By BobbieJo Paul, FNP, Provider/Health Coach, ATI Active Care
Warmer weather means more outdoor activities. As we shed the jackets for summer clothes it is important to remember there are health risks for the summer. It is good to get outdoors, but you need to know what you can do to make activities safe for your family and you.
Food and Drink
It is important to remember that foods need to be kept at proper temperatures. If some foods are left out they can quickly become a source for developing food poisoning. Reduce or eliminate your risk by keeping refrigerated foods cold and hot foods hot. If food might sit out for a while, take the time to properly store the food and bring it back out to eat so you stay safe.
While being active, it is easy to forget to drink fluids. Not drinking enough water while enjoying summer activities can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Remember, alcohol and caffeine drinks do not hydrate. Make sure you are drinking water or juice to stay properly hydrated.
Sun
Sunburn can quickly change summertime plans as the burns can become severe if you are not wearing sunscreen and not getting out of the sun as your skin burns.
Sun care is important to continue to have fun outside. Use a sunscreen that is 15spf or greater. If you are in the sun for hours, you will need to reapply. Use hats and sunglasses to help keep the sun off the face and protect your eyes. If you develop sunburn, treat it immediately and keep the burned skin out of the sun by covering up or staying under cover.
Water Activities
Water activities are a great way to stay cool in the heat, but swimming and other water activities can pose safety concerns. Remember young children can drown in shallow water, so always watch kids while they’re in the water. If the water is deep enough to cover their noses, they can drown. Also, be aware of toys that are not to be used as flotation devices. Use appropriate vests while on watercraft and follow the DNR rules about boating. Pay attention when driving watercraft and do not get close to swimmers.
Do not dive into lakes or ponds where you do not know the depth as there can be shallow areas or rocks that can put you at risk for a spine injury. Don’t drink lake or pond water; some bacteria or chemicals in water can cause illness.
Heed warnings about problems at a public pool and high chlorine or possible issues from waterfowl at beaches. If there is a posting about elevated bacteria counts, stay out of the water. Best prevention for chemicals or bacteria is to rinse off after enjoying water activities.
With an abundance of water activities, swimmer’s ear is a common infection during the summer time. For ear issues have a health care provider evaluate. If you are prone to ear infections, find out from your provider if using earplugs when swimming is right for you. If it feels like water is in your ear after swimming try to tip your head to the side to let it drain (don’t put q-tips or other devices in your ear).
Summer Sports and Yard Work
Often getting out and enjoying the outdoors can result in common summertime injuries. Scrapes, cuts, sprains, broken bones and head injuries can occur when having fun playing, participating in summer sports, or even while doing yard work.
Stay alert and wear the proper protective gear based on your activity. If you’re biking, don’t do so without a helmet and make sure to follow the rules of bikes on the road. Head injuries are serious and will need to be addressed.
While doing yard work or trimming trees, it is best to make sure kids are not in the area as they can easily become injured by lawn mowers and other tools for yardwork. If you get a scrape or cut, clean the wound and consult your health care provider if it is deep, continues to bleed or might be dirty or infected. Many sprains can be helped with rest, elevation, ice and compression.
Nature
Nature too can have health risks. People can get rashes from plants like poison ivy, illnesses from mosquitos or ticks, and allergic reactions from bee stings.
To avoid poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, learn what each of them looks like. If you do come into contact with any of them, don’t scratch irritated skin; if you break the skin it can cause infection.
Protect yourself against Lyme disease or illnesses from mosquitos by wearing mosquito/tick repellant (especially when traveling to areas that are high risk).
Reduce your risk of getting stung by bees by avoiding bee hives. If you are stung, remove the stinger and clean the area to prevent risk of infection. Seek medical attention if you develop symptoms of allergic reaction.
While there are risks during the summertime, it is a great time for many to get out and get moving. Being active improves health so just plan ahead so you can truly enjoy the benefits of being active and the warm outdoor. Know what your risks may be and take steps to reduce or avoid the risk of having something unpleasant happen to you. Have a fun, safe summer.
ATI Active Care is a walk-in clinic, located in Waukesha, WI, that provides immediate care for non-emergency acute conditions, physicals, health screenings, preventive health and wellness programs. For more information contact BobbieJo Paul at bobbiejopaul@activatehealthcare.com or call (262) 574-2711.