Summer Related Medical Issues and How to Approach Them 

Summer is here! Time for all the outdoor fun. But summer comes with its own medical issues. Here are some health problems associated with summer and how to prevent or handle them when they occur.

Heat Illnesses

Sunburns can range from mild irritation to medical emergencies requiring hospitalization. The best way to avoid sunburns is to avoid the sun. Stay out of the sun during peak hours and/or find shade. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 50. This not only prevents sunburns, it also prevents the long term risk of skin cancer. 

Heat exhaustion occurs when your body cannot cool itself fast enough through sweating. In order to avoid heat exhaustion, you must keep yourself well hydrated and make sure you are not getting excessive heat exposure. If ignored, heat exhaustion could become heat stroke. Heat stroke, also called sun stroke, is when your temperature rises to dangerous levels due to heat. This can be fatal. Heat stroke causes confusion, shortness of breath, and a fast heart rate. If this occurs, this is an emergency, and you need to call 911 and get out of the heat. 

Food Poisoning 

Bacteria love heat. So, summertime is a prime time to have food left out in the sun, allowing bacteria to reproduce. Make sure your food is in a cooler or at the very least, not left out in the heat for long periods of time. 

Insect Bites

You know who else likes getting outside during summer? Bugs! Tics, bees, mosquitos and ants will be waiting for you in the great outdoors. You may avoid insect bites by wearing protective clothing and/or using insect repellant. Other ways to keep the insects at bay is to avoid perfumes and scented products such as deodorants. These smells attract bugs. 

Drowning

The water is so inviting on hot summer days, but water can be dangerous. Drowning is the leading cause of death in the United States for children ages 1 to 4 years old. Water safety is very important. If you or your children or grandchildren do not know how to swim, take lessons. Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). If you are on a boat, everyone should be wearing a life jacket. Diving and rescue teams have a saying, “I’ve never pulled a dead body out of the water in a life jacket.” This is probably not entirely true, but it is close enough to be a saying.

Summer brings longer days and lots of sun. Most people look forward to this season. So, let’s keep it safe so no one misses out. 

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What kind of summer activities do you do for fun? Do you practice summer safety? What safety tips do you have? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.