July 8th, 2025 | 2 min. read
Summer offers a host of fun outdoor activities — hiking, swimming, cookouts, camping, and more. But extra time outside also poses potential health risks, like dehydration, sunburns, bug bites, and heat exhaustion. Additionally, many union members work in the elements every day.
As part of your organization’s wellness program, offer employees and members seasonal safety tips. Here’s are considerations for outdoor safety to get you started.
Don’t forget safety while working outside or enjoying the sun this season. Read on for some common summer hazards and prevention tips.
As the most common of all cancer types, skin cancer affects more than 3 million people annually. Practice proper sun safety as prevention. Tips include:
UV rays can penetrate clouds and reflect off surfaces like water, sand, and concrete, increasing exposure risk even on overcast days.
Insects and other pests can transmit serious diseases, including Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Prevention strategies significantly reduce the risk of bites and potential illness. They include:
If you discover an attached tick, remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight up with steady pressure.
For every hour of activity, people can lose up to 2 quarts of fluid, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Exercising in the heat increases the risk for dehydration, as well as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke.
Follow these safety tips to avoid dehydration and heat-related illness:
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke represent medical emergencies requiring immediate attention. Know the warning signs and seek help if symptoms appear.
While offering seasonal safety tips shows you care, a bulletin on the company intranet or tips via email are easy to ignore. Consider printing your safety tips and packaging them with company branded safety swag, such as:
The items can be used as safety tools, draw attention to the tips, and provide your employees with a tangible reminder that you care for their wellbeing, even when they’re not in the workplace.