Summer is a carefree time of year, but it’s also one of the most dangerous when it comes to getting sick. Bacteria live everywhere and thrive in summer heat—often reproducing at an exponential rate. Whether you’re hiking, swimming or barbecuing in your own back yard, you’re at risk for exposure.
Read on to learn how you can avoid certain bacteria and stay healthy through the summer season.
Bacteria on the Grill
Barbecues are the perfect way to celebrate long summer days. However, if meat is not fully cooked, anyone who takes a bite can get food poisoning. Dangerous bacteria including E. coli, salmonella and Campylobacter live in raw meat so it’s critical to cook it all the way through. Since some meat takes longer to cook on the grill, you may want to pre-cook some cuts in the oven.
Fend Off Mosquitoes
In certain parts of the country, mosquitoes are rampant, especially during summer months. Mosquitoes can transmit bacteria and viruses that may cause illnesses like Lyme disease, yellow fever, dengue fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis. When traveling somewhere mosquitoes are prevalent, wear protective clothing and apply a repellent. Click here to see what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends for repellents.
Bare Feet
As nice as it feels to kick off your shoes on a hot summer day, there are not many safe places to do this. Bacteria lives on the floors of locker rooms, pool decks and on the ground outside. Just think of what everyone’s shoes track in from their last location! Wear shower shoes and flip flops at public pools, gym locker rooms and the like. Spray them down immediately after use with a powerful athletic gear disinfectant like Clear Gear, which kills 99.9% of bacteria.
Recreational Water
Whether you plan to swim in a pool, lake or the ocean, use caution. Recreational waters like pools, hot tubs and water parks can be a source of scary illnesses, such as Cryptosporidiosis, which is caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite (“Crypto”). In the U.S., there have been recent reports of Necrotizing fasciitis, known as the “flesh-eating disease.” It’s caused by almost 30 different strains of bacteria found in fresh water, salt water and on the skin. This season there have been nine incidents Necrotizing fasciitis in the U.S., including three deaths. Swimmers should shower immediately after swimming, avoid swallowing water, wash hands thoroughly and spray down swimming gear with athletic gear disinfectant after each use. Since flesh-eating bacteria can enter the body through a break in the skin, avoid water activities if you have a cut, burn or scrape.
Don’t let bacteria ruin your fun in the sun! Follow the tips above and click here to combat bacteria with Clear Gear, the athletic gear disinfectant that kills 99.9% of bacteria.
