| |
Bee, Wasp and Hornet Stings
For most
people, a sting from a member of the Hymenoptera order (for example,
bees, wasps, hornets, ants, etc.) usually results in nothing more than a
painful swelling that disappears in a matter of hours. However, some people
suffer allergic reactions to these kinds of stings. Symptoms of allergic
reactions include dizziness, headaches, abdominal cramps or extreme
nausea.
Other
warning signs of an allergic reaction include breathing difficulties and hives
or swelling in an area of the body other than where the sting occurred. The
first allergic reaction is usually not severe, but should serve as a warning.
The first sting sensitizes the victim, and additional stings result in
increasingly severe reactions. Consult a physician the first time an allergic
reaction occurs. If you are seriously allergic, your doctor may advise
desensitization or that you carry a special kit containing emergency medicines
to combat the allergic reaction.
If the
stinger remains in the skin, remove it by gently scraping away or by gently
teasing it out with a clean pointed instrument. Do not squeeze; this may inject
more venom into the skin. Thoroughly wash Hymenoptera stings, and all
insect bites, with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic anti-inflammatory
ointment or cream, or a paste made of baking soda and water, to relieve itching
and to prevent infection. If more serious symptoms occur, especially those
indicating an allergic reaction, seek medical attention promptly.
Whether or
not you are allergic to Hymenoptera stings, they are unpleasant and an
experience to avoid. Follow these tips to discourage the attention of bees,
wasps and hornets:
-
Avoid
scented products such as perfume, hair spray, suntan lotion, cosmetics,
deodorant, shaving lotion, etc.
-
Do not
wear brightly colored and patterned clothes.
-
Do not
go barefoot, especially through vegetation.
-
Do not
swat at bees and yellow jackets with bare hands. Move slowly and steadily, and
gently brush the insects off.
-
Do not
sit on or handle wet towels, washcloths, etc., without first making sure no
insect is drinking the moisture.
-
When a
bee or a wasp gets into a moving car, remain calm; safely pull the car off the
road, open the window and allow it to escape.
-
Keep
garbage in tightly sealed containers.
-
Hypersensitive persons should wear a bracelet or necklace or carry a
medical alert card indicating they are susceptible to shock-like symptoms or
unconsciousness after a bee sting.
-
Insect
repellants used to repel mosquitoes and other biting flies will not repel wasps
and bees.
Finally,
be watchful when cooking, eating, and drinking outdoors, especially during
yellow jacket season, which heightens in late summer. Check for insects on food
and in open drink containers before eating and drinking. Keep food
covered. Ticks
The bite
of a tick is seldom serious, unless the tick is infected with Rocky Mountain
spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease or tularemia.
Avoid areas where ticks are likely to be found. Ticks cling to vegetation and are most numerous in brushy, wooded or grassy habitats. They are not typically found on open sandy beaches, but may be found in grassy dune areas.
Rocky
Mountain spotted fever, (RMSF) is a serious disease transmitted by ticks.
Cases of RMSF occur each year in Illinois. The most common carrier is the
American dog tick (wood tick). The adult tick is dark brown or black, with
white markings behind the “head” (mouth parts). The lone star tick is
involved less frequently.
Symptoms
of Rocky Mountain spotted fever generally develop within three to 14 days of
the bite of an infected tick. The first symptoms are —
-
Sudden
onset of fever
-
Deep
muscle aches
-
Ssevere headache
-
Eye
irritation
About
three days after these symptoms appear, a red, spotty rash may develop, usually
on the arms and legs and often on the palms of the hands and the soles of the
feet. It can include the rest of the body. If these
symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. It is important to inform
the physician of any recent tick bites or exposure to ticks. This information
allows the physician to consider Rocky Mountain spotted fever as a possible
diagnosis.
Rocky
Mountain spotted fever can be fatal. If diagnosed early, however, it is often
successfully treated with antibiotics.
Ehrlichiosis is a disease of humans and animals caused by
bacteria that infect white blood cells and are transmitted by the bite of an
infected tick. The lone star tick, the American dog tick (wood tick) and the
deer tick (black-legged tick) have been associated with ehrlichiosis.
Symptoms
typically begin between one and three weeks after exposure to an infected tick.
