been boosted and you got the primary series at least two months ago, make that appointment now. If you’ve already received your first bivalent booster, consider getting a second; in April, federal government agencies said you’re eligible if you are at least 65 and got your first bivalent booster at least four months ago, or if you’re immunocompromised and got the booster at least two months ago.

Keep COVID tests at home. Some private insurers may still cover the cost, and Medicaid expects to provide free tests for another year.

Finally, make a Paxlovid plan. Ask your doctor how quickly you can get a prescription, including if you test positive on a weekend or vacation. Paxlovid should be taken within five days of symptom onset, even if you’re feeling well. Its purpose isn't to help you feel better; it's to prevent death.

—Amesh Adalja, M.D., infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Editor's note: All entries are based on interviews with the experts cited. The journalists who conducted the interviews and wrote the entries are Ben Abramson, Michelle Crouch, Rick DeBruhl, Margie Zable Fisher, Sari Harrar, Jessica Migala, Veronica Stoddart and Sharon Waters.

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