I
was recently invited by Revolution Health to offer their readers a few
summer safety tips to beat the "silent summer spoilers." The following
is a modified version of what was presented, with the notation that
these afflictions are not so silent, and can certainly ruin your
vacation or outdoor adventure.
Sunburn can be brutal. The best
way to avoid sunburn is to stay out of direct sunlight. If possible,
stay in the shade, and wear sun-protective clothing. Use a sunblock
that is effective against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB rays. It is
an increasingly prevailing opinion that UVA is more damaging than
previously thought.
Be certain to obtain a good application
(at least an ounce or two for a "normal" sized adult), and reapply the
sunscreen often, particularly if you are sweating or spending time in
the water (scuba diving, surfing, swimming, etc.). If you are taking
medication, know if it might make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Pay attention to your surroundings. High altitude, wind, and
sun reflecting off the surface of water, sand, or gravel add to UV
exposure. Don't forget to protect your eyes with sunglasses rated to
block nearly 100% of UV radiation. If you decide to use insect
repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) as well as a
sunscreen, be advised that the combination might reduce the
effectiveness of the sunscreen. If you are using two separate products
(sunscreen and insect repellen), in general, it is best to apply the
sunscreen first, allow it to absorb into the skin for 20 to 30 minutes,
then apply the insect repellent, in order to maximize the effect of the
repellent. If you are going to be in water where you might come in
contact with stinging jellyfish, consider using
Safe Sea sunblock with jellyfish sting protective lotion incorporated into the product.
A
mild sunburn without blistering can be treated with cool compresses,
showers or baths, a non-sensitizing skin moisturizer lotion, and
aspirin or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g., ibuprofen) to
decrease inflammation. A sunburn, even first degree, that is so
extensive that it causes the victim to suffer chills, nausea and
vomiting, weakness, and diarrhea, may require oral rehydration and
bedrest. If blisters are present, this indicates second-degree burns,
which sometimes must be treated with topical antiseptic ointment,
bandages, and more extensive medical care. You certainly wish to avoid
this situation. The skin bubbling and peeling that follow a first
degree sunburn are superficial and do not result in fluid loss, and
rarely lead to infection, but the skin should be kept clean and
moisturized to prevent any complications. Anyone with a severe sunburn
of any sort should be examined for dehydration.
Blisters are the
bane of hikers and trekkers, and often of persons wearing new sandals,
particularly if the feet are dirty and dusty, as the grit and grime
serve as agents of abrasion. Break in andy new shoes, boots, flip-flops
and sandals before walking any distance in them. Keep your feet clean
and dry. When walking in boots, wear a thin pair of liner socks under
your regular socks, so that the friction is between the socks, not
between the boots and your feet. Cushion any reddened "hot spot" or
cover it with a
BlistOBan® bandage before a fluid-filled blister appears. If you do get a blister:
Fasten
a "donut"-shaped foam pad to the perimeter of the affected area. Cover
the affected area ("donut hole") with a fitted hydrogel (e.g., Spenco
2nd Skin®) pad, and then place tape over the foam and hydrogel. Watch
for signs of infection, which include cloudy fluid or pus within the
blister, or red streaks emanating from the edges of the blister into
the surrounding skin. If the blister appears infected, use a
disinfected or carefully cleaned needle to create a small puncture at
the edge of the blister, and drain it. Cover the open wound with
antiseptic ointment, and apply a sterile dressing.
Sprains and
strains are common ailments in the summertime due to increased outdoor
activity. The most common sprain involves the ankle. In the event of a
sprain, use the "RICE" technique. RICE stands for "rest, ice,
compression, elevation." Try to rest the joint. Elevate the affected
body part and apply ice packs intermittently (e.g., 15 minutes on, 15
minutes off) as much as is practical for the next 24 hours. If the skin
becomes reddened and painful from the application of ice, ease off to
avoid a cold injury (e.g., frostbite) to the tissues. Mild compression
with a wrap may provide some pain relief. If you need to keep walking,
tape, bandage or splint the joint for support.
Once a joint is
weakened by a strain or sprain, re-injury is common. Take precautions
by using a mechanical ankle support (e.g., brace and high-top shoes or
boots) and/or a walking stick over rocky terrain. It takes a full 6 to
8 weeks to recover from a mild ankle sprain, and 3 to 6 months to
recover from a severe sprain.
Gastroenteric problems are common in the summer. Traveler's diarrhea, commonly caused by the bacteria
E. coli,
is often due to water or food contamination. Failure to wash or "gel"
hands or to properly prepare food are likely the most common errors
that lead to diarrhea. Water disinfection techniques include heating,
addition of chemicals, filtration, or application of UV light. It is
important to carry redundant water disinfection systems, so that if a
unit (e.g., filter) is lost or damaged, you have backup. Avoid drinking
beverages with ice, unless you can be absolutely certain that the ice
was prepared from properly disinfected water.
Tick and mosquito
bites can result in serious, even fatal, infections. So, be certain to
protect yourself. If circumstances permit, wear light-colored pants
tucked into socks and paired with a long sleeve shirt. Wear a head net
or use a bed net when needed. Use insect repellent(s). Permethrin is
applied to clothing, while DEET or picaridin is applied to exposed
skin. Perform regular "tick checks" of the entire body (especially the
scalp, groin and armpits), and immediately remove ticks. When
attempting to remove a tick, do not twist it, touch it with a hot
object such as a hot match head, or attempt to suffocate or kill it
with petrolatum (petroleum jelly), mineral oil, kerosene, stove fuel,
etc. These techniques might cause the tick to struggle and regurgitate
potentially infectious agents into your bloodstream.
Finally,
learn to recognize poison ivy, oak, and sumac. If you become exposed to
their resin, immediately wash it off with soap and water or with a
specialized scrub (e.g., Tecnu or Zanfel) within 30 minutes if
possible. To treat a rash from poison ivy, oak or sumac, you may soothe
the affected skin with calamine lotion and also consider the following
measures: apply a topical anesthetic, such as praxomine HCl 1%; soak in
a tepid (not hot) bath supplemented with baking soda or Aveeno
(contains oatmeal proteins); consider taking an antihistamine
medication, which helps control itching and acts as a sedative. Consult
a physician if the reaction is severe. Prescription treatment (such as
corticosteroid therapy) may be required.
The resins from
plants can remain on clothes, fabrics, backpacks, tents, pet fur and
elsewhere for long periods of time, so be certain to wash these
carefully to prevent further exposure to the resin. Once the rash
appears, you are not contagious, and you cannot spread the rash by
scratching. However, you can open up blisters and make the affected
skin vulnerable to secondary infection.
image courtesy of w3.ouhsc.edu