CALIFORNIA SUMMER SAFETY TIPS   "An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure." Ben Franklin   With Summer just around the bend, here are some tips to make sure you, your family and friends have a safe and joyful time.   1. Watch Your Children at the Beach, Swimming Pool or Lake "In the Summer, children drown at nearly double the rate of the rest of the year, usually in swimming pools," warns Dr. Robert Realmuto, M.D., chairman of Emergency Medicine at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital. "Most of these incidents occur while adults are nearby but temporarily distracted."    2. Use Sunscreen Twenty minutes before going outside, apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (spf) of 15 or higher to protect against the sun's ultra-violet rays. Reapply after swimming, sweating heavily or drying off with a towel, advises Dr. Marsha Fink, M.D., a medical oncologist. She also says to Wear Sunglasses, Protective Clothing and Hats since your ears, neck and face tend to get the most exposure during full sunlight.   3. Avoid Heat Exhaustion People who've been in the sun for a long time, especially those exercising, might develop symptoms like dry mouth, fatigue, headache, dizziness, pale skin and sweating. They should be taken to a cool, shaded area and given water to drink and cool compresses for their skin. With rest, fluids and cooling, heat exhaustion isn't life threatening, according to physicians at Orange Coast. But if it's allowed to continue without treatment, it could lead to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition signaled by a high body temperature and absence of sweating. Heat stroke demands emergency medical attention, doctors said.   4. Leave Fireworks to the Pros Even handheld sparklers can reach temperatures above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and may cause serious injuries and fires. Fireworks are outlawed in many cities but you can always catch a professional fireworks display on July 4th. Check beachcalifornia.com for official fireworks celebration sites.  Here's a list where fireworks are sold.   5. Be Careful Around The Grill-Don't Get Burned Don't add highly flammable starter fluid when the coals or kindling are already hot and make sure children aren't near the grill.   Have a Happy & Safe Summer!   (We want to Thank Orange Coast Memorial for many of these tips. You can find out more about this hospital and others in the Memorial Care Health System at memorialcare.org)