Feature Channels: Summer

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To help you better prepare for Independence Day, nutrition experts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center offer advice on how to barbeque the healthy way. M. D. Anderson dietitian, Vicki Piper, R.D., L.D., encourages cookout fans to grill plenty of fruits and vegetables, and less meat. Diets high in plant foods can lower your chances of developing several cancers, including breast and colon cancers.

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Many factors make patriotic music appealing: memorable melodies, catchy and often repetitive rhythms, the emotional content of the lyrics, and, to a lesser extent, the occasion for which the music was written.

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A Fourth of July tradition in many families, consumer fireworks continue to injure children in the U.S. at disproportionately high rates compared to the general population, causing injuries ranging from minor burns and corneal abrasions to severe burns, vision and hearing loss and even death. The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a member of the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, urges parents to avoid purchasing or using consumer fireworks this summer.

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The recession is apparently not deflecting consumers' vacation travel plans this year, according to findings from a national study.

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From the west to east coast, Americans are experiencing record-breaking temperatures. Some states are reporting triple-digit numbers and the heat has been the cause of several reported deaths. "Children and the elderly are considered the most vulnerable population. It is harder for their bodies to respond to these high temperatures," said Richard N. Bradley, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine and chief of EMS and disaster medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

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NWF's 5th annual Great American Backyard Campout is just around the corner on June 27--For participants, National Wildlife Federation has developed a new online tool that will help locate campsites near and far at www.nwf.org/naturefind.

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Summer is the peak season for lightning-related injuries. When planning outdoor activities, know what shelter is available and where to go if you hear thunder.

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Jon Traunfeld is the University of Maryland's Home and Garden Information Center director - offers some great tips for beginning gardeners to get the most our of their gardens this summer.

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Temperatures are rising and summer has finally arrived. As the season of swimming, hiking, biking, and exploring the great outdoors kicks-off, University of the Sciences experts are available to talk about summer safety issues and how to make sure summer is not a bummer. Safety topics include: tips for the pool safety, sun burn relief, heat exposure and dehydration, helmet usage, and Lyme disease.

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The House Ear Institute, HEI, established Family Camp 24 years ago as a comfortable, open forum where parents raising a child with hearing loss could share their experiences and exchange information and varying philosophies with one another.

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More Americans than ever are staying close to home this summer for economic reasons. Thousands of families and communities around the country have already registered for this summer's ultimate staycation -- National Wildlife Federation's fifth annual Great American Backyard Campout on June 27.

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National medical societies offer tips to prevent injuries; children often victims.

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Summer brings sun, fun"”and some health risks, if you aren't careful. Here's how to keep the "good" in the "good ol' summertime."

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Dr. Paul Worsey's specialization is teaching people the right way to blow stuff up. This summer, Worsey will once again host Explosives Camp for high school students at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

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Loyola Center for Fitness Gives Tips on Making the Most Out of Your Yard Work. For many people the chance to be outside, unwind and see life blossoming before their eyes is motivation enough to get into the yard. Now, add the extra benefit that gardening and yard work is exercise and you may see a lot more people with dirt under their fingernails.

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Warm weather brings on the seasonal meat favorites that are barbecued, grilled, broiled or fried. That also means more potential exposure to carcinogenic compounds known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs). There's a way to reduce the risk significantly by just adding some spices "“ rosemary extracts or Thai spices.

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As Memorial Day and summer beckon, Loyola dermatologist warns popular warm-weather accessories can pose hidden health hazard.

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Summer camp, with all its attendant bugs, s'mores and new friends, is a child's first step toward independence from parents. It's also an important educational experience that helps them develop traits they will need as they grow into adulthood. But how do you know if they're ready? An expert from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston helps you figure it out.

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The summer is a great season for getting in shape, whether by playing a sport, an aerobic exercise routine, or just returning to that familiar running path -- this is the time for activity. However, exercising during the warmest season of the year can lead to dehydration, profuse sweating, exhaustion, and even to a cardiac event.

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The first thing most women do before exchanging their winter boots for summer sandals is make an appointment with their pedicurist. It is the beginning of summer and the start of the busy season for most nail salons, but sometimes this professional grooming ritual can have an unwanted and lasting effect.

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Overexposure to the sun can wreak havoc on your eyes. Sun damage can cause severe conditions such as photokeratitis (sunburn to the cornea), pterygium (tissue growth on the whites of eyes that can block vision), skin cancer on the eyelids, and has been implicated in the development of cataracts and possibly macular degeneration as well.

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It's never too early to start protecting your children against sun damage, and if you are the parent of a young girl this message is especially important.

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For most, summer is the time to put away layers of winter clothes and spend more time outdoors enjoying the warm sun, but if you are feeling the effects of winter weight gain, choosing from your summer frocks can become more of a chore than a relief.

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Whether it's a day camp or long-term stay, a summer camp experience usually makes for fond memories for everyone involved. Parents and guardians can make the most out of the experience by preparing in advance.

