Mercy Health's emergency medicine physicians share summer safety tips

9:36 AM, Jul. 2, 2013  |  Comments
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While Mercy Health's Emergency Medicine Physicians throughout Cincinnati stand ready to help you be well, they are also interested in keeping you safe this summer.

That's why the teams of doctors and staff of the Emergency Departments at Mercy Health Hospitals and Medical Centers are providing area residents with these seasonal health and safety tips to keep you well and out of the emergency department this summer.

? Sunburn: Blistering sunburns require immediate medical attention and you may find you need more medical help later on. Getting one blistering sunburn when you're a kid doubles your chances of developing melanoma. Choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply regularly and after you've been in water.

? Hydration: Did you know that if you're feeling thirsty, you're already mildly dehydrated? Help kids avoid dehydration by reminding them to drink often throughout the day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends drinking about every 20 minutes if kids are active in sports. About five ounces is right for a kid weighing 88 pounds. Water and sports drinks (drinks that contain electrolytes) are the best options for hydrating kids - avoid sodas, juice and other fruit drinks.

? Heat-related illness: Staying hydrated in hot weather can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Keep water or sports drinks (with electrolytes) on hand to maintain hydration and try to stay in a shady or air-conditioned location during the hottest parts of the afternoon. Mild symptoms of heat exhaustion may include feeling thirsty, fatigued or getting leg or abdominal cramps. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke.

? Food poisoning: Summertime offers so many opportunities for picnicking and cookouts, but don't let the heat ruin your outing. Food-borne illness looks a lot like the flu and typically includes nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. One of the best ways to avoid food poisoning during the summertime is to be sure food items that contain mayonnaise, milk, eggs, meat, poultry and seafood aren't kept at room temperature for more than an hour or two (one hour max if it's 90 degrees F outside). Meat and eggs aren't the only culprits - raw fruits and vegetables can cause problems if not properly washed and stored. If you're traveling with food, be sure to pack any raw meat separately from ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination.

? Poison ivy: Poison ivy, as well as poison oak and sumac, contains urushiol, an oil which causes an allergic reaction in about 85 percent of the population when it comes in contact with skin. The subsequent rash that develops will only appear where the skin touched the plant's oil. Luckily, it isn't contagious but it can spread through indirect contact (such as petting a dog that has run through poisonous plants). The only way to avoid developing the rash is to avoid contact with these poisonous plants but wearing clothing that covers a good amount of skin - especially if you're doing yard work - will help reduce your risk.

? Ride safe: Wearing a helmet while riding your bike is a must these days. Nearly 300,000 kids make a visit to the emergency room every year with bike-related injuries. Wearing a helmet can help reduce the risk of your or your child making such a visit. Keeping kids safe on their bikes also means sending them out on bikes that fit. Checking that your child hasn't outgrown last year's ride is easy: Have your child straddle the top bar of his or her bike with both feet flat on the ground. A one- to three-inch gap between the bar and your child's body means it's still the correct size.

? Play safe: Check the playground equipment before letting kids play on it. For example, surfaces that are too hot can cause burns and loose ropes - ropes that aren't secured on both ends - can cause accidental strangulation. The ground should feature a protective surface, such as rubber mats, wood or rubber mulch or wood chips, never grass, asphalt or concrete. The right surface materials could reduce the risk of head injury or other severe injury in the event of a fall. Also, be sure that your child's clothing is playground-friendly: remove any strings, such as those on hoodies, only let them wear closed-toed shoes at play and avoid clothing that is loose enough to catch on equipment.

? Pool safety: They don't hang those "No running!" signs poolside for decoration. Never leave kids alone near the pool, no matter what their ages or swim capabilities. Parents can and should take precautions around home pools, in addition to closely supervising kids while they swim.

? Bites and stings: Planning to spend time outside means planning to spray yourself and your kids with insect repellent. Repellents don't kill insects but they can help reduce bites from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other bothersome bugs. Some repellents contain DEET and some don't. Use insect repellents containing DEET on kids sparingly. Never use repellent on infants and check the levels of DEET in formulas before applying to older kids - DEET can be toxic. Use repellents with 10 to 30 percent concentrations of DEET on exposed skin, clothing and shoes but do not apply it to faces or hands.

If you want to avoid DEET, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends repellents that contain picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Both are non-toxic and able to reduce mosquito bites just as well as formulas with low levels of DEET.

? Ticks: Outdoorsy types aren't the only ones who need to worry about ticks - you could pick one up in your own yard while gardening or playing outside. Do a tick check on everyone in the family every night. Contracting a tick-borne illness can take up to 36 hours so if you haven't removed the tick, you'll want to be prompt and thorough. The CDC recommends you check under the arms, between the legs, around the waist and inside the navel. Don't forget the hairline and scalp.

Tick removal isn't complicated but there is a technique. Use fine-tipped tweezers, not your bare fingers, to detach the tick. Hold the tick in the tweezers (get as close to the skin as you can) and pull upwards. Be as steady as you can, as twisting and turning could cause the tick's mouth to break off under the skin (if that happens, use your tweezers to remove it). Disinfect the area and you're done.

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