summer safety

Patricia Carroll, RN,BC, CEN, RRT, MS

Summer S*A*F*E*T*Y

Those of us who work in emergency services know that summer is trauma season. And it’s not that we’re not friendly, but we really don’t want to see you or a family member this summer as a patient with an illness or injury that could be prevented.

I have six tips for you that spell out the word SAFETY, and I’ll tell you about some products I’ve used that can help you stay safe this summer.

S is for Skin

Scrapes and cuts are a normal part of summer activities. But proper care is important to reduce the risk of getting an infection or a scar. You should clean the injury, treat it with an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a bandage until you can see the new skin healing the area. For more details on proper care of cuts and scrapes, click here.

When you’re on the go, you may not be near a sink or your medicine chest. Not to worry, Johnson & Johnson has developed One-Step Cleansing and Infection Protection Foam, which takes care of cleaning and treating the injury. After you use this, all you need is an adhesive bandage like a Band Aid. The foam has the same antiseptic we use in the ER. And it doesn’t contain alcohol, so it doesn’t sting.

Another summertime problem is itching from bug bites, mild sunburn, and rashes such as poison ivy. Children, in particular, may scratch these areas when their hands are dirty, and that habit can lead to a nasty infection. To stop the itch that causes the scratch, you can spray on the new Itch Relief Gel Spritz. I like it because the gel doesn’t drip, it provides cooling itch relief on contact, and it’s not sticky on the skin. Since I am a mosquito magnet, this spritz will not be far from me this summer!

Everyone should wear sunscreen, but three groups are at the highest risk from the sun:

• Children. Research shows that sunburns during childhood put adults at higher risk for skin cancer. In addition, a current study in the Journal of Pediatrics shows that only one-third of adolescents put on sunscreen -- they really want that tan.  Ninety percent of skin cancer lesions occur in areas exposed to the sun. Make sure your kids slop on the sunscreen, slip on a shirt and slap on a hat this summer for sun protection!

• People taking certain prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Common medicines such as the antibiotics Bactrim, Septra, and tetracyclines; diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide [Lasix]; birth control pills; and over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine can make you extra-sensitive to sun exposure. Don’t stop the medicine. Do apply plenty of sunscreen and stay in the shade. When you get a new prescription, ask your pharmacist if you need to take special sun precautions. For a list of medicines that can increase sun sensitivity, click here.

• People with a condition called rosacea (ROZE-AY-SHA).

And that brings us to F is for Face

Rosacea is a condition that makes your face red and sometimes causes acne-like bumps. It can seem like mild sunburn or like you’re blushing all the time. I used to think I’d just gotten a little too much sun -- until I noticed my face stayed red during the winter and when it had rained for a week, too. My dermatologist made the diagnosis of rosacea. 

It’s critical that you don’t try to treat redness on your face yourself with something from the cosmetic counter. Applying the wrong cream or lotion on your face can make the condition worse. See a dermatologist who can make the diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment. I use MetroCream -- gel and lotion preparations are available for people with different skin types. These are the most widely prescribed therapies for the 14 million men and women who have this condition. I have also had laser therapy to remove the ruptured capillaries and repair my skin. My results have been excellent -- because I searched for a highly qualified, experienced dermatologist to perform the procedure.

If your face is red, or you’re over 30 and have red bumps like acne, particularly if you are fair-skinned, see a dermatologist to see if you have rosacea and what treatment is be right for you. To learn more about rosacea, click here.

One more thing to remember about your face: It is often exposed to the sun when the rest of your body isn’t. That’s why I particularly like daily moisturizers (such as those from Aveeno, Cetaphil, and Oil of Olay) that include sunscreen so you can protect your skin automatically without having to think about applying another lotion. Clinique has finally come out with a moisturizing foundation with sunscreen as well. You can get even more protection by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. It’s not only fashionable, it’s safer for your skin!

Next is E –Everyone should drink plenty of water

I wrote an article for my professional colleagues in the June, 2002 issue of Home Healthcare Nurse so they will learn more about early warning signs of heat-related illnesses. Dehydration causes most heat-related problems. Children and seniors are less sensitive to thirst, so they don’t automatically drink as much as they should. Our bodies are two-thirds water, and it is critical to take in extra water when it’s hot outside or when the humidity is very low, as it is in an airplane.

How much water do you need? It depends on what you're doing, and the temperature and humidity you're exposed to. It's hard to drink too much unless you are a marathon runner or triathlete -- people undertaking those adventures need to plan their fluid and nutrient replacement carefully. For the rest of us, a bottle of spring water is handy when we're on the go, and makes it easy for us to keep drinking throughout the day.

Heat stroke is dangerous. It is also 100% preventible if you drink enough water. Wouldn’t you rather get your daily intake from fresh spring water than from an IV? Don’t risk a ride in an ambulance from dehydration this summer! 

T is for Travel

Summer vacation anyone? Whether you are traveling by air, train, car or boat, motion sickness affects nearly 80% of the population at one time or another. But 50% of people don’t recognize the symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting as due to motion sickness. Dramamine has been around a long time because it works. It makes your brain less sensitive to movement that can make you sick. Many people don’t realize that Dramamine can treat motion sickness as well as prevent it. It comes it two formulas – original, which makes some people sleepy -- and non-drowsy. Some people prefer to sleep when they're passengers and prone to motion sickness -- it works for me!

Don’t let motion sickness distract you on a trip this summer. With Dramamine on board, you can have a safe, enjoyable trip. There are now chewable tablets you can carry as you travel when a glass of water isn’t handy to swallow pills, and the small bottle of 8 regular tablets can easily fit in a fanny pack or glove compartment.

Finally, Y is for youth

I think I speak for all nurses when I write that our hearts break when a child is hurt or injured, particularly when it could have been prevented. Two important summer safety devices for children are helmets – for activities ranging from bikes to scooters to inline skating -- and personal flotation devices (PFD) for water sports. Those little water wings are NOT a safety device! Make sure that the PFD you choose is Coast Guard approved – it will be noted on the garment. Click here for a great review of how to choose PFDs based on your recreational activities.

For more information about protecting children from injury all year ‘round, visit SafeKids. At this site, you can identify your local Safe Kids coordinator and find out if there are special activities planned for your community.

Best wishes for a happy, fun and safe summer season!

Written: June 2002

Reviewed: May 2003, May 2004