Symptoms can be so mild that no medical care is sought, or the illness can be
severe, life threatening or fatal. Symptoms include —
-
Fever
-
Headache
-
Muscle
aches
-
Loss
of appetite
-
Nnausea
-
Vomiting
A rash may
occur but is usually not present. Any person
experiencing illness with a fever after a tick bite should consult his/her
physician and advise the physician the tick bite occurred.
Ehrlichiosis can be treated with certain antibiotics. Treatment
should be considered if the diagnosis of ehrlichiosis is suspected, since delay
in treatment while awaiting laboratory confirmation may increase the risk of
severe disease.
Lyme
disease is acquired from the bite of a tick infected with the Lyme disease
bacterium. The tick that most commonly transmits this disease, the deer tick,
acquires the bacteria when it feeds on infected wild animals, such as field
mice or other mammals. It can then transmit the bacteria when feeding on a
human.
Ticks can
be small; they may be about the size of a pin head. Because they are so small
you may not notice one that is attached to your body. Therefore, unless you are
on the lookout for ticks, you may not realize you have been bitten.
Early Lyme disease symptoms include an expanding red ring-like rash that may appear around the area of the tick bite anywhere from a few days to a month after you have been bitten. The rash expands, often to a large size. It is usually circular
but can vary in shape, depending on its location. The center of the rash may
clear as it enlarges, resulting in a ring-like appearance. Other symptoms may include fatigue, headache, fever, and achy muscles and joints. Early in its course, Lyme disease can be
effectively treated with antibiotics.
If not
treated, symptoms may disappear or recur intermittently for several
weeks, months or even years. Other complications — such as an irregular
heartbeat or problems with the nervous system, including intermittent
headaches, stiff neck, poor motor coordination, meningitis or encephalitis
— also may occur after several weeks or months. Some patients may develop
muscle weakness of the limbs or of the face — a drooping eyelid or corner
of the mouth known as Bell’s palsy. Joint pain and swelling (Lyme
arthritis) in one or several large joints, especially the knees, may develop in
late-stage Lyme disease.
Generally,
antibiotic treatment for both early and late-stage Lyme disease is
successful.
Tularemia (rabbit fever) is another disease that can be
tickborne. It occurs infrequently in Illinois and is usually acquired by direct
contact with infected rabbits. However, several cases of tularemia from tick or
deerfly bites have occurred in recent years. A deerfly is a large fly, up to
½-inch long, that has a very painful bite and often leaves a drop of blood
at the site of the bite. The American dog tick and the lone star tick are the
ticks most commonly involved in the transmission of tularemia.
Tularemia
is a bacterial infection. The first sign of this infection is a pimple-like
bump, or papule, that appears at the site where the bacterium entered the skin.
This papule, which may appear about three to five days after the bite of an
infected tick or deerfly, usually develops into an open sore. There may be no
apparent papule, but one or more swollen and painful lymph nodes may produce
pus.
Other
symptoms include —
- swelling of lymph nodes closest to papule or open sore
If these
symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. Inform the physician of
any recent tick or deerfly bites or exposure to rabbit carcasses to help the
doctor make a correct diagnosis more quickly.
Tularemia
can be treated successfully with certain antibiotics, but can be fatal if not
treated.
Preventing Tickborne Disease
The best
way to protect yourself against tickborne diseases is to avoid tick bites.
Follow these precautions if you live in or visit wooded or grassy areas:
- Wear
light-colored, protective clothing — long-sleeved shirts, long trousers,
boots or sturdy shoes, and a head covering.
- Apply
insect repellent containing DEET to clothes and to exposed skin (except the
face). Be sure to wash treated skin after coming indoors. Use repellents
containing permethrin to treat clothes (especially pants, socks and shoes) — but not skin. Both repel or kill ticks on contact. Always follow label
directions; do not misuse or overuse repellents. Always supervise children in
the use of repellents. Do not use products containing DEET on infants.
- Check
yourself, children and other family members every two to three hours for ticks.
Most ticks seldom attach quickly and rarely transmit disease until they have
been attached four to six hours.
