Use sunscreen. Drink plenty of water. And don't forget to wear a hat.

Blazing sun and soaring temperatures have doctors advising people to take precautions as they celebrate the Fourth of July today.

While picnics, baseball games and barbecues go hand-in-hand with the holiday, they also put people at risk for sunburns and heat-related illnesses. Among the symptoms to watch out for: headaches, fatigue, vomiting and confusion.

"You really want to avoid playing sports outdoors," said Dr. Nicole Belissary, who treats patients at Sutter-Gould's Spanos Court clinic in Modesto. "And you want to do your errands early in the morning. Avoid being outside the hottest part of the day."

Many doctors recommend that people stay out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day, usually between noon and 4 p.m.

That's not always easy, especially when family celebrations center around swimming pools and baseball diamonds. So, if people must be outside, doctors suggest they avoid exercise.

Wear sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or above, doctors say. People with fair skin should choose an SPF of 30 or more.

"But you can't just use that alone," Belissary said. "Everyone should wear a hat, too."

Doctors also advise wearing loose cotton clothing and drinking at least six glasses of water a day. Sports drinks may also help, Belissary said, because they replenish the nutrients lost when people sweat and dehydrate.

Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion (including headaches, thirst, fatigue, fever, increased heart and breathing rates) and the signs of heat stroke (vomiting, headaches and confusion).

If a person appears to be sick from the heat, move him or her inside or to a shady place, said Dr. Greg Bowerman, an emergency room doctor at Modesto's Memorial Medical Center. Be sure to give the person water.

If the person's condition does not improve, or if he or she seems disoriented, take the person to an emergency room, Bowerman said.

Elderly people and babies are especially at risk for heat- related illnesses, as are people who take some types of heart and psychiatric medication, said Dr. Gene La Monica of the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Urgent Care. The medications impair the body's ability to detect heat, he said.

"The general recommendation is for the elderly and the young to be inside and to keep cool," he said.

Other risks include swimming pool accidents, sickness from undercooked meat and fireworks accidents.

Doctors urge parents not to take their eyes off children in pools. Barbecue meat thoroughly to destroy any bacteria. Treat fireworks with care.

"And watch out for barefoot kids stepping on them," said Bowerman, the emergency room doctor. "We see that every year."

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee.