Numerous festivals, markets, water resorts, and other outdoor programs are available for those willing to leave the comfort of an air-conditioned room to survive the summer heat. Keep in mind the heat is not so bad once you get used to it, and all those cool activities are much less fun in the autumn or winter. Of course, going out, and being active in the strong sunshine has its own risks. Some of the most talked-about summer dangers include heat stroke, dehydration, and even skin cancer. But there are some other factors that might literally cause you a headache if you are not cautious.
Burns
Where there is heat, there is the potential for burn. After playing in the sunshine during the summer, who doesn’t love an evening barbeque? To ensure that a meal of grilled foods is not overshadowed by having to make a trip to a hospital, take the following precautions:
- Make sure children and pets are always closely supervised around fire.
- Be aware that gas grills can easily explode by gas leaks, blocked tubes, or overfilled LPG tanks.
- Teach children to cover their faces and ‘stop, drop & roll’ if their clothes catch fire.
Treatment:
Minor burns can be treated at home by running cold water over them and covering them with a dry cloth. If a burn doesn’t heal in a couple of days, consult your doctor. Larger burns require emergency treatment.
Foodborne illnesses
Along with barbeques, picnics, and summer weddings come the uninvited guests; bacteria, E.coli, salmonella, cyclospora, and the likes. They are as serious as they sound, causing the following symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, sweating, dizziness, excessive salivation and mental confusion. Typically food poisoning comes from undercooked, or improperly handled meats, unpasteurized milk products, or contaminated food.
Prevention:
- Wash your hands often, especially before cooking/eating; you never know what contaminants you are passing from one food to another.
- Make sure your cooking utensils and food are clean before using them.
- Keep raw food separate from cooked.
- Never defrost and refreeze foods.
- Keep food either cold or hot.
- Remember that good food can go bad when left out in the sun and heat too long.
Treatment:
- Keep hydrated! Liquids and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and calcium that maintain the balance of fluids in your body need to be replaced. Once vomiting stops, start gradually returning to a regular diet avoiding milk and fruit juices.
- If vomiting does not stop in a few hours, seek medical assistance.
Skin reactions
Tattoos
A lot of people like to stand out by decorating their skin with tattoos, which may cause problems ranging from simple skin irritation to serious blood-borne diseases, including tetanus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. More cautious skin decorators go for henna tattoos that provide a healthier, less permanent alternative. While the natural henna is indeed skin-friendly, artists also use a black tar coloring agent to make the tattoo darker and last a bit longer. This agent is an allergen which may cause irritation, infection, or even scarring. Make sure your henna artist uses only the natural stuff so your skin doesn’t suffer for beauty.
Hair removal
Loose clothing and bare skin bring about another fashion and hygiene element: smooth skin. When showing all that bare surface some are even more vigilant against unwanted hair growth. One popular weapon of getting rid of hairs is epilation: applying chemical hair removal products which can be allergens as well. So before applying, especially to sensitive areas like armpit or bikini line, try it on a less visible, less sensitive area to see if it causes redness, itchiness or boils. Word to the wise, keep away from sunburned, broken, or irritated skin.
Summer is great for getting together with family and friends to spend some quality outside time with. Don’t let it get ruined with a trip to the doctor’s office, or worse to the hospital, due to carelessness or improper food handling.
If you do need our assistance, feel free to contact us and make an appointment to a doctor or pediatrician.
Lastly, if you are spending lots of time out in the sun (we know you’re already wearing sunscreen) and you see a blemish or other unusual mark that is growing or just won’t go away, take advantage of our Saturday special skin offer to make sure it isn’t something you need to be more concerned about.
Happy summer!
Sources: webmd.com, mayoclinic.org