- Remove
any tick promptly. Do not use bare hands. The mouthparts of a tick are shaped
like tiny barbs and may remain embedded and lead to infection at the bite site
if not removed properly. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with
tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it
straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick. If tweezers are not available,
grasp the tick with a piece of tissue or cloth or whatever can be used as a
barrier between your fingers and the tick.
- Wash
the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and apply an
antiseptic to the bite site.
- To
dispose of ticks, flush them down a toilet, toss them into a nearby stream or
burn them in a campfire. Do not try to squash a tick. Squeezing it may release
germs from the tick.
Mosquitoes
St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus and LaCrosse (California) encephalitis are the most likely mosquito-borne diseases to occur in Illinois. These infections are most
prevalent in June through October when mosquitoes are active. Encephalitis is
an inflammation of the brain and is often caused by viruses, including
mosquito-borne viruses.
Fortunately, these viruses are transmitted only by a few types of
mosquitoes, and usually only a small proportion of these mosquitoes actually
carry the virus. Most mosquitoes that appear in Illinois are bothersome, but do
not carry disease. Mosquitoes do not transmit human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The
northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens), the most common carrier of St. Louis
encephalitis virusand West Nile virus, breeds in small, stagnant bodies of water and
receptacles that contain water. It is infected with St. Louis encephalitis or
West Nile virus by feeding on birds carrying the virus.
The
tree-hole mosquito (Ochlertatus triseriatus ), the most common carrier of
LaCrosse (California) encephalitis, is found in wooded areas and breeds in
discarded tires and other items, as well as in tree holes. This mosquito is
infected with LaCrosse encephalitis by feeding on infected chipmunks, squirrels
and other small woodland animals carrying the virus.
The vast
majority of those bitten by an infected mosquito experience mild or no symptoms
of the disease. Only 1 percent to 2 percent develop recognizable symptoms.
The symptoms of the three types of encephalitis are similar. Some persons may
have mild symptoms such as a slight fever and headache. But severe infection
may cause rapid onset of a severe headache, high fever, muscle aches, stiffness
in the back of the neck, muscle incoordination, disorientation, convulsions and
coma. Symptoms usually occur five to 15 days after the bite of an infected
mosquito. These diseases are not transmitted from person to person.
Although
anyone can be infected with a mosquito-borne virus serious illness from St. Louis encephalitis or
West Nile virus usually occurs in persons older than 50 years of age. Most
patients recover fully, although severe infection sometimes results in
neurological damage or death. LaCrosse encephalitis most often occurs in
children. Although symptoms are generally milder than those of St. Louis encephalitis or
West Nile virus, and fatalities rarely occur, approximately 15 percent of those who become ill experience long-term neurological damage.
To prevent
mosquito-borne encephalitis, eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites near
your home by following these suggestions:
- Remove or empty water in old tires, tin cans,
buckets, drums, bottles or other places where mosquitoes might breed. Be sure
to check clogged roof gutters that may have poor drainage. Make sure
cisterns, cesspools, septic tanks, fire barrels, rain barrels and trash
containers are covered tightly with a lid or with 16-mesh screen.
- Empty plastic wading pools at least once a
week and store indoors when not in use. Unused swimming pools should be covered
or drained during mosquito season. (Note: If you choose to drain your pool, be
sure the hydrostatic relief valve is open in order to keep it from floating out
of the ground if the water table rises.)
- Change the water in bird baths and plant pots
or drip trays at least once each week.
- Store boats covered or upside
down, or remove rainwater weekly.
- Empty your pet’s water bowl daily.
- Level the ground around your home so water can
run off and not collect in low spots. Fill in holes or depressions near your
home that accumulate water.
- Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that
hold water.
- If you have an ornamental water garden, stock
it with mosquito-eating fish (e.g., minnows, “mosquito fish,” or
goldfish). They eat mosquito larvae.
- Keep weeds and tall grass cut short; adult
mosquitoes look for these shady places to rest during the hot daylight hours.
Spray shrubbery and high weeds to kill adult insects. (Check the insecticide
label to make sure the spray will not damage flowers or ornamental plants.)
- Small impoundments of water can be treated for
mosquito larvae with “Bti,” a bacterial insecticide. Many hardware
stores carry doughnut-shaped Bti briquets for this purpose. Be sure to follow
the insecticide label directions exactly.
