Make a Splash: Stay Healthy Under the Sun and In the Water This Summer

Make a Splash!

Stay healthy under the sun and in the water this summer - a reminder from the CDC

As schools let out and summer approaches, remember to stay healthy and safe under the sun and in the water. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most deadly kind of skin cancer. Just a few serious sunburns at any age can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer. We all share the water we swim in, and each of us needs to do our part to help keep ourselves, our families, and our friends healthy while swimming.

To help protect yourself and others from disease and germs, here are a few easy and effective steps to take this season:

• SEEK shade- especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.
• PROTECT your body- wear clothing that protects the skin such as a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face, head, ears, and neck; and wraparound sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible (sunglasses safeguard the eyes from UVA and UVB rays, protect the tender skin around the eyes from sun exposure, and reduce the risk of cataracts).
• APPLY sunscreen- sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Remember to reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, and toweling off.
• CHECK pools– before getting into the water, check the pool to see if it is at the proper chlorine level (1–3 mg/L or parts per million [ppm]) and pH (7.2–7.8) to maximize germ-killing power.
• KEEP the poop and pee out of the water while swimming- don’t swim when ill with diarrhea; chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly; mixing of chlorine with pee and sweat uses up the germ-killing chlorine in the pool and creates those chemicals that sting your eyes and make you cough.
• DON’T swallow the water you swim in.

Enjoy your time outdoors and in the water, and take steps to be healthy.

Here are some great outdoor activities in and around Ventura County this summer:

Beaches spanning from Carpinteria to Ventura

Beaches spanning from Oxnard to Malibu

4th of July festivities and fireworks

Water parks, splash pads and community swimming

Summer concerts in the park

4th of July Fireworks, Parades and Other Events Around Ventura County!

America's 237th birthday is July 4, 2013! Here's the annual list of local fireworks, parades and other festivities throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas that are planned for this coming Independence Day!

Confirmed fireworks in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark (July 3rd), Simi Valley, Calabasas, Channel Islands Harbor, Ojai, Fillmore, Agoura (July 7th), Woodland Hills, Camarillo and Santa Barbara.

Parades in Westlake Village, Channel Islands Harbor, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Barbara and Newbury Park.

Family festivities and fun all over the place...concerts, carnivals, swimming, games, tournaments, face painting, 5K/10K runs, etc.!

(Contact us with updates)

Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park

The annual Conejo Recreation and Park District and City of Thousand Oaks 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is launched from the hill behind the Hillcrest Center of the Arts in Thousand Oaks. Best viewing will be at the Oaks Shopping Center and Janss Marketplace parking lots. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Call the Conejo Recreation and Park District for more information at 805.381.1247.

Other CRPD 4th of July events around the city include a Pancake Breakfast and Home Run Derby in Newbury Park, Concert in the Park featuring the Conejo Pops Orchestra and Free Swimming!

Janss Marketplace once again will be hosting a free viewing of the fireworks along with free music and family activities starting at 5pm on the 4th.

Stop by the 3rd Annual Miller Family YMCA 5K/10K, Classic Car Show and Parade the morning of July 4th in Newbury Park!! Kids fun zone, entertainment and more.

The Oaks mall will also be an official viewing location for the City of Thousand Oaks fireworks, with live music and kids' crafts starting at 6pm on the Muvico lawn.

Speaking of Muvico, there will be a free screening of The Smurfs at 10am on July 4th.

Ice Cream Social and Patriotic Celebration at Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park from 1-4pm on July 4th in honor of its own birthday and the Country's. Free barbershop music, ice cream and more!

Bethany Church on the Hill in Thousand Oaks once again opens its incredible views to the public with a 4th of July Celebration starting at 5pm. Free music, family fun, food for sale and some of the best views of the Thousand Oaks fireworks display in town!

Westlake Village

The 44th Annual 4th of July Parade starts at 9:45am followed by music, inflatables, games, popsicles, etc. at Berniece Bennett Park until noon. Boy Scout pancake breakfast before the parade!

Moorpark (3rd of July!)

The City of Moorpark presents its 3rd of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Arroyo Vista Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road. Gates open at 3:45 p.m. $5 per person. Food booths, games and

Click to read more ...

Missed the 4th of July Fireworks? Scenes From the 2012 Thousand Oaks Show!

We enjoyed the annual Conejo Recreation & Park District and City of Thousand Oaks annual 4th of July fireworks display last night as did tens of thousands of local residents! Kudos to CRPD for their tireless work each 4th of July, bringing residents fun activities from sunup to sundown, including a pancake breakfast, home run derby, free swimming at local pools, free concert and fireworks show!

Speaking of the fireworks show, if you missed it, here is some footage. The show is roughly 20 minutes long, so here is about a third of the show for your viewing pleasure.