In the mood for a picnic? |

Now that those lazy hazy days of summer are upon us, how about a picnic in the park, the beach or your backyard? But before you dash out the door with your picnic basket, take a moment to review some safety tips so that everyone can enjoy a fun and safe outing.

First of all, don't forget to bring along sunscreen protection. Exposure to UV radiation can cause sunburns and skin cancer. For effective ways of protecting your skin, check out Health Canada's website on Sunscreens.

And if you are near water, make sure to keep water safety in mind in particular when young children are around. According to the Canadian Red Cross, "young children ages 1 to 4 and men ages 15 to 44 are at the greatest risk of drowning". Check out their website for water safety tips.

Last, but not least, be sure to follow food safety rules for outdoor eating. Our earlier blog has many helpful safety tips.

For ideas on picnics and outdoor entertainment, check out one our fabulous books from the library: