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Summer Time Wellness

Summer is my favorite season.  I love waking each morning to the orange hazy sun peeking over the horizon and the birds singing their summer songs.  I enjoy the heat of each day, when the sun turns to a brilliant yellow, warming your (sunscreen-covered) skin, and increasing the enthusiasm you experience when you take a refreshing dip in a pool, lake, or stream. As the day stretches into the evening and the earth rotates away from the sun’s glow, the fireflies take over lighting up the fields as crickets and frogs fill the airwaves with chirps and crocks… awww yes, I do love summer.  As a dispatcher, I still loved summer but I viewed the season with a different type of anticipation.  I enjoyed the uptick of calls and the faster pace of the shift speeding by each night.  I enjoyed the laughter and exhausted feeling (some of you reading this KNOW what I mean, others are shaking your heads wondering what was wrong with me) my co-workers and I shared as we walked out at the end of shift, remarking to each other how fast that shift went by, recapping the highlights and sometimes stopping off to get a burger and fries, and for me a chocolate shake… awww yes, I loved summer then as well.

Those summer feelings were an emotional based response to the summer season.  Summer can be an exciting time as outdoor activities increase, vacations are taken, and the brilliant shiny star that warms our planet bathes us in much-needed vitamin D. Scientifically speaking, the additional sunlight that accompanies the summer months has long been known to assist in the reduction of seasonal depression that occurs for many during the winter months.  With the increased levels of vitamin D, our mood can improve and an added bonus is that spending time in the sun also helps our body produce more melatonin at night giving us a more restful night’s sleep. (DiscoveryHealth.com writers, 2022).  Summertime is a good time for most people’s mental health, which makes it an excellent time to set healthy habits and prepare for the coming months that are colder and less filled with sunshine.  In public safety, summertime usually means a higher call for service volume.  More violent crimes, more disturbances, more phone calls in the PSAP (Dorn, 2022).  Trainees hired in the late fall and winter months are warned of the increased workload when summer time arrives, few are actually prepared for it.  Many enjoy the high activity that comes from the increased volume because the shift flies by, while others find themselves dreading it.

Not everyone is thrilled with the summertime! In some states such as Michigan, summer is coveted. The headquarters for Equature, Michigan’s winter months are often filled with days and sometimes weeks, of gray skies with no sun. The short winter days stretching into months can feel exceptionally long so embracing the summer days is important.  Summer is welcomed by many but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the chilliest for all! In fact, for some, summer is the most stressful time of year with the addition of kids being home from school, outdoor chores, high heat, and the to-do list that never seems to have an end. For those who love it and those who don’t, these summertime tips we are offering are good for everyone, taken from some of the leading experts in the field!

  1. Drink Up and Stay Hydrated! – You work and play outside then off to work you go (or visa/versa), and wonder why you have headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.  Even mild dehydration can cause these symptoms.  Drink water regularly, even before you feel thirsty and if you are sweaty add a pinch of Himalayan Sea salt and juice equivalent to half of a lemon to your water to help replace lost electrolytes. (DeMelo, 2018).
  2. Form Good Habits – Set boundaries by seeking out the activities and plans that seem best for you and your family and take breaks when you need them.
  3. Set a sleep schedule – consistent sleep is harder when the outside beckons! Try to be consistent.
  4. Engage in physical activity – find an outdoor activity that you enjoy and set the standard for moving now so that you will find ways to stay moving when the weather changes. Studies have shown that when we target our major muscle groups with weight training, at least two days per week, it reduces symptoms of depression and people with normal mental health are less likely to become sad.
  5. Deep breathing increases efficiency in the oxygen absorption and CO2 levels in the brain causing stress hormone levels to drop. WHAT?!  Yes, it’s a fact that something as simple as taking deep belly breaths of that summer air (note… any air will do!), and developing that habit before you take that next call or as you pause to ask the next question, can help you deal with stress (medicineshoppe, 2020).
  6. Take some time off. Is no vacation time available? Summertime off can be hard to get depending on where you land in seniority for public safety.  Mini vacations can offer the same stimulation and relation that a longer vacation offers.  Carving out time to get away for 3-day/2-night trips still offers a re-energizing lift.  New to the job or just cannot swing time away?  Become a tourist in your hometown!  Being resigned to the feeling of being “STUCK” at home because there is no money (or time) does not have to be an obstacle to having fun. Check out the local activities on social media and spend the day being a tourist in your local area.  The budget for a couple of burgers or hot dogs on a stick can do a lot to bring back fun-filled memories of “remember that time we…” or even a picnic in the park with a cooler packed with food you don’t normally eat at home.

Whatever you do this summer, follow these easy tips, make some memories, and thank you – from us to you, for your commitment to public safety.