Summer safety

By Hannah Wever
Review Staff Writer
Published: July 3, 2008

The longest days of the year, an abundance of sunshine and family vacations are part of the prescription for summer fun. But without a few precautions, beach outings, picnics and barbecues and trips to the mountains can carry a few unwanted side effects.
Barbara Lohr, Nurse Manager at Orange Family Physicians said as the days heat up and schools let out for summer, her office sees a rise in patients with rashes, bug bites and sunburn.
“Those are definitely our top three right now,“ Lohr said.
It’s surprising how painful-and potentially dangerous-the sting or bite of a tiny little insect can be. But stings from bees, wasps and hornets can cause reactions ranging from discomfort to downright life threatening. And the bite of a tick or mosquito may pack a powerful itch, or send someone to the hospital. So it’s important to know the signs of a serious reaction and helpful to have some remedies for someone who’s been nailed by a stinging insect or a flying bloodsucker.
The first thing to do to treat a sting is to remove the stinger. A swipe across the area with a credit card can pull the stinger out, but avoid squeezing or pinching the site-that can cause additional venom to be released.
The area should be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water and a cold compress applied. A dab of hydrocortisone cream will help to relieve redness and pain.
The victim of venom from a winged assailant can take oral antihistamines or ibuprofen to help control redness, swelling and irritation.
But in some instances, treatment for a bee sting must be provided by emergency personnel and medical professionals. For folks who have an allergy to stings, the situation can be deadly. For those individuals, the venom delivered by the sting causes an anaphylactic reaction, which can result in difficulty breathing or swallowing. That’s when its time to call 911.
“We all have a variable allergic response,“ Dr. Joe Aloi, Medical Director at the Orange Medical Center said. “You should expect a local reaction. A severe allergic response to a bee sting is when you get swelling in the throat and are unable to breathe.“
Aloi said his office receives a flood of calls about tick bites this time of year.
“Everybody wants to know about Lyme disease,“ he said. But Aloi said the vast majority of folks who call with tick bite concerns have little to worry about. Aside from local reactions-swelling, itching and redness-there are really very few cases of Lyme disease infection. A tick must be attached for about 48 hours to cause an infection, he explained.
Another blood sucker, the mosquito is, for the most part, simply an annoyance. The little vampires leave just a tiny localized area of redness and swelling, but their lump of a legacy causes a lasting, torturous itch. Usually, that itch is the extent of the damage, but some mosquitoes can carry serious diseases like West Nile Virus.
To guard against these flying phlebotomists and air-assaults by bees and wasps, apply a DEET-containing insect repellent for several hours of defense. Long sleeves and long pants provide a barrier against insects.
Preventing mosquito bites, Aloi said, starts with preventing mosquitoes. Eliminate areas with standing water; that’s where mosquitoes make their breeding grounds.
The menu at an outdoor summer supper, backyard barbecue or picnic in the park can result in all manner of unpleasant-and even dangerous-food borne illness if not handled and prepared safely.
With the bugs kept at bay, an outdoor picnic or barbecue is far more enjoyable. But it may not seem that way afterwards for folks who find themselves afflicted with the fever, vomiting and diarrhea that can be cause by food borne illness.
Food borne illness is caused by bacteria like E. coli, salmonella and cyclospora, which multiply most rapidly in moist environments and temperatures between 90 and 110 degrees. A minor reaction might cause a bit of digestive upset, but senior citizens and young children can develop life-threatening symptoms from ingesting food-borne bacteria.
The prime suspect behind food borne illness is unwashed hands. After a trip to the restroom, changing a diaper or playing with Fido, be sure to scrub up. Before preparing food and prior to eating, keep hands clean by washing with warm soapy water. At a picnic, for example, where soap and water may not be available, bring cleaning materials from home, or pack disposable wipes or germicidal hand sanitizer.
“Hand washing goes a long way,“ Aloi said.
Kitchen prep, grilling and serving, unless done safely, can cause food borne illness from cross-contaminating. Raw meat juices that come in contact with other foods or surfaces can make you sick.
“Those are places where bacteria like to multiply,“ Aloi explained.
When packing the picnic basket, be sure to wrap raw meats securely so they don’t leak onto other items. Wash any plates, utensils and surfaces that touched raw meat so bacteria aren’t spread to other foods.
And speaking of meat, make sure you use a meat thermometer during grilling. Cooking food to a high enough temperature will kill harmful bacteria. And once burgers, briskets, and baby back ribs are cooked thoroughly, keeping them hot (over 140 degrees) until they’re eaten will help keep them safe.
Meats aren’t the only foods that can make people sick. Salads, leftovers and other picnic perishables need to be kept in the cooler so harmful bacteria don’t multiply. Food left out of refrigeration for more than just an hour may not be safe to eat. Practice safe snacks: put perishables back on ice right after the meal is over, and keep them at a temperature less than 40 degrees.
“You need to eat it and then it needs to get put away,“ Aloi said.
Summer revelers can evade E. coli with safe food handling practices, but all that time outdoors can leave them looking like a lobster if they aren’t careful. Exposure to the sun, in the short term, can cause a nasty sunburn. And over the years, repeated assault from the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause premature aging and even increase the chance for developing skin cancer.
A wide-brimmed hat, loose-fitting clothing and good old-fashioned shade are easy ways to avoid the sun’s harmful rays. But an extra measure of protection-a healthy slathering of sun screen-is one of the best ways to prevent damage from sun exposure.
The most effective sunscreens are known as “broad spectrum.“ They can protect against ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays, and have an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30. But these lotions, gels and creams only offer adequate protection if applied correctly.
Sunscreens work best if skin has a chance to absorb them prior to sun exposure. So the best time to use them is about 30 minutes before heading out into the heat. And don’t skimp! It takes about two ounces, (enough to fill a shot glass), to cover an adult’s body.
If summer activities involve a lot of swimming or sweating, the SPF value can be reduced. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two to three hours after water activities or a heavy sweat.
Aloi said he sees cases where sunburn is severe enough to require antibiotics to combat a skin infection, or steroids to minimize swelling and inflammation.
When a burn is bad enough to produce blisters, he explained, a layer of fluid has formed between the layers of skin. And that can become infected.
“A severe burn is the same as getting burned at the stove,“ Aloi said.
“People need to stay hydrated by drinking fluids and moisturizing sunburned areas with lotion,“ Lohr advised. “When the burns blister and pop you have to worry about them getting infected.“