With school letting out, family vacations getting under way and summer fun on the agenda, it can be easy to let caution and common sense fall by the wayside. But many activities that area residents engage in during the summer months can pose unique dangers to people of all ages.

Local experts offered some tips for staying healthy and safe while enjoying the warm weather and sunshine.

Dr. Maria Granzotti, chief quality officer and an emergency room physician at St. Mary's Hospital, said vigilance and attention to detail are two main ways to prevent accidents and injuries while enjoying summertime activities.

Water-related hazards for all ages are at the top of Granzotti's list of summer dangers. Young children should be appropriately attended when in water of any kind, she said, adding that it is possible for youngsters to drown in mere inches of water.

It's best to enroll children in swimming lessons as early in life as possible, Granzotti said, adding that although some training in the water can help prevent accidents, it's not a substitute for careful monitoring and supervision.

"Don't believe that if you think your kids have had lessons that they are immune to having a bad accident with water," she said.

Inflatable toys, rafts and other flotation objects are not designed to save lives or promote safety, and only approved devices should be used as protection, Granzotti said.

Adults also can fall victim to water-related accidents, especially when alcohol is involved, she added. Don't mix alcohol use with boating, Granzotti warned.

"Intoxication and water does not work well together," she said.

When out on the lake, keeping appropriate safety devices on hand and knowing how to use them can help out in an emergency, but boaters and swimmers should be mindful of what's going on around them, Granzotti advised.

"Really, watch out for the water skiers and the people that are swimming in the lake with the motor boats," she said.

Another important aspect of summer safety is remembering to protect oneself from the sun when outdoors for extended periods of time. Adults and children should use sunscreen to prevent sunburns, Granzotti said.

"Please remember to use the highest SPF you can find, basically," Granzotti said. "Melanoma is an increasing cancer in the United States."

Wear hats and light-colored clothing, and be sure to take breaks, she advised.

If you do happen to get sunburn, be sure to hydrate, and treat the burn with moisturizing aloe or cooling gels, Granzotti said, adding that burns that blister and peel can be taken care of by applying antibiotic ointment and keeping them covered.

Jeff Tish, program services manager for the Macon County Conservation District, said people also should be on the lookout for poisonous or irritating plants when they head outdoors this summer.

Poison ivy is the most prevalent locally, and it can grow in open and wooded areas and take shape as a vine, a freestanding plant or even climb up a tree.

"Leaves of three, let it be," Tish said, quoting a common poem used to help people remember the appearance of poison ivy.

The oil within the plant, urushiol, is what causes the irritation, he said, adding that brushing up against the plant is enough to release the offending substance.

"Primarily, it breaks out into a rash and bumps and blisters," he said of skin that's been exposed to the plant.

Other plants to look out for at home and on vacation are stinging nettles, poison parsnip oak and poison sumac. Localized steroid creams and patches can help soothe skin in the event of an irritation following a plant exposure, Granzotti said.

If creeping vines don't get you, creepy crawlies might, experts advised. A recent news release from the Illinois Department of Public Health stated that tick-borne diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and tularemia, are expected to be on the rise this season.

People can pick up ticks anywhere, Granzotti said.

Avoid tick bites by wearing light-colored clothing and checking it often for any pests clinging on, applying insect repellents, sticking to trails when out in the woods and checking yourself, pets and family members for ticks after being outdoors, the release stated.

According to the release, the best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with tweezers close to the skin and gently pull it out.

If a person has joint complaints, a rash or experiences flulike illness following a tick bite, see a physician, Granzotti said.

Although many summer activities cause people to stray from their normal routines, safety considerations always should be high on the list of priorities, experts advised.