By Angela Wilson
While summer is the time to take a deep breath and just relax (unless you’ve got classes), you still must use common sense to avoid three perils of outdoor fun: sunburns, heat exhaustion and heat strokes.
A day at the beach may be perfect for tanning, but make sure you use sun block rather than lotion. It’s easy to put those ear buds in and just drift off, only to wake up with a second-degree sunburn. Sunburns happen when people get overexposed to sunshine, and they come in three stages of intensity:
- First Degree – skin is a pinked and tender to the touch.
- Second Degree – skin is red, blistered, hot, and painful to the touch.
- Third Degree – skin marbles with brown and white color, appears leathery, and doesn’t hurt because nerve endings are damaged.
If you do find yourself with a first- to second-degree burn, pure aloe or vinegar are great home remedies to relieve swelling and to speed healing. Third-degree sunburns require medical attention.
Sunburns are entirely preventable by wearing and reapplying sun block. According to Revolution Health, the darker your natural skin tone is the less likely you are to burn, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t. Using a sun block of at least SPF 15 or higher for every 15-30 minutes of sun exposure is best for preventing sunburns.
Heat exhaustion occurs when you’re in a heated area for a prolonged period of time and aren’t replenishing your fluids within in a timely manner. According to MedicineNet, the most common symptoms of this illness are heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea or vomiting and fainting.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to drink water. When you’re in a heated area for a long time, your body is sweating out a lot of water and nutrients. Remember to drink/carry plenty of water when you go to exercise or work in hot environments.
Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia (high temperature with physical and mental symptoms) and happens when heat exhaustion is not treated. This illness can be fatal and should be tended to immediately. Symptoms range from flushed skin with no sweat present to hallucinations and disorientation. This can be cured, but if not treated it can cause permanent neurological damage or death.
Both heat exhaustion and stroke are preventable by moderating how long you stay in the sun and by consistently replenishing fluids lost to sweating and evaporation.
Yes, summer is lovely, but you need to stay hydrated and your skin protected so you can enjoy the other seasons just as much as you enjoy this one.
