Part 2: Hazards 4-6
Number Four: Picnic Poisoning
No one wants diarrhea and toilet hugging to be their souvenir from the annual summer family reunion picnic. When cruising the potluck table, beware of anything that has mayonnaise, dairy, eggs or meat in it after it sits unrefrigerated for hours. There are some pretty nasty bacteria that can develop. For mild food poisoning, avoid solid food and stick to small, frequent drinks of clear liquid. Once vomiting and nausea cease, slowly start eating small portions of bland food like tea and toast. If symptoms persist for longer than 48 hours (24 hours for children), go to the Urgent Care.
Number Five: Fireworks Fiascos
The booms and flashes begin long before the 4th of July and go on nearly all summer. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 9,000 people were injured by fireworks and two were killed in 2009. In our dry climate, no one should be setting small fires in their backyard. The safest way to do fireworks is by attending a professionally sponsored event. However, if the fireworks bug is in your blood, take these precautions:
*Keep a hose handy to put out small fires.
* Do not let children near anything related to fireworks – even sparklers!
To care for a fireworks burn, wrap it in a clean towel or T-shirt saturated with cool water and go to the Urgent Care.
Number Six: Summer Stings
Many a pleasant summer day is spoiled by an insect sting. Three in 100 American adults have life-threatening allergies to insect stings, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Those people should carry with them an epinephrine auto-injector. One jab to the thigh releases prescription medication that treats the severe allergic reaction by tightening blood vessels and relaxing airway muscles. This slows down an allergic reaction, but medical treatment should still be sought. Most people only experience pain, tenderness, itching and swelling from an insect sting. If you have hives, itchiness or swelling over a large area of your body, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing, swelling of your tongue or face or dizziness, go to the Urgent Care immediately. To treat a more mild reaction, take an OTC pain medication and an antihistamine for hives and swelling. FBN
By Randal L. Troyer, M.D.