SUMMER SAFETY TIPS

Tips on Heat Emergencies

Most heat emergencies can be prevented with common sense and by following these guidelines:

Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day.
Plan outdoor activities for early morning and evening.
Slow down your activities as it gets hotter.
Take frequent breaks in a cool or shaded area.
Dress for the heat and your activity level.
Wear a hat and light-colored cotton clothing to absorb sweat and let air circulate and heat escape.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which hinder the body's heat-reducing mechanisms.
Drink plenty of liquids such as water and/or sports drinks.

Tips for Avoiding Sunburns

Follow the above tips for heat emergencies and:

Use sun screen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 25 or higher.
If swimming outdoors wear water resistance sun block or reapply sun screen regularly.
Bring a umbrella to the beach to create shade.
Remember to much sun over long periods can also cause skin cancer and early aging.

Dos and Don'ts on First Aid for Sunburns

DOs:

Do cool burns by flushing with cool water, or cool cloths in the absence of running water.
Do cover the burn with a dry, sterile dressing.

DON'Ts:

Don't apply ice directly to 2nd degree (blisters) or 3rd degree (charred or waxy white) burn.
Don't touch burns with anything except sterile or clean dressings.
Do not use absorbent cotton or pull clothes over any burned area.
Don't remove pieces of cloth that stick to a burned area.
Don't break blisters.
Don't use any kind of grease or ointment on severe burns.

Tips on Cold Emergencies (Hypothermia)

Avoid being outdoors in the coldest part of the day.
While swimming - take frequent breaks out of the water to allow your body to warm up.
On cold days wear a hat and layers of clothing made of tightly woven fibers.
Drink plenty of warm liquids to help keep the body maintain its temperature.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which hinder the body's heat-producing mechanisms.
As soon a shivering starts, get out of the cold and let your body warm.

Tips on Poisoning from Plant Life or Insects

When hiking - tuck you pant legs into your socks and wear long sleeve shirts to avoid contact with poisonous plants.
Flush the area of contact with large amounts of cool water.
If a rash or weeping lesion develops, apply a paste of baking soda and water to the area several times a day for comfort.
Lotions such as Calamine or Caladryl may be soothing.
Know the area your traveling too or camping in. Ask local people or park staff if there are poisonous plants in the area.

Ticks

Use a rubber band or tape the area where pants and socks meet so that nothing can get under clothing.
When hiking in woods and fields, stay in the middle of trails.
Avoid underbrush and long grass.

First Aid if Impaled by a Tick

Remove the tick impaled in your skin by using tweezers, grasping close to the skin as possible and pulling slowly.
If you do not have tweezers, use a glove, plastic wrap, or a piece of paper to protect your fingers.
Wash your hands immediately.
DO NOT try to burn a tick off.
DO NOT coat it with petroleum jelly or nail polish.
DO NOT prick it with a pin.
If you cannot remove the tick or if its mouth parts stay in your skin, see a doctor.
When the tick is out, wash the area with soap and water.
Use an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment to prevent infection from insect bites.

For more first aid tips, why not take a certified First Aid & CPR course!

Ask us about Wilderness Remote First Aid training.

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