PREVENTING INFECTION BY PLAYING IT SAFE!
Summer safety tips for the pool and beach
There's nothing worse than having a trip to the pool or beach cut short by a jellyfish sting or a painful cut on the bottom of a bare foot. It may not only spoil your mood, but it can result in pain and lead to an infection. With a little bit of planning before you leave the house, you may be able to avoid or quickly treat these problems before they ruin your day.
FACTOR IN SUN PROTECTION
Make sure to purchase a waterproof sunscreen, especially if you will be swimming. While these may wash off after a period of time in the pool or ocean, they last longer and need to be reapplied less often than non-waterproof sunscreen. Make sure to reapply sunscreen as directed, for maximum protection. Even sweating in the summer sun can wash away the benefits of sunscreen.
While protecting your exposed skin from burning, don't forget about other vulnerable parts of the body, like the lips, eyes, earlobes and scalp (the top of your head!). Proper protection, such as wearing lip balm with sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat or baseball caps, will help ward off the sun's damaging rays from these very sensitive areas.
Don't rely on clothing to protect sensitive skin. Even a cotton T-shirt can allow the sun's rays to pass through - even more so if it is wet. It's better to apply sunscreen to the entire body, even under clothing, for maximum protection.
LITTLE CUTS, SCRAPES AND WOUNDS CAN TURN INTO BIG INFECTIONS
When walking barefoot at the beach or pool, chances are you may encounter a piece of glass, a rough piece of shell or a pointy pebble. Wear surf shoes or flip-flops whenever possible. The soles of children's feet are even more sensitive than adults.
If you get a minor cut, scrape, wound or abrasion, rinse with cool water. If water isn't available, cleanse with alcohol swabs to remove dirt or debris (keep a couple of alcohol wipes on hand for these situations). If there is bleeding, stop it by applying pressure with a clean dressing. When bleeding stops, apply a coat of a triple antibiotic ointment, such as new waterproof Lanabiotic® First Aid and Pain Relief Ointment, to help prevent infection and minimize pain. The new waterproof feature helps provide protection, even when swimming, while the pain-relief ingredient helps alleviate discomfort. If bleeding doesn't stop, seek medical attention.
If the wound is deeper, apply a sterile dressing or butterfly closures to keep the skin clean and closed. Serious cuts or wounds, especially where bleeding is uncontrollable, require emergency medical attention. See the lifeguard or medical personnel immediately.
SWIMMER'S ITCH
Caused by contact with cercariae, the immature larval form of parasitic schistosomes (flat worms) found in fresh and salt water around the world, swimmer's itch can be quite annoying. Snails and birds are the hosts for these flatworms, releasing hundreds of microscopic cercariae into the water - mostly in shallow, warm water.
The rash develops as the water dries on exposed skin. Itching begins immediately, and skin can redden, become swollen and even produce hives. Blisters may develop during the next 24 to 48 hours.
If the area is scratched and not clean, it could become infected, causing a secondary condition, such as impetigo. To prevent swimmer's itch, rub your skin with a towel immediately after coming out of the water so that the larvae do not have a chance to penetrate the skin. However, once a reaction has occurred, the skin can be rinsed with rubbing alcohol. Then an anti-itch medication, such as Lanacane® Anti-Itch Creme, which contains an anti-bacterial, can be applied. A severe reaction should be seen by a doctor.
SEA BATHER'S ERUPTION
Sea bather's eruption occurs only in seawater and mostly on areas covered by your bathing suit (where the wet suit is pressed against the skin). It is usually the result of a reaction to algae in seawater, and treatment is the same as with swimmer's itch.
JELLYFISH STINGS ( click here for the special "Jellyfish" page)
A MORE SERIOUS SIDE TO SWIMMING
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PARENTS:
According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths in children under 14 (a swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child under four!). These are scary statistics, which should alert people to the need for constant supervision and strict guidelines for children in and near the water.
Whether in your backyard pool or at the shore, certain rules should be enforced. For example, non-swimmers should not rely on floats or rafts in water that is too deep to stand in; children should always swim in pairs ("the buddy system") or with adults, and all children should wear lifejackets whenever in a boat, even if it is anchored or at the dock. Also, immediately exit the water (and water area) if it looks like a storm is approaching, since lightning poses a serious safety threat to swimmers and boaters.
While nothing can replace the safety of adult supervision near the water, experts also recommend that children take swimming lessons, even as a toddler. Lessons given by a registered instructor will teach kids how to swim and not fear the water. Panicking in the water is one of the biggest factors of drownings. For added security, make sure pool areas are equipped with safety fences or alarms to keep out unsupervised swimmers.
