Hopefully you will have the opportunity this summer to pass time doing things that you enjoy. Perhaps you will vacation with family, picnic with friends, work in your garden, or volunteer on an outdoor project. As you make the most of the hot days of summer, consider these health and safety tips:
Prevent heat-related illness. When planning outdoor activities, check news and weather channels. During extreme heat conditions, seek regular health and safety updates.
- The CDC recommends drinking more fluids, regardless of activity level, in extreme heat. Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar which can cause you to lose more body fluid. Avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
- If your doctor limits the amount or type of fluid that you drink or has you on water pills, consult with your doctor about fluid intake in extreme weather conditions.
- When outdoors, plan for some time to rest. Take advantage of the shade of a big tree.
- Seek air-conditioning for a few hours to help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
- Never leave children, pets or adults in a parked car, even with the windows cracked open.
Use insect repellants safely. When possible, consider non-chemical ways to deter biting insects, such as mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks. An insect repellent may be necessary to reduce health risks.
- Window screenings and clothing, for examples, are structural barriers. Avoid attractants, such as dark colored clothing, and floral and fruity fragrances in perfumes and detergents.
- Eliminate standing water around your home, especially after rains. Mosquitoes need stagnant or standing water to breed.
- Plant oils, such as citronella, cedar, clove, and lemon eucalyptus may act as a natural bug repellant. Talk to your doctor first as many people are sensitive or have an allergy to plant oils.
- Look for insect repellant with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration number on the label. Read the label carefully and apply to adults and children according to labeled instructions.
- Repellent can be sprayed on clothing or directly on skin, but not on your face. Avoid spraying repellant on children’s hands, as they may rub their eyes.
- If using insect repellent and sunscreen at the same time, apply sunscreen first.
- After returning indoors, wash skin with soap and water to remove repellent.
- If you or your child experiences a reaction to repellent call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-222-1222 end_of_the_skype_highlighting).
Protect yourself against poisonous plants. Your best defense is to identify and avoid contact. The saying “Leaves of three, Let it be!” is a helpful reminder for identifying poison ivy and oak, but not poison sumac which usually has clusters of 7-13 leaves. Even poison ivy and poison oak may have more than 3 leaves; their form may vary depending upon species, local environment, and season.
- When hiking, stay on cleared pathways. Barrier skin creams may offer some protection before contact.
- When removing poison ivy from your yard, use heavy gloves. Don’t burn these plants; inhaling smoke from burning plants can cause severe allergic respiratory problems.
- If you think you have been in contact with a poisonous plant, promptly wash your skin with mild soap and water to help reduce the severity of a reaction. To reduce itching and blistering, apply a wet compress, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream to the skin.
- Wash clothing separately from other clothes with detergent, and in a washing machine if possible. Remember to also clean any tools that you have used for removing the plants, as the poison can remain active on the surface of objects for up to 5 years.
- In severe cases or if the rash is on the face or genitals, seek professional medical attention. Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if you have a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, or if you have had a severe reaction in the past.
Sources: Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, LifeWork Strategies Inc., and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist Hospitals. The Health Tip of the Week is for educational purposes only. For additional information, consult your physician. Please feel free to copy and distribute this health resource.
