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" Cars Out of the 45,800 motor vehicle-related deaths in the U.S. in 2005, 6,200 of them were the result of cars hitting pedestrians, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). And 60 percent of those deaths were the result of improper crossing, says Elizabeth Wilson, spokesperson for the NSC.  How to stay safe:   Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk (and not in the street). If sidewalks are unavailable, stay to the left and walk facing the traffic, or avoid roadways altogether and take a stroll at your local park.  Wear reflective attire. Purchase a pair of shoes with reflective stripes on all sides so you&amp;#039;re noticeable from all angles. Or opt for a pair of reflective shoelaces (available at Walk4Life.com for $3.95). Another idea: visit your local fabric store and buy reflective tape that you can stitch or iron on to your workout wear.   Bugs Most insect are merely nuisances, but their bites can leave your skin swollen, itchy, and irritated. And some bugs like deer ticks can carry Lyme disease. &amp;quot;Only a very small percentage of ticks carry Lyme disease, but it&amp;#039;s still important to be careful,&amp;quot; says Matthew Moreland, M.D., a family physician at Baylor Medical Center in Waxahachie, TX.  How to stay safe:   Avoid walking near water or right after a summer rain shower because mosquitoes are attracted to and breed in damp areas.  Apply an insect repellant that contains at least 10 percent to 35 percent of DEET (such as Cutter Max 100), which will keep mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas away. Can&amp;#039;t stand the smell of repellant? Try odorless Cutter Advanced Insect Repellant, which contains Picaridin\u2014an active ingredient that was recently found to be just as effective as DEET. If you prefer chemical-free products, consider Dermatone Herbal Insect Repellant with Bite Blocker, proven equally effective as Off! with DEET($9.10 at dermatone.com).  Wear light-colored clothing, which is less attractive to mosquitoes than dark-colored attire.  After walking in a wooded area, check your body\u2014especially your waistline and sockline\u2014for ticks. These small, round, eight-legged bugs are usually gray, brown, black, or reddish in color. If you find one, remove it immediately with tweezers (make sure to remove the whole body) and put the tick in a container of rubbing alcohol to kill it. Then, clean your bite with soap and water and apply an antibiotic cream to prevent an infection. If a rash develops, or if you feel achy and feverish, see your doctor.   Sun and Heat Direct summer sunlight can be especially hard on your skin and eyes. And exercising in hot, humid conditions can cause dehydration or heat exhaustion.  How to stay safe:   Make sure you are properly hydrated before you walk. If it&amp;#039;s going to be a super hot day, walk during the early morning or evening hours, when the sun is at its weakest.  Apply sunscreen that contains an SPF of 15 or higher every two hours to protect your skin from damaging rays.  Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your ears, temples, and back of the neck, and don sunglasses to shield your eyes from the sun.  Never over-exert yourself! If you feel dizzy or extremely exhausted during your walk, find a shady area to rest and make sure you guzzle water to cool off your body. If you don&amp;#039;t feel better within 10 minutes, seek emergency medical help.  Avoid walking near water or sand because sunlight reflects off of these surfaces, making you more susceptible to sunburn, says Moreland.   Allergies Many people equate allergies with the fall and spring, but summer season can be equally bad for allergy sufferers because increased heat and humidity can trap pollen particles in the air.  How to stay safe:   Avoid outdoor walks when pollen counts for ragweed and grass are at their highest (to find the daily pollen count in your area, visit weather.com). In general, grass counts are highest during the afternoon and early evening, while ragweed is more of a problem midday.  If your allergies are bad, take an antihistamine such as Allegra, Zyrtec, or Claritin before your walk for temporary relief.  Avoid walking on windy days when allergens are most prevalent, says Moreland.   Stray Dogs In 2001, 165,510 women were treated at U.S. hospitals for dog-bite related injuries, according to The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System\u2013All Injury Program. And it&amp;#039;s more likely you&amp;#039;ll cross paths with a stray during warm months.  How to stay safe:   If you see a stray dog walking along your path, walk in the opposite direction.  If a dog directly approaches you, remain still and avoid direct eye contact.  Do not run! This will provoke the dog to chase you, especially if it&amp;#039;s aggressive.  If a dog attacks and you fall, curl into a ball and protect your ears and face with your hands to minimize injuries.   Assaults &amp;quot;Unfortunately, if you&amp;#039;re a woman walking alone\u2014especially at night\u2014you&amp;#039;re at greater risk for assault,&amp;quot; says Shelia Dugan, M.D., a physiatrist and chair of the American College of Sports Medicine&amp;#039;s strategic health initiative on women, sports, and physical activity.  How to stay safe:   Use the buddy system or join a walking group. Walking in pairs or groups will make you less vulnerable to attackers.  Never walk the same path repeatedly: Don&amp;#039;t give a potential attacker knowledge of your routine.  Avoid walking near wooded areas, trees, and bushes, which are likely hiding places for attackers.  Bring a cell phone with you or know where pay phones are located along your path (and carry spare change) in case you need to call for help.   Poisonous Plants Hiking in a wooded area ups the odds that you&amp;#039;ll brush up against problem plants like poison ivy, oak, or sumac, which can result in an irritating itchy rash. &amp;quot;An estimated 25 to 40 million people require medical treatment every year after exposure to poisonous plants; poison ivy is the most common culprit,&amp;quot; says Moreland.  How to stay safe:   To find out which poisonous plants are in your area and learn how to identify them, visit fda.gov.  Wear pants and a long-sleeved lightweight shirt in areas where these plants grow\u2014and avoid touching them.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/body/health-fitness/how-to/a1880/stroll-safely/>