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July 27, 2005
Contact: Susan Nielsen, WSU
Intercollegiate College of Nursing News Bureau,
509/991-9151, susann@wsu.edu
Jennifer Gamelin, WSU Intercollegiate College of
Nursing intern, 509/324-7318, icncommunications@wsu.edu
Tips for Safe and Healthy Summer
Activities
Keeping Your Cool: With the
summer heat rising, the amount of time spent
outside in the sunshine could have serious
implications. The risk of heat exhaustion and
heatstroke rises along with the temperature and
humidity levels. Heat illnesses, which occur when
the body’s cooling mechanism becomes
overheated, can be avoided with a few
precautions. The best advice is to slow down when
the temperatures start to rise. Watch out for
these heat culprits and follow some basic common
sense rules:
- Dehydration occurs when the body’s
water supply is insufficient. Prevent dehydration
by drinking lots of fluids, avoiding those with
caffeine, alcohol and high sugar content. Stay
indoors or in shaded areas, wear light-weight,
light-colored clothing and plan vigorous outdoor
activities in the morning or evening, avoiding
the hottest hours of the day. According to
Washington State University Assistant Dean
Margaret Bruya, plain water is usually good
enough to do the trick.
- Heat exhaustion, a milder form of
heat-related illness, can develop well after the
occurrence of dehydration. Children, the elderly
and those with high blood pressure are most
susceptible and should take extra precaution.
Symptoms may include cool, moist, pale or flushed
skin, muscle cramps, heavy perspiring and
sometimes vomiting. If someone does experience
heat exhaustion, Bruya says to be sure to move
them to a cool place and remove any sweaty
clothing they may be wearing. Make sure they lie
down and apply a cool compress to the back of
their neck.
- Heat Stroke occurs when the body is unable to
regulate its temperature and is a much more
serious condition—it can be
life-threatening. Symptoms to watch out for
include very high body temperature (above 103
degrees); hot, dry red skin; absence of sweating;
nausea; dizziness; confusion and sometimes even
hallucinations. Heat stroke can be a serious
condition and should receive medical attention.
Call 911 immediately. In the meantime, Bruya
advises immersing heat stroke victims in cold
water or covering them with ice packs. If they
appear to be in shock, elevate their feet until
professional help arrives.
Water Warnings: Swimming and
water sports go hand and hand with summertime.
Whether it is in a pool, lake, river or ocean,
swimmers beware: germs can contaminate water,
making it an ideal environment for the spread of
recreational water illnesses (RWI’s). Watch
out for:
- Swimmer’s Ear: An infection of the ear
and/or outer ear canal, which can cause the ear
to itch or become red and inflamed, is most
common in children and young adults. Drying your
ears after swimming and avoiding polluted
swimming areas can greatly reduce your risk of
getting swimmer’s ear. Avoid putting
objects such as cotton swabs in your ear as they
might scratch the ear and provide an opportune
site for infection.
Washington State University Intercollegiate
College of Nursing Assistant Dean for
Academic Health Services Margaret Bruya
suggests treating swimmer’s ear by
cleaning the inner and outer ear and using
antibacterial eardrops. If the case is
serious, be sure to make follow up
appointments with a doctor to ensure the
infection is gone.
- Swimmer’s Itch: A skin rash caused by
an allergic reaction to infection caused by
certain parasites found in contaminated salt or
fresh water—usually the shallow end with a
lot of sea bird droppings. Common symptoms
include tingling, burning and itching of the skin
as well as, in some cases, reddish pimples which
can become blisters. Swimmer’s itch is not
communicable between people and does not
necessarily require medical attention. Relieve
this annoying summer side-effect by applying cool
compresses and using anti-itch supplements.
According to Bruya, avoiding shallow, marshy
water, not attracting birds to the area by
feeding them and towel-drying or showering
after water contact are all effective ways of
preventing swimmer’s itch. Showering in
fresh water is ideal to remove lingering
effects. Remember also to wash/rinse out your
bathing attire as well with hot, soapy
water.
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