By Wendy

We’re in the middle of summer and the heat is not letting up. Weather forecast seems to report a heat wave every other week. The ice cubes in your cup seem to be melting faster and you can’t seem to get comfortable. The high temperatures can result in many different heat related syndromes such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If these progress, may even be fatal. Here are some tips on how you can stay cool this summer without air conditioning:

1 Exercise during the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler. If that’s not possible, shorten your workout as to not overexert yourself

2 Wear light color, loose fitting clothing will help reflect the sun’s rays. Cotton clothing will also allow your skin to breathe better than synthetics, and also absorbs any extra perspiration on your body

3 Closing blinds, curtains or drapes will help prevent any extra heat coming in from outside. Using fans will help circulate the air in a room. You can also turn off any unnecessary electronics or lighting to keep extra heat from forming

4 Drink plenty of water to keep from dehydrating and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol since both can make you dehydrated

5 Take a shower or a bath in cool or tepid water. If you can’t take a shower, use a spray bottle on your arms and face to keep cool. As the water evaporates, it’ll naturally cool your body

6 Heavy meals, especially those with a lot of protein, tend to raise body temperature. Instead, try eating multiple light snacks throughout the day, and keep my body healthy with the thermogenic fat burner

7 Take advantage of public spaces where air conditioning is available, like the library, museum, shopping mall, movie theaters, or even your city cooling center

8 Head to the local ice skating rink for a nice chilly afternoon activity

How do you stay cool in the summer?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

If you’re planning tons of trips to the beach with the family this summer, don’t forget to bring sunscreen. With skin cancer being the most common form of cancer in the US, we need to do our part to prevent too much sun exposure. You could potentially triple your risk of skin cancer by getting a sunburn once every two years.

To protect yourself and your family’s skin, here are some sunscreen products that are all natural, organic and will

Kabana Green Screen Organic Sunscreen SPF 20 Original – sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays, but also gluten free, corn free and vegan. It’s biodegradable and packaged in 100% recyclable material.

DO Natural Sunscreen SPF32 – with certified organic aloe, this new mineral sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays without any harsh chemicals or nano particles. 100% natural!

Aubrey Organics Natural Sun SPF30 – sunscreen to keep your skin hydrated and protected from UVA and UVB rays. Vegan and Gluten free.

Beyond Coastal Natural Sunscreen SPF30 – protects against UVA and UVB rays. Keeps skin nourished with their aloe vera, shea butter and vitamin c ingredients. Gluten free.

Loving Naturals Clear Body SPF30 Sunscreen- protects against a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB rays.  Made from 100% natural/organic ingredients. It’s also water resistant!

In addition to using sunscreen, are a few ways you can prevent overexposure from the sun:

- Stay in a shade, especially during the hours of 10am and 4pm to avoid the strongest sun

- Keep covered with hats, large umbrellas, and light long sleeved shirts

- Don’t forget the sunscreen on hard to reach places like your neck, elbows, and ears

- Put a small amount of sunscreen on your hair to avoid sun burning your scalp

- Wear sunglasses with UV ray protection to help prevent eye damage from the sun

- Have lip balm for your lips that have sun protection to keep them nourished and damage free

What other tips do you have for keeping your skin safe this summer?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

Summer is back and while that means good times at the beach, the parks, and for other recreational activities, it can also mean that its time to implement a few safety precautions while having all kinds of family fun.  Here are 3 ways, in my 3-part series on summer safety to keep your family safe and eco-friendly at the same time! Read more at https://ultimateprepping.com/best-bushcraft-knife/

You can still have fun in the sun, just take a few precautions!

The Beach:

Who doesn’t love a day at the beach with family and friends?  Whether your fortunate enough to live near the beach or your just visiting on vacation, here are some things to keep in mind when laying on the sand or getting in the water.

Do the Stingray Shuffle!

Depending on which beach your visiting, there are almost always stingrays and they feed right at the edge of the water.  Make sure you teach the kids a good rule of thumb when walking into the waves known as the stingray shuffle.  As your walking into the water don’t lift your feet from the sand, instead your going to want to shuffle your feet, sort of kicking up the sand as you move to your destination in the water.  This scares off the stingrays, letting them know that something is coming in the water and to move!  If by some chance someone in your group is stung by a  stingray, here are some first aid rules that you need to quickly and aptly apply.

Teach your kids how to do the "Stingray Shuffle!"

Stingray wounds are very serious and painful so alert a lifeguard or call 911 immediately for medical attention!

In the event that there is no lifeguard available, the first thing to do is to get fresh water to soak the wound.  The hotter the better for pain relief!

The stinger needs to be removed with tweezers.

Do not close up the wound but instead apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

Apply a topical antibiotic if available and get the patient to the hospital quickly for proper medical care.

Prevent Sunburn!

This one may seem like a given but I can’t begin to tell you the countless times that people I know thought they’d be okay without the application of sunscreen for even an hour!  If your spending time at the beach, I recommend an SPF of 30 and higher!  If you have fair or freckled skin, apply with an SPF of 45 and higher for extra protection!  Always reapply several times and try not to hit the beach during the hottest part of the day, which is between noon and 2pm. Be sure to purchase reef-safe, family-safe sunscreen approved by the Environmental Working Group to keep toxins off our family’s bodies and out of the environment. The Green Halloween team loves the clean and effective sun care line from Smart Girls Who Surf.

Always apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for the beach!

In the event that you or someone in your group does get a sunburn, here is what you can do to relieve the pain and heal it faster.

Drink plenty of fluids because a sunburn indicates that your body is dehydrated from the inside/out.

Apply aloe vera or all-natural topical ointments like Burn Out from My Mama’s Love to the burnt areas of your skin in a gentle manner.

Take a cool water bath.

Wear loose cotton clothing for comfort.

Prevent Dehydration!

Many people are drinking alcoholic beverages while at the beach or they simply don’t drink enough fluids.  Bring a small iced chest filled with ice and an eco-friendly, reusable water bottle that keeps your fluids cold while your off playing in the water.  (If you have an alcoholic beverage, equal that with a glass of water because your losing fluids more quickly in the sun.)  In case of emergency, the ice will melt and become your back up plan for water since many people don’t bring enough to drink on their visit to the beach, underestimating the power of the sun.

A reusable water bottle comes in handy when visiting the beach so don't forget yours!

Blogger Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic and her blog.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.