By J. Sloan Manning, MD

J. Sloan Manning, MD, a family physician, is medical director of Novant Health PrimeCare. To view PrimeCare locations in the Triad, visit www.yourcareconnections.org.

It was a long, hard winter, but now that summer is in full swing, families across the Triad are spending more time outdoors. With the increased activity level, now is a good time to think about prevention, first aid and what to do in case of accidents and injuries.

Water Safety – Swim in designated areas, supervised by lifeguards, and always with a buddy. When boating, wear a life jacket. Avoid alcohol use which impairs judgment, balance and coordination. Roughly half of all boating accidents are alcohol or drug-related.

Strains, Sprains and Broken Bones – Summer sports increases risk for muscle strains, joint injuries and broken bones. If you experience a muscle strain or joint sprain, rest the injured limb and apply ice to reduce pain and swelling periodically during the next 48 hours. If you suspect a fracture, do not move the person if the injury is to the neck or back. Call 911 immediately! Keep the broken limb still, applying splints if needed. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Sunburn – Protect your skin with sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Sunburn remedies include cooling the skin with cool baths or wet towels and applying pain-relieving gels or sprays containing aloe vera. If the sunburn is severe or affects a large portion of the skin, medical attention may be needed.

Heatstroke – Symptoms are elevated body temperature, skin that is hot and dry, and a dizzy, lightheaded feeling. Sometimes with headache, nausea and fainting. Someone experiencing heatstroke should be moved to a cool location with cool water to drink, cooling the skin with wet towels. Seek medical attention.

Poison Ivy – A rash that is red, itchy and looks like a straight line or blistering patch could be poison ivy. A poison ivy rash usually appears a day or two after exposure and disappears in one to two weeks. Remedies (oatmeal baths and over-the-counter itch relief medications) can relieve the discomfort. Don’t worry about the rash spreading to others because of contact with weeping blisters, a common misunderstanding.

Insect or Tick Bites/Stings – Most insect bites are harmless, but allergic reactions, sometimes severe, are a risk. For an insect bite, use tweezers to remove any stingers, apply an ice pack to reduce swelling, apply hydrocortisone cream if itching or a rash occurs, and seek medical attention immediately if you notice symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, heart palpitations, or nausea and vomiting.

If you have a severe reaction to bee or wasp stings, make sure you have an epinephrine (adrenaline) rescue auto-injector available. Check the expiration date and ask your health care provider for a refill, if needed. You may want separate devices for use at home, lake house, car/boat, etc.

Tick bites do not require medical attention unless a rash, fever or a flu-like illness develop, subsequent to proper tick removal. To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers, grabbing the tick as close to its mouth as you can. Gently pull the tick straight out. After the tick has been removed, wash the area with warm water and soap. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, fairly common in North Carolina, can be seen year round. We see several cases each year at our offices. Bring any concerns to a medical provider.

Keeping a basic first aid kit handy with items such as sterile dressings, bandages and antibiotic ointment is a good way to be prepared for minor accidents this time of year. It will allow you to act quickly in case of an accident, but it will also give you a little peace of mind so you can focus on the activities you and your family enjoy.