- Some mosquito control methods are not very
effective. Bug zappers are not effective in controlling biting mosquitoes.
Various birds and bats will eat mosquitoes, but there is little scientific
evidence that this reduces mosquitoes around homes.
- Community-wide mosquito abatement efforts can
be quite effective if they are conducted as part of an integrated pest
management program. This includes monitoring and draining or treating areas
where mosquitoes breed – such as swamps and other low-lying areas.
People can protect themselves from mosquito bites
by following these suggestions:
- Avoid places and times when mosquitoes bite.
Generally, the peak biting periods occur just before and after sunset and again
just before dawn. Each species, however, has its own peak period of biting.
Tree-hole and Asian tiger mosquitoes, for example, feed during daylight house
in or near shaded or wooded areas.
- Be sure door and window screens are
tight-fitting and in good repair.
- Wear appropriate clothing. When mosquitoes are numerous, long-sleeved tops
and long pants made of tightly woven materials keep mosquitoes away from the
skin. Be sure, too, that your clothing is light colored. Keep trouser legs
tucked into boots or socks.
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or
in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies.
- Check to see that your mosquito repellent
contains DEET, a chemical commonly found in these products. Generally,
repellents with about 10 percent to 25 percent DEET work best for adults; use
lower concentrations for children. Do not use repellents on infants. When outdoors, use an insect repellent that contains DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide ), oil of lemon eucalyptus or permethrin and apply according to the instructions on the label. Use repellents only on exposed skin or clothing and never apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin. Do not use repellents on infants.
Rabies
The risk
of encountering rabid animals may increase during the summer months when people
spend more time working and relaxing outdoors.
In
Illinois, skunks have traditionally been the main reservoir, or source, of
rabies. However, most recent cases of human rabies in the U.S. have been caused by bat strains of rabies. Bats now account for the majority of rabid
animal cases in Illinois. Rabies is transmitted to wildlife, farm animals, family pets and
people through contact with the saliva of a rabid animal, usually after a bite.
An animal
need not be “foaming at the mouth” to have rabies. Other signs, such
as difficulty walking or a general appearance of sickness, indicate an animal
may be in the early stages of rabies.
One of the
most important signs of rabies is a change in the animal’s normal
behavior. For example, if a wild animal that normally avoids human contact
approaches a picnic area, campsite or farm house and appears tame or friendly,
it may be rabid and should be avoided. On the other hand, if a domesticated and
friendly animal (dog or cat) becomes hostile or aggressive without provocation,
it, too, may be rabid.
When in
areas where you are likely to encounter wildlife, stay away from all wild
animals, as well as stray or unfamiliar dogs and cats. Due to the risk of
rabies, make no effort to befriend or provide care for wild or stray animals,
even if they appear friendly or in need of help. Call your county animal
control office.
If you are
bitten, scratched or have contact with the saliva of an animal that may be
rabid, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and contact a physician
promptly. If exposed to an animal that is likely to be rabid, rabies vaccine
and immune globulin should begin immediately. Your local health department will
provide consultation on the need for rabies treatment.
Rabies
vaccine prevents the disease but it is not a treatment for the
disease. Once the symptoms of rabies develop, the disease cannot be treated and
is almost always fatal. Fortunately, rabies has a comparatively long incubation
period. When vaccine is given soon after exposure, your body has time to build
up immunity to the disease before it develops. But the only way to prevent
rabies after exposure is to receive the vaccine and immune globulin.
To protect
against rabies —
- Avoid
contact with all wild or stray animals, especially bats.
- Have
the family dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies.
- If
bitten, wash wounds immediately.
- Seek
medical attention and call your local public health agency. If a bat is found
in your home or business, please contact animal control or your local health department for safe methods of capturing.
- If a
bat bites someone or is found in the room with a very young child, someone who
is sleeping or anyone who may be unaware about whether the bat bit them, the
person should contact his/her local animal control and public health agencies.
The bat will need to be safely collected and tested for rabies.
Food Poisoning
Picnics
and cookouts top the list of summer activities. Keep in mind, however, you must
take special precautions when preparing and serving food during warm weather if
you are to avoid foodborne illnesses such as salmonellosis.
