Summer Safety Tips

By Kyle Ramsey

Posted: 6/22/10

As you may know, yesterday, June 21, is the official day to mark the start the summer season. That said, you may also know that summer means sunburns, hot sand, the great outdoors and all the safety warnings that come along with it. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but it is our bid in life to take the good with the bad. Fear not, as Pain.com has summer safety tips available to keep you safe and active this summer season.

Sunburns

A mild sunburn without blistering can be treated with:

• Cool compresses, showers or baths
• Non-sensitizing skin moisturizer
• Aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen) to decrease inflammation

Burns with blisters are second-degree burns and require a different treatment.

Tip: Anyone with severe sunburn should be examined for heat-related illness and dehydration.

Blisters

"Break in" new shoes, boots, flip-flops and sandals before walking any distance in them. Wear a thin pair of liner socks under your regular socks. Cushion any reddened "hot spot" or cover it with a BlistOBan® bandage before a fluid-filled blister appears. If you do get a blister:

• Fasten a "donut"-shaped foam pad to the perimeter of the affected area.
• Cover the affected area ("donut hole") with a fitted hydrogel (e.g., Spenco 2nd Skin®) pad, and then place tape over the foam and hydrogel.
• Watch for signs of infection: pus, cloudy fluid or red streaks emanating from the edges of the blister.
• If the blister appears infected, use a disinfected (or as clean as possible) needle to create a small puncture at the edge, and drain it.

Tip: If an area of your foot is prone to blister or you know that your shoe rubs in a certain place, prevent it by applying a BlistOBan® bandage, layer of moleskin, adhesive bandage or athletic tape.

Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are common ailments in the summertime due to increased outdoor activity. The most common sprain involves the ankle. In the event of a sprain:

• RICE stands for "rest, ice, compression, elevation." Try to rest the joint. Elevate the affected body part and apply ice packs intermittently (e.g., 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off) as much as is practical for the next 24 hours. Mild compression with a wrap may provide some pain relief. More
• If you need to keep walking, tape, bandage or splint the joint for support.

Tip: Once a joint is weakened by a strain or sprain, reinjury is common. Take precautions by using a mechanical ankle support (e.g., brace and high-top shoes or boots) and/or a walking stick over rocky terrain. 

Ticks

•  Wear light-colored pants tucked into socks and paired with a long sleeve shirt.
• Use insect repellent(s). Permethrin is applied to clothing, while DEET is applied to exposed skin.
• Perform regular "tick checks" of the entire body (especially the scalp, groin and armpits), and immediately remove ticks.
• Know how to identify and remove a tick.
• Know when to seek help for tick-related problems. 

Toxic Plants

• Soothe with calamine lotion.
• Apply a topical anesthetic such as praxomine HCl 1%.
• Soak in a tepid (not hot) bath supplemented with baking soda or Aveeno (contains oatmeal proteins).
• Consider taking an antihistamine medication, which helps control itching and acts as a sedative.
• Consult your physician if the reaction is severe. Prescription treatment (such as corticosteroid therapy) may be required.