With summer in full swing, everyone should be busy enjoying their time outside. But if you aren't careful while out having fun, you could end up in need of emergency services from an otherwise preventable injury or emergency. That’s why Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, HI, is here with a helpful guide to make sure your summer season stays as safe as possible.

To avoid such a situation, here are five tips from your local health professionals for staying safe this summer:

• Respect The Sun: Nothing feels worse than a nasty sunburn, and those burns can lead to skin cancer later in life. To protect yourself, stay in the shade, use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and cover up exposed skin. Wearing sunglasses will also save your eyes from nasty sun damage.
• Be Smart In The Water: Never swim without a partner. If you are going to dive, find out how deep the water is first or else you might find yourself in emergency physician services with a spinal or head injury. Also, if you are at the beach and get caught in a rip tide, swim parallel to it until its grip lessens instead of trying to fight the current.
• Wear A Helmet: No matter your age — or whether you just think it looks silly — everyone needs to use a helmet when riding bicycles, skateboards, and ATVs. Protecting your head will save you from a potential concussion if you take a spill.
• Alcohol: Lots of people like to enjoy a drink or two during the summer. Please drink responsibly — always have a designated driver to pilot the boat or car back to safety and avoid accidents.
• Drink Fluids: Summer heat dries your body out faster than normal. To prevent heat stroke and dehydration, drink lots of fluids. If you are enjoying a beer or two, make sure to intersperse a water between each alcoholic drink.

If you live in or are visiting West Hawaii and the worst does happen, the emergency department at Kona Community Hospital is there for you. Their 24-hour ER is equipped with a Level III trauma center and can handle crises ranging from resuscitation to emergency surgery. For less pressing needs, Kona Community Hospital offers hospital imaging services, a maternity care center, and cancer services.

For more information, visit the Kona Community Hospital website. You can also find them on Facebook and Google +.