Put your best foot forward this summer

Summer is the perfect time for beach trips and backyard barbeques. And while the idea of relaxing barefoot on the beach or in your backyard might sound appealing, it also can increase your risk of foot injuries.

To avoid injury this summer, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons offers the following tips.

•First, your feet can get sunburned, too, so apply sunscreen to the tops and bottoms of your feet. Rare, but deadly, skin cancers can develop on the feet, and sunscreen is your best protection.

•Next, make sure your family is up-to-date on their tetanus shots. Adults and teens should be vaccinated every 10 years.

•If someone in your family experiences a puncture wound, see a doctor within 24 hours. These wounds must be cleaned properly and monitored to avoid complications, so a doctor’s involvement is necessary for complete treatment.

•Instead of going barefoot, stock up on easy-to-wear flip-flops for your summer outings. Flip-flops are especially important to wear around swimming pools, in locker rooms and at the beach. Pool decks and locker-room floors are often slippery, posing a hazard for your and your family. Flip-flops can give you added traction to avoid a dangerous fall. Likewise, sharp objects can be hidden in the sand at the beach, and flip-flops can provide a layer of protection from a painful puncture wound.

•Finally, use common sense. Don’t mow the grass without shoes; avoid hot coals or fireworks; and wear swim shoes in murky lakes and rivers. If you are diabetic, always wear shoes, since your nervous system might not feel a foot injury.

With these tips, summer can be spent outdoors without any trips to the emergency room for preventable foot injuries.