Summer in the minds of most people is an exceptional time of the year when you can take a break from work or study, eat plenty of fruit and even swim in the river or the sea all day. But summer is one of the most dangerous seasons... Here are the top 10 worst summer dangers.
10. Mosquitoes
These nasty insects appear when the temperature reaches about 10 degrees Celsius. They thrive in hot weather, and mosquito numbers peak in summer. They don't just cause trouble with their itchy and reddened bites. Mosquitoes are a more serious threat. Often people associate mosquito-borne diseases with less developed countries. However, this is far from the truth. In Russia, European countries and the United States, human cases are annually caused by mosquitoes. The worst outbreak in the Russian Federation occurred in 2010 in the Volgograd region (409 cases). Most often, this occurs from the entry into the human body of the virus that causes West Nile fever. This disease can damage the brain and cause death. Fortunately, there are many effective mosquito repellent.
9. Accident
Driving has always been dangerous, but distractions and hazards are at their highest in the summer.
- Firstly, many people travel by car.
- Secondly, weather conditions play a role: warmth, the sun is shining and people feel more carefree, less likely to observe the speed limit, which can lead to accidents. During the winter, motorists are more cautious and attentive. In addition, unpredictable thunderstorms and extreme heat, which increase stress levels and impair attention, play a role in the high frequency of summer road accidents.
- Third, warm weather means more and more people are riding motorcycles and bicycles, which are respectively ranked 10th and 9th in the ranking of the safest modes of transportand this creates an additional level of danger for drivers.
8. Season of injuries
Injuries are one of the most dangerous and common things that happen in the summer. Reports from Pittsburgh Children's Hospital staff showed that the number of children admitted to trauma care during the summer months doubled. The number of adult injuries is also on the rise. Of course, you can't keep children at home in the summer, but proper supervision is essential. Common causes of injury are falls from skateboards, bicycles and trampolines.
7. Summer fairs, carnivals, amusement parks
It is not uncommon for roller coasters and other attractions to get stuck at the end of a hot and busy day, making dozens of passengers nervous. But these are still flowers. About 4,000 people are injured annually in amusement parks and fairs combined.
6. Heat stroke and dehydration
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body fluids. It is no secret that the human body cannot function normally without water, so dehydration can be very dangerous under certain conditions. Therefore, it is very important to drink 8 to 10 glasses of liquid a day in the summer.Heatstroke often comes with dehydration. Its symptoms can range from dizziness and disorientation to coma. In case of heatstroke, the victim should be moved to the shade, laid on his back or immersed in water, and provided with plenty of drink.
5. Burns and sunburn
Those who suffer from multiple sunburns, usually children and adolescents, are at greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Sunburn can also lead to side effects such as heatstroke, dehydration, and fainting. And you just need to observe a few rules for a beautiful tan.
4. Accidents on the water
Drowning ranks third on the list of unintentional deaths. And about one in five people who died from drowning were under the age of 14. This suggests that these deaths could have been prevented with proper supervision or training in swimming. Therefore, swimming lessons are highly recommended for those planning to travel to the sea or lake. Life jackets for teenagers can also save the life of a young tourist.
What is hidden under the surface of the water can also threaten the life and health of bathers. Bacteria grow faster in the summer months, and natural and artificial reservoirs are full of them. When the level of microorganisms in the water reaches a certain threshold, a phenomenon called "red tide" begins. The water is turning reddish and cities are forced to close their beaches to keep locals and tourists safe. Red tide can cause serious illness in humans and kill fish and other living organisms.
3. Violent crimes
The number of homicides and violent crimes rises with the temperature. A study from the University of Albany found that these crimes are seasonal, peaking in the summer. The professors who oversaw the research suggested two possible explanations:
- increased aggression in heat
- and the theory of possibilities.
According to the first theory, people become more aggressive as the temperature rises. Opportunity theory claims that the number of people on the streets is increasing, so the chances of meeting a criminal increase.
2. Food
In the second place in the ranking of the most common summer dangers is food, especially the one that you buy from your hands on the street. When traveling, tourists tend to taste Exotic fruits, dishes and it is not surprising that the summer accounts for a huge number of food poisoning and digestive disorders. Salmonella, E.coli, and other bacteria lie in wait for their victims in poorly prepared or expired food.
1. Animal attacks
Animal attacks on people and injuries associated with this are frequent companions of summer. Most attacks are not related to sharks or bears, but rather to more common mammals. These are cows and other farm animals in the herd, as well as the most dangerous dog breeds, the incidence of bites of which increases in the summer for an unknown reason. There is speculation that this is due to the large number of children playing in the streets. Snakes in the summer bite about 7000-8000 people annually, good the most venomous snakes distributed in a limited area. And statistics on fatal bee stings between the summer of 1999 and the summer of 2013 showed that more than 800 people were killed by bees during that period.
Although cases of shark attacks on humans are relatively rare, they still occur. National Geographic claims that 93% of shark attacks have been on men, mostly surfers. The deadliest year was 2010, when 79 shark attacks were recorded on people in different parts of the world.