Great People Great Service Great Care

Summer Survival Tips

A Health Message from Wagoner Community Hospital

(August 2011) Long daylight hours and children freed from the confines of school go together to make summers a time of increased injury as well as the traditional summer fun.

"All too often, a bad sunburn, a case of itchy poison ivy or bug bites can ruin our fun in the sun," Just because you've already spent time in the sun this summer doesn't mean you can put away your sunscreen. It's still important to limit sun exposure, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. And, pay attention to medications or products that can increase your sensitivity to the sun. Some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen increase sun sensitivity.

Sun Safety:

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and re-apply at least every 2 hours during exposure. Even with water-resistant sunscreens, re-apply often if you get wet, sweat or towel off.

Use sunscreen on a daily basis, even if you've gotten a tan.
If you do get burned, applying 80-90% aloe vera gels can lessen the pain and prevent burns from deepening if they are applied early. (The actual juice from a plant works as well.)

Be on the lookout for moles that change color or size, bleed or have irregular, spreading edges all signs of possible skin cancer.

Insect Bites and Stings:

Use an insect repellent with DEET to help prevent bites from bees and wasps, mosquitoes and ticks. When used properly as directed, the risks from using DEET are low. For those concerned about DEET exposure, try one of the clip-on repellents that eliminate the need for spraying the body.

Wear light-colored clothing and skip scented soaps, deodorants or perfumes in order to avoid attracting bees.

If you get stung, scrape a bee stinger away with a credit card or fingernail using a side to side motion. (Don't use tweezers since squeezing can inject more venom into the skin.)

Be alert for allergic reactions which can occur even in people who have been stung without reaction previously. If there is swelling to the face or interference with breathing, seek immediate medical help. (If you or your child has a known reaction to bee or wasp stings, carry an epi pen at all times.)

Keep food and drinks covered. Each year, people visit the Emergency Department after swallowing a bee that had flown inside a pop or drink can.

Check yourself for ticks after time outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers, seal it in a plastic bag and throw it away. (Typically, a tick must be on the skin for 36 hours to transmit Lyme disease. However, be aware of Lyme disease symptoms after any tick bite: bulls-eye rash, muscle aches and stiff joints.)

Poison Ivy:

Learn to recognize poison ivy and avoid it.

If you are in a setting where contact is possible, wear long pants, long sleeves, boots and gloves.

After possible exposure, wash the skin with soap and water as soon as possible to prevent the spread of urushiol, the substance in poison ivy sap that causes the itchy outbreaks.

Wash your clothes and any tools that may have come in contact with poison ivy.

If your preventative measures don't work, over-the-counter corticosteroids, antihistamines and lotions can help reduce itching.
Contrary to what some people think, poison oak and poison ivy are not contagious from person to person and cannot be spread by contact with the fluid from blisters.

Water Safety:

Make sure small children are carefully supervised at all times when around water.

Consider locks, alarms or other devices to keep children away from a backyard pool or to alert you to unexpected activity.

Use flotation devices when boating or enjoying water sports.

Never dive into a lake or river without carefully checking both the water depth and the presence of underwater hazards.

Poorly or improperly maintained swimming pools can be sources of bacteria such as E. coli, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Chlorine is often used to kill water-borne germs, but too much chlorine can cause problems of its own if overused.

Teach your children never to swallow pool - or lake water.

Only swim in pools that look clear and clean. The water should not be cloudy; you should be able to see the bottom.

Touch the sides of the pool and stay out if they are slimy or sticky.

Be wary of a strong chlorine smell.

Keep kids out of the pool if they are sick, especially if they have a stomach bug.

Summer Survival Tips

Awards