The summer months are finally here, and with them comes all the excitement of warm weather and outdoor events. While the summer means more fun, we do have to be careful. We wear sunscreen, drink lots of water, and are generous with our mosquito repellant. But have you thought about protecting your hearing in the summer time?
Not only does the weather heat up, volumes get cranked up too. Between street fairs, outdoor concerts, and ball games, summer is one of the most dangerous seasons for your hearing health, so be prepared! Be sure to carry earplugs in your bag, and even an extra pair or two for a friend! Here are a few places you need to be extra careful this summer.
Sports Stadiums
Who doesn’t love a good baseball game on a hot Saturday afternoon? The excitement of the crowd, the hush as the pitcher swings, the deafening roar after a home run. There’s only one problem. Stadiums are extremely loud! From blaring speakers playing music to amp up the crowd, sound effects, fireworks, and even the hum of thousands of people all in one place, an evening at the ball game could permanently damage your hearing. A University of Michigan research team found that decibel (dB) levels at baseball games far exceed safe listening levels of 85 dB. They measured noise levels at major league baseball games and found an average of 94 dB, with the loudest sounds as high as 114 dB! Even at 94 dB, as little as thirty minutes puts your hearing at risk.
The Backyard
Does your family enjoy spending time in the yard? Summer is full of BBQs on the deck and chasing the dog across the lawn. While these things don’t jeopardize your hearing, the equipment you use to maintain your yard does. Do you use a gas-powered lawnmower, weed eater, leaf blower, or hedge trimmer? These all have decibel levels between 80 and 105. Remember that at these levels, you’re damaging your hearing after a few hours! Wear earplugs when you do your yardwork, or consider switching to electric equipment which is quieter, better for the environment, and better for your ears.
Parade Day
Nothing screams summer like Saturday morning parades. The kids love the crazy floats and colorful characters. While you might not think parades are dangerous, they’re actually extremely loud with blaring music, loud marching bands, high-pitched sirens, and squealing engines. These all add to the excitement, but will cause permanent hearing damage after a morning of exposure. Children are especially at risk since their ears are still growing, making them particularly susceptible to hearing loss. Make sure your kids are all wearing earplugs, and pop a pair in your own ears too.
Concert Time
From Sunday afternoon at the music festival to Friday night at the downtown square, outdoor concerts are sure to be a blast. Since the concert is outside, it’s easy to forget about the need for hearing protection. While sounds aren’t bouncing off the walls and ceiling, outdoor concerts are still incredibly loud, with massive speaker stacks and pounding beats that can often be heard several blocks away. Sound levels often exceed 110dB! Be sure to wear ear protection, and sit or stand away from the speakers.
In the Wind
One of the joys of summer is riding with the top down, or pulling your motorbike out of the garage. Maybe you have a speedboat, or go jet-skiing. Hold on, it’s not what you think. It’s not the engine noise that’s damaging your hearing, its actually the wind! If you’re going around 60 miles per hour, the wind noise often reached 100dB. At this volume, you can sustain permanent hearing loss after just 30 minutes. After an afternoon on the lake, you’ll likely have buzzing or ringing in the ears, or feel like sounds around you are muffled. If you’re going to be going anywhere fast, make sure you’re wearing ear protection.
Wearing Ear Plugs
The best way to protect your hearing is to always wear ear plugs at noisy places. Summer fun is just around the corner, so keep a few pairs of earplugs in your bag to make sure you’re prepared for anything. You can even share them with your friends, and keep everyone’s hearing sharp. Whether you’re at the stadium, the park, the beach, or even your own back yard, be aware of the sounds around you and always wear earplugs when the volume gets too loud.
For hearing aids or custom hearing protection, visit us at Custom Hearing Solutions. Don’t let the summer fun get away on you. We have the hearing devices you need to enjoy worry-free summer with great hearing.