Advocate Christ Medical Center Offers Tips on Sun, Pools and Food to Keep You Summer-Safe
The “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” may be the time for outdoors, sun and fun, but they also bring health hazards as well. In order to protect you from harmful sun rays, backyard pool accidents, pesky mosquitoes and food poisoning, experts at Advocate Christ Medical Center and Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill., offer some helpful tips to keep you summer-safe and healthy.
Sun Exposure: According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and is due primarily to sunburns, especially during childhood and teen years, and failure to use sunscreen agents. Some tips on how to protect yourself from the harmful effects of sun exposure include:
Avoiding sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is most intense.
Using sunscreens with a SPF of at least 15.
Avoiding tanning beds and sun lamps.
Seeing your doctor regularly for skin checks.
Not peeling away sunburnt skin, because this action causes further irritation.
Contacting a physician immediately if sunburnt skin begins to blister.
Backyard Pool Safety: In a study conducted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 260 children under 5 years of age drown each year in backyard swimming pools and spas. Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death among children under 5. In order to reduce this mortality rate, several precautions should be taken.
“One of the best ways parents can prevent drownings or near-drownings is to teach their children about water safety, develop in them a respect for water, and always keep safety equipment around the pool,” said Dr. Brian Sayger, specialist in emergency medicine at Christ Medical Center.
In addition to water safety education and equipment, some useful tips for backyard pool safety include:
Never leave a child unsupervised.
Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
Remove steps to above-ground pools when not in use.
Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Have a gate around the pool, particularly one that is self-latching.
Clean up toys around the pool to prevent tripping accidents.
Mosquito Bites: Although contracting a deadly illness from mosquitoes is fairly rare, these insects still cause skin irritation and infections that require precaution.
“One of the best ways to avoid mosquito bites is to simply stay away from areas that the mosquitoes are most likely to infest, including wet areas, places where there is standing water and wooded areas,” said Dr. Gary Stuck, family medicine specialist at Christ Medical Center.
Some other useful tips on mosquito bite prevention and treatment from Dr. Stuck and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include:
Using EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin when outdoors.
Being aware of peak mosquito hours, namely evening and early morning hours.
Always draining away standing water from around the house, since standing water is where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Wearing protective clothing, such as long sleeves and long pants.
Using cortisone cream or an antihistamine to reduce swelling and redness when bitten by mosquitoes.
Contacting a physician immediately if swelling becomes severe or a fever develops as a result of a mosquito bite.
Barbeque and Picnic Food Safety: According to the Washington State Department of Health, unwashed hands, undercooked meats and consumption of unwashed fruits and vegetables can spread E. coli, salmonella and other food-bourne bacteria that can sometimes cause severe disease.
“More then 300,000 Americans today are hospitalized, and about 5,000 deaths occur annually as a result of food-bourne illnesses,” said Karen Martin, director of epidemiology and environmental services at Christ Medical Center and Hope Children’s Hospital.
Some tips to keep in mind to prevent food poisoning include:
Wash hands thoroughly and frequently.
Avoid cross-contamination of foods.
Cook meats thoroughly.
Refrigerate leftovers immediately.
Use a meat thermometer to be sure your grilled meats are fully cooked.
Wash produce thoroughly to remove visible dirt and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.
