Summer Safety Tips

Summer in Tampa means beach days, backyard barbecues, and finally putting those flip flops to good use. But longer days outdoors also mean more chances for scrapes, sunburns, and the occasional trip to urgent care. A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping the season smooth and stress-free. This guide walks through five simple steps to help your family stay safe, from packing the right supplies to knowing when it’s time to get medical care.

1. Build (or buy) a family first aid kit

A small first aid kit is one of the easiest things you can do to be ready for minor injuries on the go. Keep one in your car, beach bag, or wherever it’s most likely to be within arm’s reach. You can purchase a pre-made kit from the American Red Cross, or put one together yourself. If you’re going the DIY route, here are the basics to include:

Sterile gauze
Antiseptic cleansing wipes
Triangle bandage
Elbow and knee plastic bandages
Emergency blanket
Chewable aspirin (81 mg), acetaminophen, or ibuprofen
Antibiotic ointment packets
Small scissors
Insect repellent
Aloe vera gel

This isn’t an exhaustive list. A good kit can also include things like tweezers, hydrocortisone cream, and a thermometer, so customize it to fit your family’s needs.

2. Don’t skip the sun protection

Florida sun is no joke, and sunburns add up over a lifetime. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen that offers:

Broad-spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB rays)
SPF 30 or higher
Water resistance

Apply sunscreen generously about 15 minutes before heading outside, and reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating. Pair sunscreen with protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and shade whenever you can, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest.

3. Know where to go when something happens

Minor summer injuries happen, and most of them don’t require a trip to the ER. Urgent care is the middle ground between waiting days for your primary care doctor and sitting for hours in an emergency room. Urgent care centers are designed for non-life-threatening issues, including:

Minor allergic reactions (mosquito bites, bee stings, poison ivy)
Cuts, scrapes, bumps, and bruises
Suspected broken bones (with same-day X-rays)
Dehydration
Sunburns and heat-related illness

The average visit at our walk-in clinic is about 45 minutes, and we’re open seven days a week with transparent self-pay pricing, so you won’t be hit with surprise bills after the fact.

4. Stay ahead of dehydration

Dehydration can sneak up on you faster than you’d expect, and it hits kids and toddlers even harder. If you’re going to be outside for more than a couple of hours, bring more water than you think you’ll need.

Sip water throughout the day rather than waiting until you feel thirsty
Choose water over sports drinks when possible, since most sports drinks are loaded with sugar
Watch for warning signs like dry, cracked lips, headaches, dizziness, or muscle cramps

If dehydration symptoms don’t improve with water and rest, or if they get worse, head to your local urgent care right away.

5. Be vigilant around water

This one can’t be stressed enough: never leave kids unattended around water, even for a minute. That goes for lakes, swimming pools, kiddie pools, and even bathtubs. Florida leads the nation in child drownings, and nationwide, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 4.¹

Make sure an adult who knows how to swim is actively watching kids in or near the water, not scrolling on a phone or chatting with friends. Drowning is fast and silent, and it can happen to swimmers of any age.

It’s also worth signing up for a certified CPR course. Most are just a single day, and the basic life-saving skills you’ll learn could matter more than anything else on this list.

Even with the best preparation, accidents happen. When they do, A+ Family Urgent Care is here for South Tampa families seven days a week with no appointment necessary. Walk in or book online whenever you need us.