WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed several helpful tips to ensure that you have a happy and healthy summer, according to a press release.
Here are some of those tips:
Air quality
People with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of pollutants in the air and should closely monitor the air quality in their area. AirNow’s Air Quality Index (AQI) translates data into color categories so people can better understand what actions to take to protect their health. For more information and a real-time map: http://www.airnow.gov/. You can download the AQI via mobile application for your smartphone: http://m.epa.gov/apps/airnow.html.
Beach safety
When you spend time at the beach this summer, stay safe with these best practices. Swim safely, protect yourself from the sun with broad-spectrum sunscreen, stay hydrated by drinking water, watch for trash and other signs of pollution, and report dangers you see to lifeguards or other beach workers. For more information: http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/dosdonts.cfm.
Watering
When it is time to water your lawn or plants, avoid watering in the middle of the day when the hot sun will evaporate the water. Instead, water during the early morning and evening, for a total of 1-inch of water per week, including rainfall. A WaterSense labeled automatic sprinkler can take the guesswork out of watering and save money, stated the release. Find more watering guidelines here: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoor/watering_tips.html.
