Five Ways to Avoid Summer Injuries & Illnesses
As summer activities kick into gear, be sure that you and your family stay healthy by paying attention to these five helpful tips.
- Wear sunscreen.
Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Apply it 20 to 30 minutes before exposure to allow the skin to absorb it. Be sure to spread it on thick enough. Applying only a thin coating of a sunscreen can reduce the effectiveness of the product by as much as 50 percent. Don’t forget to reapply it every two hours—more often if you're sweating or getting wet.
- Wear insect repellent.
Bugs can not only cause itchy red bumps all over your body, but they also can carry diseases. Be sure to wear clothes that cover as much skin as possible and then apply insect repellent to the rest of the exposed skin.
- Drink plenty of water.
As the air temperature rises, it is important to increase the amount of water you are consuming. It is also important to limit the amount of sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages you consume. Everyone 8 years of age or older should be drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day to help prevent dehydration. Children under 8 should be drinking at least one glass of water for every year of age.
- Be careful around fire.
Whenever you are gathered with family or friends around a campfire or grill, be sure to leave enough space between the people and the heat source to reduce the risk of someone getting burned.
- Use caution when swimming.
Bodies of water such as lakes and ponds often contain bacteria, germs or chemicals that can lead to swimmer’s ear or swimmer’s itch. The best way to prevent these irritations is to keep your ears clean and dry and to dry your skin off immediately after swimming.
Even with the best planning, injuries and illnesses still happen. If you or your child ends up needing medical attention for a summer-related health concern, consider going to Bronson FastCare. Our qualified healthcare providers are trained to diagnose and treat these illnesses with no appointment required. We’re open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bronson FastCare – Gull Road
5623 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo
(269) 775-8031
Bronson FastCare – West Main
6220 W. Main St., Kalamazoo
(269) 276-4744
Bronson FastCare provides a wide range of treatments and services. It’s about getting help when you’re sick or itchy – with little or no wait, for one low price. Click here for more information on our other urgent care and emergency department locations in the Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Paw Paw areas.
