CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - LiveWell

FIRST AID FOR THE FAMILY Scraped knees, headaches and minor sunburns are unfortunate but typical aspects of summer vacation — and all easily treated with a well-stocked first-aid kit. Keep a kit in your car and in your home, and make sure children know where to find one. If you need urgent medical attention, visit one of the CHRISTUS Fast Track Minor Emergency Care Centers. See page 5 to learn more. Summertime Safety Family Focus Whether you and your family are out for a bike ride, playing with friends or swimming, summer is prime time for potentially dangerous situations. Take steps to learn how to dodge health risks — and deal with them, should they appear. DANGER OVERHEAD Sun exposure is a risk to people of all ages — especially children. Sunburns in the early years can greatly increase your child's chances of getting skin cancer later in life. Kids should always wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher when playing in direct sunlight and reapply at least every two hours, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Adults need protection from the sun, too. Wear protective clothing, such as a hat and long sleeves, if you spend time in direct sunlight, and always wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen. Avoid sunlight's peak intensity hours between 10 am and 2 pm. "Even if you have naturally darker skin or already have a tan, you need sun protection," says Michael Stafford, MD, Emergency Physician at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth. "There is no such thing as a ' base tan' that provides defense from ultraviolet rays. Any change in skin color after sun exposure means there is damage on the cellular level." For many seniors, summer weather provides the first opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. However, they may not notice signs of heat stroke until the situation becomes dangerous. Signs of heat stroke include: • a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit • red, dry skin with no sweat • headache, dizziness and nausea "If you think someone is falling victim to heat stroke, call 911 and help them cool down as quickly as possible," Dr. Stafford says. "A cold bath or shower can quickly lower body temperatures." WATER WISDOM Staying safe when swimming means never leaving your children unattended for any amount of time near water. If senior adults are supervising children in the water, they should be able to quickly help a child in danger. The American Red Cross recommends these additional safety protocols: • Everyone needs to learn to swim. • Everyone should swim with a buddy. • Everyone should wear a lifejacket while boating, even if they know how to swim. • Avoid alcohol use around open water. Drinking alcoholic beverages around water can be dangerous, as alcohol impairs judgment, balance, coordination and swimming skills. If you have a medical emergency, turn to CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth & St. Mary and CHRISTUS Jasper Memorial Emergency Departments. To learn more, visit www.christushospital.org/emergency or www.christusjasper.org/emergency-center. To learn about summer swim lessons at the CHRISTUS HWC (Health and Wellness Center), please call 409.899.7777 or visit www.christushospital.org/learn-to-swim-summer-lessons. Michael Stafford, MD 4 LiveWell | June/July 2014

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