Summer Safety
By: Kaya Rajparia and Asha Toosidas
Topic explanation
Statistics about summer safety
One out of 87 will get malignant melanoma , the most serious type of skin cancer, from sunburn and 7,300 of them will die of this cancer each year.
Half of U.S. adults under 30 say they have had a sunburn at least once in the past year
In 2010, 960 people in hospitals in England and Wales dies from dehydration.
Ways to Prevent Accidents/Injury/Illness
Avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are strongest during these hours, so try to schedule outdoor activities for other times
Cover up. Wear tightly woven clothing that covers you, including your arms and legs.
Use sunscreen frequently and generously. No matter what your skin type is, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply it every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
Wear sunglasses when outdoors. You offer your eyes the best protection outdoors by choosing the highest UV protection-rated sunglasses.
Stay cool with cool showers or baths
Don’t wait too long to drink water
Consequences that can occur if a person does not follow the prevention steps
Sunburn can cause pain, swelling, dehydration, itching, blisters. You might get skin cancer which can be fatal.
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion can lead to fatal results.
Dehydration is fatal. Symptoms are thirst, dry throat, feeling lightheaded, swollen tongue, weakness, sluggishness, inability to sweat.Emergency care/treatment/rescue skills
Move the person into a cool place, out of direct sunlight.Cool the person's entire body by sponging or spraying cold water, and fan the person to help lower the person's body temperature.Check the person's rectal temperature and try to reduce it to 102°F (39°C) or lower as soon as possible. Do not give aspirin or acetaminophen to reduce a high body temperature that can occur with heatstroke. If the person is awake and alert enough to swallow, give the person fluids [32 fl oz (1 L) to 64 fl oz (2 L) over 1 to 2 hours] for hydration..
Dehydration
Increased or constant vomiting for more than a day
Fever over 101°F
Diarrhea for more than 2 days
Decreased urine production
Confusion
Weakness
What to do
Sipping small amounts of water
Drinking carbohydrate/electrolyte-containing drinks. Good choices are sports drinks such as Gatorade or prepared replacement solutions (Pedialyte is one example)
Sucking on popsicles made from juices and sports drinks
Sucking on ice chips
Sipping through a straw (works well for someone who has had jaw surgery or mouth sores)
Sunburn
Severe cases of sunburn require emergency medical treatment.