Summer Picnic Tips for Fun & Safety

During National Picnic Month and into August and September, you'll likely go on a lot of picnics, cookouts, hikes and outdoor parties. It's a great time to gather with friends and family for good company and delicious outdoor meals. With the fun, however, comes a need for responsibility and diligence. Don't let food poisoning, sunburns, or accidents ruin your good times this summer - read and follow these important safety tips.

Keep your food cold with a high quality cooler (like the Metro Cart Insulated Cooler pictured) and plenty of ice. Avoid mayonnaise-based foods whenever possible, as they go bad quickly. Never allow food to sit out at room temperature for longer than two hours. A good trick to use when packing your cooler is to place the food that needs to stay the coldest at the bottom, and layer ice or cold packs throughout. Food should be pre-chilled before placing it in the cooler.

Make sure all meats are cooked to the appropriate temperatures to prevent food poisoning. Use a meat thermometer. Poultry should be cooked until the meat is white, and hamburgers should have no traces of pink in the center. Grill fish until it flakes easily and is no longer translucent in the center.

Stay protected from the sun with sunscreen and an umbrella, shade, or hat. The Leaf Pop Up Sun Shade pictured is one great solution to keep cool while camping, at the beach, or taking the kids to the park. Use a high SPF sunscreen and re-apply often, even when using a waterproof formula. Even the best sunscreen doesn't provide 100% protection, so don't rely on it to prevent sunburn. Two or more blistering sunburns during childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life, so children should take regular breaks from the sun and wear protective clothing as well as sunglasses.

Beware of mixing alcohol and sun exposure. Both dehydrate your body, which can lead to heat exhaustion. Symptoms include a temperature of 104 degrees, dizziness, vomiting, clamminess, flushed skin and fainting. Heat exhaustion can hit quickly and without warning, and left untreated, can lead to heat stroke. You don't have to completely give up those margaritas on the beach, but stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and eating foods with a high water content like watermelon. Take regular breaks from the sun.

Make your excursions more fun and convenient with the latest summer picnic accessories. You can keep your wine glasses upright in the grass or sand with the Handy Wine Glass Holder (pictured), carry an instant waterproof lounging surface, show off a chic summer handbag that doubles as a picnic set and fully insulated cooler, and bring a virtual party-to-go anywhere you want with a portable tailgater grill and cooler. Check out PicnicFun.com for all the latest picnic gear and gadgets.