May's - Tip For Parents
From ISVI's Health Services Department
Sunburn
We receive most of the sun damage to our skin as children. Reducing your child's unprotected exposure to the sun will help to decrease the chance of premature aging and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Overexposure to the sun can cause a sunburn, which is usually a mild first degree burn that causes redness and pain a few hours after the exposure, with worsening of the symptoms over the next twenty-four hours. More serious sunburns can also cause blistering of the skin (second degree burn). The main treatment of a sunburns involves control of pain and includes use of an acetaminophen or ibuprofen containing product for a few days. You can also use moisturizers and a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream three times a day, cool baths or wet compresses, and drinking lots of fluids. If peeling occurs you can continue to apply a moisturizer until the skin heals.
Here are some other tips to protect your child from the damaging effects of the sun and for prevention of sunburns:
-Wear protective clothing, including a hat and long sleeve shirt and long pants. Keep in mind that most clothing only has a SPF of 5-9, so you can still get sun damage with a shirt on.
-Limit exposure to the sun when it is at its strongest (10am-4pm).
-Protect your child's eyes with sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
-Use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy, since most of the sun's radiation penetrates clouds and can still cause sunburn.
-Consider using a sunscreen with ingredients (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that physically block the sun's radiation if your child has sensitive skin.
-Deet (insect repellant) lowers the effectiveness of sunscreens, so use a higher SPF if you are using a combination product that has both a sunscreen and an insect repellent.
Heat Exhaustion
· Recognizing Heat Exhaustion
· What to Do
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of water.
Recognizing Heat Exhaustion
-Hydration is very important during the summer months. Developing the
simple habit of drinking water throughout the day can avoid heat
exhaustion.
Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:
- heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness,
dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fainting
-The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast -and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if:
-symptoms are severe, or
-the victim has high blood pressure, heart problems, albinism, blood sugar problems, or a poor immune system.
Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.
What to Do
Cooling measures that may be effective include:
-cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your physician
-rest
-cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
an air-conditioned environment-Lightweight clothing
Based on a CDC Prevention Guide for Emergencies and Disasters.