Foodborne
illnesses occur when disease organisms are present on food or introduced by the
food handler from unwashed hands or contaminated equipment and utensils. Follow
these guidelines to help prevent foodborne illness:
- Wash
your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before handling any food and
after handling raw poultry, meat or eggs.
- Cover
cuts or open sores on your hands with a tape bandage and do not allow them to
contact food or surfaces that will contact food.
- Thoroughly rinse fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Do not
sneeze or cough over food.
- Use
separate cutting boards or surfaces for raw meat, salad, vegetables or other
foods served without cooking. Thoroughly wash all utensils and cutting boards
used for raw meat and poultry. Some cutting surfaces can harbor bacteria in
their ridges.
- Use
separate bowls for raw poultry, meat or eggs to prevent them from coming into
contact with foods served without cooking.
- Cook
foods thoroughly, especially ground beef, poultry and pork. While rare beef is
sometimes popular, disease-causing organisms can survive in undercooked meat
and are especially likely to have been introduced in the slaughter process and
mixed through the meat during grinding.
- Keep
hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Make sure
to keep raw meat, fish or poultry cold until it is cooked. Be sure it does not
come in contact with ready-to-eat food (e.g., cheese, sliced onions,
tomatoes or bread). Also, never place cooked meats on the same plate or pan that
held raw meats.
Do not
serve hot foods until they are properly cooked (see cooking chart). Do not leave food unrefrigerated longer than one hour at a time or the
chances of dangerous bacterial growth increase. Store and serve cold foods at
temperatures below 40°F. In other words, do not let potentially hazardous
foods reach that intermediate temperature at which microorganisms grow best
— between 40°F and 140°F. Some popular cold picnic foods are
potentially hazardous and require special care. Be particularly careful in
handling —
- Any
homemade food that contains eggs, meat or poultry such as: deviled eggs, and egg, chicken, tuna and potato salads. Dishes
requiring a lot of handling are at greater risk of harboring dangerous bacteria
when allowed to reach intermediate temperatures.
- Luncheon meats, sandwich fillings and other ready-to-eat protein
foods
- Milk
and other dairy products.
Refrigerate these foods immediately after they are prepared and until
they are served. Use insulated coolers with ice or cold packs to transport and
store these foods.
After
cooking meat, fish or poultry for salads or sandwiches that will be eaten cold
(such as roast beef or chicken), cool quickly. Do this by dividing into smaller
portions and refrigerating at once.
Foods
served hot — especially creamed or scalloped dishes containing milk, eggs,
cornstarch or flour — should be cooked just before picnic time and kept
hot and covered until served.
Water for
drinking, cooking and dishwashing must come from a safe and approved source.
Bring water with you if safe water will not be available at the picnic
site.
Place
leftovers from potentially hazardous hot and cold foods in separate coolers on
ice. Serve leftovers either very cold (right from the cooler) or very hot
(reheated to 165°F or hotter).
The
symptoms of most types of food poisoning include severe cramps, abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms typically begin from 30 minutes to three days
after eating contaminated food.
Most cases
of foodborne illness are mild, and the symptoms disappear in a day or two. If
symptoms are severe or last longer than two days, contact a physician.
|
Picnic Microbes
|
|
Microbe |
Associated Foods |
Onset |
Symptoms |
| |
|
|
|
Staphylococcus
aureus (Staph) |
Custards, sandwiches, meat products |
2-6
hrs. |
Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting |
| |
|
|
|
|
Salmonella spp. |
Poultry, eggs |
12-16
hrs. |
Nausea,
vomiting, cramps |
| |
|
|
|
|
Clostridium botulinum (botulism) |
Home
canning, high-acid foods |
1-3
days |
Central
nervous system paralysis, respiratory failure |
| |
|
|
|
Escherichia
coli (O157:H7) |
Undercooked or raw ground beef |
3-4
days |
Nausea,
vomiting, cramps, bloody diarrhea |
| |
|
|
|
Vibrio
cholerae
(cholera) |
Raw/undercooked seafood |
6
hrs. -
5 days |
Nausea,
vomiting, severe diarrhea, dehydration |
| |
|
|
|
Campylobacter
spp. |
Raw
milk, raw or undercooked meat |
2-11
days |
Abdominal pain, profuse diarrhea |
| |
|
|
|
|
Hepatitis A |
Infected food handlers |
2-6
weeks |
Jaundice, liver disease |
Home Canning
Home-canned foods can be a source of foodborne illnesses that may
range from very mild to severe and, in extreme cases, result in death.
