Summers in Michigan are shorter than some of us would like, but we do a great job of packing as much fun as possible into our warm weather months. Here’s five important tips from the IEP Urgent Care doctors to help you and your family stay safe and healthy in the sun!
Be a water safety hawk
Sadly, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths in children. As a parent, partner, or adult chaperone, it is crucial that someone ALWAYS keeps a watchful eye on EACH swimmer. Vigilance is key because water accidents can happen quickly, and they happen silently. Small children should always be kept within arm’s reach and no further. It is easy to get distracted in an outdoor pool or swimming environment. Having a “designated watcher” and taking turns, helps everyone stay safe and have fun. Choose swimwear that features bright, neon colors, such as orange, yellow, or lime green. If you are in a boat, be sure everyone wears a life jacket. And investing in swimming lessons is a great way to stay in shape and improve your water safety skills. Learn more at the CDC website.
Respect the sun
The sun’s angle makes it especially potent during the summer and over time, it can cause skin damage or worse. Be proactive in the sun with a good quality sunscreen product. This article from the NYT Wirecutter website rates lots of options so that you can find a good quality sunscreen that best suits your skin type and preferences. Using sunscreen regularly and anywhere your skin is exposed is very beneficial in the long run. Wear a hat. Protect the back of your neck, the back of your ears and nose. We also found some extremely light weight long sleeve sun-protection shirts that provide 40-50+ SPF, allowing you to protect your skin and forego sunscreen entirely.
Avoid mosquitoes
Mosquitos top the deadliest animal list every year according to an article published by Pfizer.
In SE Michigan, they now transmit the West Nile and Zika viruses.
This is why it’s so important for you and your family to use proper mosquito protection when outdoors, especially in early morning and at dusk The Oakland County health and information page suggests following these guidelines and we agree:
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent
All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness
Always follow the product label instructions
Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age
Do not apply insect repellent on a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cut or irritated skin
Adults: spray insect repellent on your hands and then apply to a child's face
Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants
Avoid areas where mosquitoes may be present, including indoor areas
Stay hydrated in hot weather
It’s important to always be well-hydrated but pay extra attention to your hydration when working our exercising outside in the summer heat. The CDC recommends drinking 1 cup (8 ounces) of water every 15-20 minutes. Hydrating at regular, shorter intervals is more effective. And start drinking as you begin to exercise or work outside. If you are sweating a lot, consider including drinks with balanced electrolytes. Do not ever drink more than 48 ounces of fluid in an hour. This can cause a salt imbalance in your blood and a potential medical emergency.
Get ready for fall sports
For many of our student-athletes, late summer is the time to get ready for fall sports activities. If your son or daughter needs an updated sports physical to participate in a school athletic program, all IEP Urgent Care locations offer sports physicals any time, including evenings, with no appointment necessary. Keep in mind, a sports physical is used to determine your son or daughter’s fitness to participate in a school athletics program and is NOT intended to replace a recommended complete annual physical for your son or daughter. A complete annual physical is much more comprehensive and ensures that your son or daughter is up to date on all necessary vaccines.
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