Summer means vacations, grilling with the neighbors, playing catch with the dog and swimming by the lake. It can also mean sunburns, skinned knees and dehydration. Don’t go into summer unprepared. Here are some ways to reduce summer risks.

Sunscreen: Practicing sun safety is one of the easiest and most important ways to protect yourself and your family in the summer. It’s obvious to pack sunblock when you’re heading to the beach or down to the pool, but it’s important for you to apply it even on the drive to work or when you’re mowing your lawn. For extra safety, try a brimmed hat and sunglasses for eye protection. Not only does sun protection keep you from getting sunburned, it’s important in reducing the risk of skin cancer.

Fireworks: If you or your family are celebrating any holidays with fireworks during the summer season, be smart. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area, having water nearby in case there’s a misfire, and never let children handle any kind of fireworks.

Hydration: Whether it’s keeping the lawn mowed or the garden growing, summer means a lot more time outside. Even if you’re not doing anything super physical – like lounging by the pool or sitting on the porch – make sure you stay hydrated. The risk of heatstroke and dehydration are real. Even if you’ve never had any problems with heat and being outdoors in the past, don’t ever skimp on your water intake.

Grills: Summer often means cookouts, so practice grill safety. Remove grease and fat buildup in the trays of your grill so it can’t be accidentally ignited and flare up. Also make sure that kids are never anywhere near a grill, even when it’s not on, as a heavy propane grill could cause injury if toppled.

Pools and swimming: Pools are one of the best parts of the summer season. Continuously supervise kids around the pool. Even a fall that doesn’t result in near-drowning can still injure a child, so don’t let kids run around the edge or play near the water. If you’re out on a boat, even not far from shore, make sure everyone is wearing life jackets. This goes for pets too!

It only takes a few extra minutes every day to make sure that you’re wearing sunscreen or that your grill is clean. Have fun out there – but show off your summer safety knowledge, too.