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Summertime Health Tips
OPH Good Housekeeping - Summertime Health Tips "Summertime, And the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high Your daddy's rich And your mamma's good lookin' So hush little baby Don't you cry..."
Before you head outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather take time to look at the OPH Good Housekeeping guide to a safer summer.
Sunburn Prevention Follow the shadow rule. if your shadow is shorter than you exposure to UV rays is high. A shadow that is longer than you means that exposure to UV rays is low. Avoid exposure to the sun during 10am and 4pm when it is at its hottest. Cover up. Wear loose fitting long sleeves topped and long trousers. Light colours that reflect the sun in tightly woven fabrics will keep you cooler. Protection for the head is vital; wide brimmed hats are ideal especially if they cover the neck. Sunglasses with UV protection are a must for prolonged intervals in the sun. Children, elderley and people with sensitive skin are most vunerable and should use a sunscreen of 30+ SBF. If possible keep babies under six months old out of the sun or apply a small amount of sunscreen to their face and back of hands. Apply sunscreen. The factor should be determined by the temperature and the sensitivity of the skin. Know your tolerance and never compromise in an attempt to secure a sun tan. Read the instructions carefully; sunblock that is not applied correctly is less effective. Application should precede exposure by about 30 minutes so plan ahead. Remember to re-apply at least every 2 - 3 hours, more frequently when swimming or sweating excessively.
Use a sunscreen that suits your skin type: Dry skin use a cream or lotion sunscreen. Gels work best on oily skins or if you work in dusty or sandy conditions. Use sunscreen that is free from alcohol and chemicals if you have skin that is sensitive to skin products. Treatment
Aloe Vera leaves are good for all burns, so if you have a plant break off one of the lower leaves, slice it open and apply to the burn. Remember to drink plenty of fluids when recovering from burns.
Bee & Wasp Stings Prevention
Be aware, listen out for buzzing. Wear light colours. bees and wasps are attracted to dark colours. Wear footwear especially on lawns that have flowering plants close by. Protection. Fly killer aerosol is not effective at killing bees or wasps but the stream of spray may confuse them sufficiently so that you can make your escape. Rotting fruit. that may have fallen from an apple or pear tree will attract bees and wasps. leave it on the ground as a decoy. Perfumes and deodorants attract bees and wasps. avoid wearing perfume and choose an unscented anti-perspirant. Avoid leaving open bottles around and always check bottle neck before taking a drink.
Treatment A "local reaction to a sting results in redness, pain, swelling and some itching only at the sting site. An allergic reaction may result in a quick progression to other parts of the body other than the sting site or may be followed by difficult breathing or choking. Immediate emergency medical treatment is required. Ideally if you are aware that you may suffer an allergic reaction always carry documentation stating this and a emergency kit prescribed by your doctor. In the event of a kit not being to hand, if you are stung on the arm or leg, tie a tournaquet above the sting. This should be tight enough to restrict the blood flow but not to cut off circulation. Remember to loosen the tournequet every 10 minutes or so until medical help arrives. There is conflicting advice as to whether the bee sting should be scraped from the surface of the skin or removed with tweezers. The best advice is to remove the sting as soon as possible. To ensure that all the sting is removed apply a poultice. Stale bread wetted with milk may be used for this purpose. Clean the area with soap and water or hydrogen peroxide. Wasp Stings are more alkaline in nature so apply so apply lemon juice
Pain Relief Ice can be applied, alternatively apply a piece of raw onion or potato.
Ant Bites
Place a slice of cucumber over the area.
Hayfever Hayfever caused by sensitivity to airborne pollens and molds triggers different symptoms in different people. It is more common in people who have a family history of allergies and in individuals who have a personal history of allergy related conditions such as eczma and asthma. Symptoms can range from mild to intense and include: sneezing, itchy, stuffy, running nose, sore or itchy throat and red, watery eyes. Prevention Symptoms may be reduced by taking the following measures: stay indoors during the months that you know your hayfever will be at its worst. Pollen counts tend to be higher before 10am and after sunset, so try to schedule outdoor activities to a time when the pollen count is lowest. Keep windows closed and use an air purifier in the bedroom. When travelling in a car remember to keep the external vents closed and the air conditioning on. Plan your garden to include brightly coloured flowers that are pollinated by insects rather than choosing plants that are pollinated by the wind. Shower and wash your hair before going to bed to remove any pollen that may have accumulated during the day.
Whenever possible dry your clothes indoors to avoid pollen collecting on clothes that are dried outside.
Treatment Prevention as always is better than cure but due to the nature of this condition medical help should be sought. Heat Stroke Heat stroke is caused by an inability of the body to dissipate heat through perspiration. The body temperature rises excessively resulting in fever which if left untreated can lead to damage of the internal organs. Prevention Always protect the head when in the sun for prolonged periods. Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun for extended periods. Aim to take on more fluids than you are losing. Sports drinks are ideal because they help to maintain the electrolyte balance. Weaker branded sports type drinks are available for children. Never attempt to mix your own water and salt solutions at home for children. Early symptoms of heat stroke can include. Bizarre behaviour Irritability Combativeness (Are you thinking what I'm thinking?) Later symptoms can include: Headache and nausea Dry, red and hot skin (sweating has ceased) Strong and rapid pulse Dilated pupils Extreme disorientation Fever Convulsions or unconciousness Treatment
Heat stroke is potentially life threatening so act quickly. Remove patient out of the sun and loosen or remove clothing Immerse patient in cool water if possible. Apply cold compresses to the neck, groin head and armpits Seek medical help whilst continuing to lower temperature. Do not give medication to the patient it will be ineffective and may cause more damage Avoid giving the patient anything by mouth, even water, until the condition has stablised.
Dehydration Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease or a dangerous side-effect of diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. Children and persons over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration. Prevention Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun for extended periods. Aim to take on more fluids than you are losing. Sports drinks are ideal because they help to maintain the electrolyte balance. Weaker branded sports type drinks are available for children. Never attempt to mix your own water and salt solutions at home for children. Treatment In adults mild dehydration and even moderate dehydration can be treated at home. Again sports drinks that help to restore salt and electrolyte balance are effective. Serious or moderate dehydration, that hasn't been treated quickly enough, will probably require intravenous fluids, therefore urgent medical assistance and possible hospitalisation is required. Symptoms of dehydration differ between individuals but can include: Excessive thirst Less frequent urination Dry skin
Tiredness Disorientation Dry mouth and nose Increase heart rate & rapid breathing Children may display some or all of the additional symptoms: Dry mouth and tongue No tears when crying Dry nappies for 3 hours or so Sunken tummy or eyes Loss of elasticity in the skin General listlessness.
In children, directions for giving food and fluids will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is important to seek medical attention. From summertime health tips, to health and fitness tips OPH Good Housekeeping & HomemakingHome
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