Botulism,
caused by a bacterium, is the most serious of foodborne illnesses. In recent
years, the source of nearly all botulism cases has been home-canned
foods.
Bacterial
spores are common in the soil and can be found on vegetables, fruits and even
meat and fish. If home-canned food is not processed at a high enough
temperature and pressure, bacterial spores can grow and produce a lethal
toxin.
Acids help
destroy bacteria, so foods high in acidity (most fruits) do not require as much
heat during canning as do foods with low acid content (most vegetables).
To
preserve low acid foods (vegetables), heat-process them under pressure
at 240°F. Ten pounds of pressure in a steam-pressure canner corresponds to
240°F. Every particle of food in each jar must reach 240°F and stay
at that temperature long enough to destroy all disease-causing organisms,
usually at least 10 minutes.
Certain
hybrid varieties of fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, have a lower
acid content. You may need to add vinegar or increase the processing time for
these hybrids.
High
acid foods (fruits) must be boiled at 212° F to destroy
disease-causing organisms.
Take the
following precautions when canning foods:
- Wash
hands, work and cutting surfaces and all utensils thoroughly.
- Use
only high quality, unbruised and unspoiled products for canning.
- Thoroughly scrub raw fruits and vegetables.
- Check
jars and lids for chips or defects and do not use those that are defective.
- Use
only lids, seals and jars manufactured specifically for home canning.
- Follow
proper canning procedures carefully.
- Do not
reuse sealing lids. Purchase new seals, rings and lids.
- Test
the seal according to the manufacturer's instructions. If any lids fail to
seal, read the instructions again and reprocess the food until the lids seal
properly.
Maintain
equipment and properly store home-canned foods:
- Clean
the gauge on a pressure cooker periodically.
- Check
the dial gauge regularly.
- Clean
the canner's petcock and safety valve openings regularly by pulling a string or
narrow strip of cloth through them.
- Store
canned goods in a cool, dry place away from heat sources, such as hot water
pipes or sunlight, and from moisture that could rust lids.
Generally,
signs of spoilage are easy to spot: mold, leaks, bubbling, bulging lids, marked
discoloration or unpleasant odors. If any of these signs appear, destroy the
food or dispose of it out of the reach of children and pets. Do not
taste this food.
Heat-related Conditions
Heat
exhaustion, one of the more mild summer health problems, results from
spending too much time in the heat. It occurs when perspiration leads to excess
loss of fluids and salts (electrolytes). Even if not directly in the sun, a
person can lose too much fluid staying outdoors too long on a hot day or
spending too much time in an overly hot house. It is not necessarily caused by
excessive body temperatures, because the body's core temperature remains normal
or falls below the norm. When exposure to extreme heat is combined with
strenuous physical activity, the risk of heat exhaustion becomes even greater.
Symptoms
of heat exhaustion are —
If these
symptoms occur, lay the person on his back in the coolest nearby place, loosen
any tight clothing, lower his head slightly, raise his feet and get medical
attention immediately. To prevent
heat exhaustion, drink extra amounts of liquids to replace body fluids lost
through perspiration. Water, fruit juices or fruit-based drinks, such as
lemonade, are preferable to tea, soft drinks, coffee or alcohol. Beverages that
contain caffeine or alcohol often result in more frequent urination, which
increases the body's loss of fluids.
Other
precautions can help you to avoid heat exhaustion:
- Stay
indoors in a cool place as much as possible.
- If
possible, schedule strenuous activity — jogging, bike riding, lawn mowing,
etc. — during morning or evening hours when the temperature is cooler.
- If you
must spend time outdoors, pace yourself and take frequent water breaks. Plan
breaks in the shade or coolest place available and make sure ample supplies of
water or fruit drinks are handy.
- Wear
lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that does not interfere with the
evaporation of perspiration.
If you
begin to feel dizzy or nauseated or develop a headache, go immediately to the
nearest shaded or cool place and sit or lie down. If the symptoms are not
relieved within a few minutes, or if they become worse, seek medical attention
immediately.
