Who's ready for swimming, night markets, and food truck season? Summer is officially here, and with that comes the many warm-weather activities we've all been looking forward to. Here at Spokane Regional Health District, we're excited and ready to take on another summer season to keep your fun under the sun safe.

Even though you may not always see our team in action, we're always working to keep our community safe and healthy. During the summer, that means inspecting aquatic facilities, issuing food handler permits, and providing education and guidance to food establishments (including food trucks!) on safe food-handling processes. Plus, did you know families in our Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program can use their WIC benefits to purchase fresh fruits and veggies from our local farmer's markets? Yep!

Wherever your summer adventures take you, we're happy to be working behind the scenes to ensure they remain a fun and safe experience for you and your family. Let's talk more about how SRHD supports our community as we gear up for another great summer!

Pools are open for the summer, and if you're looking forward to making a splash, you can thank our Living Environment program for that! They work with aquatic faculties before they're even built to ensure the design for the new pool is safe and meets requirements set by the State of Washington.

They also offer pool operators training and resources, so they're prepared to handle everything from routine chemical testing to potential contamination of the pool. If an injury is reported, they'll work with the aquatic facility to determine if any other safety measures should be put in place to avoid future accidents. SRHD inspects over 400 swimming pools, spas, wading pools, splash pads, and water features, like slides and lazy rivers, to ensure your swimming season is not only fun, but safe!

However, it's also important to enlist a few of your own water safety measures such as:

✅ Enrolling kids in swimming lessons.
✅ Putting weaker swimmers in U.S. Coast Guard-Approved life jackets.
✅ Supervising young children at all times when they're in or near water.
✅ Not swimming further or father out than you can comfortably handle.

These are all important tips to keep your time in the water safe and reduce the risk of injuries and accidental drownings. Don't have a life vest? You can find a coupon from Big 5 for 20% off a life vest at: lifejacketinformationcoupon_seattlechildrens_final.pdf

For pool hours and locations, visit: Aquatic Recreation - City of Spokane, Washington (spokanecity.org) and Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Golf

To learn more about how SRHD works with aquatic facilities, visit: Pools & Water Recreation | SRHD

Food truck season is a great time to get outdoors and try something new from a local food vendor or swing by one of your favorites. Riverfront Eats features food trucks every Tuesday on the Howard Street Bridge from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm! Plus, there are plenty of delicious restaurants to choose from as you gather with friends and family over the summer.

Our Food Safety team is proud to work year-round with food establishments in our community to provide food handler training and issue food handler permits. These important measures help protect people's health, reduce the risk of foodborne illness, and ensure your favorite spots remain a safe place to enjoy! To learn more about Riverfront Eats, visit: Riverfront Eats - City of Spokane, Washington (spokanecity.org).

Fruits and veggies are an important part of any balanced diet, and if you’re part of our WIC program, you can use your WIC benefits to purchase healthy foods from our local farmers markets! Grab your favorites or try something new and find a healthy recipe you can incorporate them into. Including more fruits and veggies in your families’ daily meals can promote healthier eating habits and reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Plus, farmers markets have plenty of other fun attractions for the whole family to enjoy!

Wondering if you're eligible for WIC? Our program currently accepts pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding parents and children under 5. We support families by offering important health screenings, nutrition and health education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to other services. Learn more and contact us to get enrolled at: Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program | SRHD

For farmers market locations and times, visit: SPOKANE FARMERS MARKET SCHEDULE 2024 (spokaneeats.net).

For additional tips and resources related to summer safety, visit:

Wildfire Safety: Wildfires, Smoke and Air Quality | SRHD
Heat Safety: Extreme Heat | SRHD
Sun Safety: Sun Safety Facts | Skin Cancer | CDC
Water Safety: Drowning Prevention | SRHD