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The summer is fast approaching and sports players will soon fill the courts, fields, greens and trails looking to get back in shape and practice their game. However, this also means there are plenty of opportunities for cuts and bruises, ankle sprains, muscle strains, and knee injuries, to name a few.

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When temperatures rise, so does the risk for heat stroke and other heat-related injuries, but oftentimes the warning signs for these conditions go dangerously unnoticed. Senior citizens are at an especially high risk of experiencing heat stress and heat-related injuries throughout the summer.

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Summer is approaching fast, which means it's almost time to get out there and enjoy the warm weather and the cool waters as much as you can. If swimmer's ear, or otitis externa, is a concern, prevention and treatment is easier than you think, says Dr. Ian Storper, director of otorhinolaryngology (ENT) at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

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There are millions of vacation destinations to visit this summer and thousands of sights to see, but there is one surefire way to ruin your trip -- getting sick. Although you may not be thinking about viruses and bacterial infections when you plan your trip, there are a few nasty bugs you should be aware of as you pack your bags.

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Take extra care at your Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day celebrations this year, to ensure that accidents do not interfere with summer fun. Dr. Roger Yurt, director of the Hearst Burn Center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, recommends the following safety tips to avoid burns from barbecues, fireworks, and other routine activities that can pose a hazard this season.

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Summer seems like a funny time to play hockey, but in Houghton, Michigan--the birthplace of professional hockey in the US--summer hockey camp is a tradition that has been going strong for 40 years.

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Summer will soon arrive and UCLA emergency physicians would like to remind parents how to prevent drowning and water immersion injuries involving children. These unfortunate and heart-wrenching events most often occur in the summer months that are filled with water activities.

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New research shows that children's eyes can be damaged from sun exposure, just like their skin. This damage may put them at increased risk of developing debilitating diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration as adults. The experts at The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles offer three tips for protecting young eyes at the beach and pool.

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Warm weather is usually the time sports activities are ramped up. Sports can build muscles, strengthen bones and foster agility but sports can have a major downside: injuries.

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Staycations are gaining in popularity due to the state of the economy. Make a staycation fun for the whole family by participating in the Great American Backyard Campout on June 27. Head outdoors for a night with Mother Nature. This national event is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.

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Is your sunscreen keeping you sun safe? Dana-Farber experts offer tips for protection from the sun. Sunscreen is an important first line of protection against sun exposure, but experts warn that some of the ingredients can lose their potency over time.

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If you need a good reason to stay hydrated this summer, the AUA Foundation has one: being properly hydrated can help you avoid getting a kidney stone. To avoid the pain of kidney stones, which occur when certain substances become concentrated in the urine and form crystals, it is important to drink plenty of fluids.

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An exercise science expert at the University of Indianapolis says children in summer sports and other activities are more prone to heat-related illnesses and should take extra care to increase fluid intake.

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Summer is right around the corner and parents throughout the country are trying to decide what to do with their children during their time off. Many want to provide their kids with an opportunity to learn as well as have fun, but for many, it is a tough decision. Emily Hadfield, Westminster College's Summer Camp coordinator, has a few pointers for parents trying to figure out an ideal summer camp match for their kids.

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Tips for staying injury-free while getting back to nature

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Kids are still off from school and keeping them entertained is getting tougher by the day. But, can children have fun this summer while staying safe and healthy? Several experts from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are attempting to take out some of the guesswork, and are available to comment on the various aspects of youth health.

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Extreme heat or cold is not only uncomfortable, it can be deadly"”causing proteins to unravel and malfunction.

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In an average year, about 200 Americans die from heat-related illnesses, and during hot summers the toll can double. Many more suffer less severe heat-related problems. The August 2008 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch outlines three threats from the heat, along with simple precautions that can help you protect your health, and potentially your life.

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Popular summer drink can raise risk of debilitating kidney stones, Loyola urologist warns.

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Orthopaedic surgeons offer safety tips for swimmers.

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Sunning in the summer feels oh-so-good. But ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma. UV exposure "” even when no sunburn occurs "” increases the risk of cancer.

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About 6,200 Americans are hospitalized each summer due to excessive heat, and those at highest risk are poor, uninsured or elderly.

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A team of Virginia Tech students have converted the banana split into convenient, bite-sized, frozen slices of banana filled with non-fat frozen yogurt and enrobed in dark chocolate. The decadent dessert, which could be sold from grocery stores or fast food restaurants, was introduced at the New Orleans food expo.

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With July being "Health-Promoting Lifestyles for Cancer Prevention Month," cancer experts are available to discuss the role of healthy eating for the summer barbecue season.

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A Fourth of July tradition in many families, consumer fireworks continue to injure children in the U.S. at disproportionately high rates compared to the general population, causing injuries ranging from minor burns and corneal abrasions to severe burns, vision and hearing loss and even death.

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From food to fireworks, Kansas State University experts suggest four ways to make this Fourth of July safer for the whole family.