Enjoy the sun, sand and surf this season, but play it safe to get the most out of this favourite time of the year

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Summer is officially here on June 21, and with school finished for the season and the sun making more frequent appearances, our communities are quickly coming alive.

Gardens are blooming almost as quickly as Saturday morning yard sales, and our thoughts turn to barbecues, swimming and vacation time.

With a general feeling of relaxation in the summer months, it's easy to forget about the added safety precautions that summer brings.

The need to wear life jackets and sunscreen increases, keeping small children safe around open water and campfires is a full-time job, and bicycle and food safety come to the forefront in the next few months.

Striking that balance between taking time to relax and ensuring our families are safe can be difficult.

Health Canada offers a web site full of information on summer safety, from swimming to barbecues to garage sales (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/securit/season-saison/summer-ete/index-eng.php).

For the most part, however, we need to use common sense. As tempting as it is to take shortcuts this summer, we must ask ourselves if the extra five minutes of fun is worth the risk.

Grabbing a wide-brimmed hat and slapping on sunscreen takes mere minutes, and can save you from a night of smelling like Noxema and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Putting on PFDs and ensuring that they are on correctly is just as important as keeping seat belts on and children in carseats on that long car trip to your favourite vacation spot.

The few minutes it takes to double-check these safety precautions can save lives.

Summer should be a time when we all take advantage of the sunshine to have a little more fun and shake off any remaining doldrums from a long, snowy winter. With a little foresight, we can avoid tainting that time with unnecessary catastrophes.