Heatstroke is caused by prolonged exposure to high
temperatures. Just sitting or lying too long in the heat can result in
heatstroke, which can be fatal and should be considered a medical
emergency.
Symptoms
of heatstroke are —
- Body
temperature of 105° F or more
- Loss
of consciousness in extreme cases
- Seizures, irregular heartbeat
If any of
these symptoms occur, place the person in a semi-sitting position to reduce the
amount of “hot” blood going to the head. Loosen or remove
patient’s clothing, spray body and head with tepid (not cold) water, and
cool by large fans to maximize evaporative heat loss. Seek medical attention
immediately. If the person has a seizure, protect him or her from striking
objects and DO NOT put anything in the mouth.
Heatstroke
occurs most often in the spring and early summer, before the body adapts to
higher temperatures. High humidity can increase the risk because it keeps the
body from cooling itself as effectively.
Heat
exhaustion does not always precede heatstroke. Athletes and the elderly are
more prone to heatstroke.
To avoid
heatstroke during the hot summer months, stay out of the sun as much as
possible and keep cool — preferably in an air conditioned place. If air
conditioning is not available, use fans or open windows to circulate the air.
(However, keep blinds or curtains closed when sunlight is coming directly in
the windows.) Take frequent cold baths or showers and try to avoid cooking or
baking during the hottest part of the day.
Heat
cramps are muscle pains or spasms — usually in the abdomen, arms or
legs — that affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This
sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture. The low salt level in the
muscles causes the painful cramps. Heat cramps also may be a symptom of heat
exhaustion. If you have heart problems or are on a low sodium diet, get medical
attention for heat cramps.
If medical
attention is not necessary, take these steps:
- Stop
all activity and sit quietly in a cool place.
- Drink
clear juice or a sports beverage.
- Do not
return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because
further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Seek
medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in one hour.
Sun
Exposure
Did you
know that just a few serious sunburns can increase the risk of a child, teen or
young adult developing skin cancer later in life? A person doesn’t have to
be at the pool, beach or on vacation to get too much sun. Their skin needs
protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays whenever they are
outdoors.
There are
five easy options for protection from the sun:
- Seek shade – UV rays are strongest
and most harmful during midday -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- so it is best to play
indoor activities then. If this is not possible, seek shade under a tree, an
umbrella or a pop-up tent. Use these options to prevent sunburn, not to seek
relief once it has happened. UV rays, of course, are present on bright and
sunny days, but UV rays can also penetrate through cloud and haze cover, making
cloudy and overcast days dangerous as well.
- Cover up -- Clothing that covers the
skin helps protect against UV rays. Although a long-sleeved shirt and long
pants with a tight weave are best, they are not always practical. A T-shirt,
long shorts or a beach cover-up are good choices, too, but it’s wise to
double up on protection by applying sunscreen or keeping in the shade when
possible.
- Get a hat -- Hats with a wide brim to
shade the face, head, ears and neck give great protection. Baseball caps are
popular, but they do not protect the ears and neck. If wearing a cap, be sure
to protect exposed areas with sunscreen.
- Grab shades -- Sunglasses protect your
eyes from UV rays, which can lead to cataracts later in life. Look for
sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100 percent of both
ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible.
- Rub on sunscreen – Use sunscreen
with at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB
protection. For most effective protection, apply sunscreen generously 30
minutes before going outdoors. Don’t forget to protect ears, noses, lops
and tops of feet.
Skin
cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States. Research
indicates it may be related to increased voluntary exposure to the sun’s
UV rays. Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays in as little
as 15 minutes, yet it can take up to 12 hours for skin to show the full effects
of sun exposure. So, skin that looks “a little pink” now may actually
progress into “red” sunburn hours later.
Serious
sunburns, especially during childhood and adolescence, can also increase the
chances of developing malignant melanoma – one of the most serious forms
of skin cancer and the one that causes most skin cancer-related deaths.
Although most people are aware of the danger of UV exposure, it is estimated
that only one third take steps to protect their skin from the sun.
For more
information related to sun exposure, visit
www.cdc.gov/ChooseYourCover/index.htm.
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