Bring on the summer fun

The Fourth of July has come and gone (and relatively quietly at that

-- the police deserve a quick note of thanks for making a frenzy-less

Fourth the norm rather than the exception). The sun, for the most

part, seems to have shed its June gloom curtain. So, for the better

part of the next two months, it’s time to be prepared for high summer

-- even if, as we all know, the best weather won’t appear before

September, and the water continues at a winter-like cold temperature.

But for all the fun of the next two months, there are plenty of

cautions worth raising, which we do only to ensure that your fun

isn’t spoiled. We don’t mean to rain on your day at the beach, but we

do want you getting home safely. For some of you, these warnings may

be old hat. Even so, it won’t hurt to get a quick refresher.

We’ll start with one that should be a no-brainer: If you’re going

to be out in the sun, wear sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and maybe --

we know what you’re thinking -- even a T-shirt to avoid getting

fried. The American Red Cross suggests sunscreens with at least an

SPF of 15. We say go double that and start with at least an SPF of

30. Again, we know what you’re thinking. But, really, having a deep,

dark tan stopped being cool years ago.

Following up on that, it’s also a good idea to wear sunglasses

when you’re on the beach or otherwise out in the sun. The same rays

that wrinkle your skin and cause skin cancer can do a number on your

eyes. And wearing sunglasses, unlike a tan, is still cool.

At the beach, even the calmest water can turn dangerous. You

should swim near a lifeguard and never go into the water alone. Along

our beaches, watch out for stingrays near the shore -- do what we do

and slide your feet along the bottom so you don’t step on them. And

keep your eyes open for jellyfish -- but don’t panic every time you

see a plastic bag in the water.

This warning may seem silly, but trust us: Be careful of the ocean

bottom. Every year people hurt their neck diving into or being

knocked over by a wave. It might just shake you up, or it could leave

you paralyzed.

For those of you with pools in your backyard or your housing

complex, remember never to leave a child alone. The American Red

Cross has this good idea: Keep a cell phone with you in case of an

emergency. The group also says to build a fence around the pool and

to keep furniture away from the fence so children can’t climb over it

-- and you just know they’ll be tempted.

These warnings mostly are common sense. (Aren’t they all?) But

sometimes, in the heat of the summer, we don’t always have our wits

about us. If you can play it just a little bit safe, though, you’ll

enjoy the summer more.

Trust us.