In the summer months the parks and lakes can be filled with families and friends. We love the summer so much that we plan a year in advance for all the family gatherings and outings.

One of the things you need to consider when out in the summer heat is dehydration. The emergency rooms see many people each day in the summer that have become dehydrated. We need a lot more water when we are hot, so drink up!

When we are involved in many activities outside in the summer we sweat more and we need more water to regulate our body temperature. Therefore we need to keep our bodies well hydrated through out the day.

Another safety hazard in the summer is heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is even known to claim some lives in the summer months. When it is possible during the hottest parts of the days we should keep our activities to a minimum.

You can be so involved in summer activity that you do not notice the signs of heat exhaustion until it is too late. We could collapse without even noticing we had become overheated.

Since one in every 5 people will get skin cancer in their lifetime it is important to protect yourself from the sun when outside. A sunburn can easily become very bad. To the point we need medical attention.

These factors make it very important to use a good sunscreen and reapply through out the day, especially if swimming or sweating a lot. Wear protective clothing as needed. A hat to shade the face and cover ups to go over swim wear when not swimming.

Last, but not least we love the water in the summer. It is cool and refreshing. Be sure to use good water safety. It is never a good idea to swim alone. Always use a floatation device if you are not a good swimmer or will be on watercraft.

When travelling to a foreign country for some period of time there should be many points to be aware about. It is essential to pack the necessities, take care of your finances, keep an up to date passport and obviously make sure to keep in touch with your loved ones back at home. It is also important to find a comfortable and healthy planned trip so that any medical emergencies are taken care of outside home.

You can find out more about the relevant health and safety plans for people who travel on the internet or through the print media. It will help you to manage all types of emergency if you are well informed.

A place where useful information about travel for people and expatriates can be found is at the Bureau of Consular Affairs, part of the U.S. State Department. It also provides information about safe ways of travel. It also has information about travel warnings and other safety information.

Part of any good health and safety plan is to register with a U.S. embassy or consulate. This will allow the authorities to better assist you in an emergency while you are abroad.

One option for health and safety plans when you are traveling is with International SOS, an international membership organization that provides short- and long-term travelers’ health insurance and country guides with specific health, vaccination and safety information. International SOS specializes in travel health and safety plans, travel health services, medical assistance, hospital referrals and worldwide emergency assistance and evacuations for its corporate and individual members. This service or another like it will provide peace of mind to the long-term traveler who is concerned about overseas medical options.

The Travel Doctor, (www.tmvc.com.au/info10.html), is an internet resource that is a gold mine of vaccination advice and general articles on subjects of contemporary interest in health and safety plans. This may be a good first place to start your research about health and safety plans for travelers and expatriates.