Summer 101: Be safe in the wild

Warm days mixed with cool vacations are a perfect recipe for spending more time outside. Whether you’re camping in the woods, hiking in an exotic locale or simply exploring close to home, a few tips can ensure you stay safe while enjoying the wilderness.

Having a first-aid kit available and stocked with essentials, like Band-aids and antibacterial ointment, is critical. Tweezers to remove splinters are useful in the summer months, as is pain-relief spray, such as lidocaine, with aloe for use after burns – whether it’s a sunburn or an accidental sparkler burn from fireworks. It's a good idea to clean out the kit annually and make sure the products have not expired.

Other tips:

Be practical about poison ivy and poison oak.

When to seek medical attention is really a matter of the extent to which you have a poison ivy or poison oak rash. If your rash is extensive to the point that applying cream over the area isn’t practical – if it’s all over or in multiple places – visiting your doctor for an oral treatment of steroids will dry things up faster.

Pets can easily transfer oil from poison oak and poison ivy from their fur to children, so be mindful that rashes can occur this way.

Beware of mosquitoes and ticks.

Applying insect repellent with DEET is the best way to protect against mosquito and tick bites, and the illnesses these bugs can carry.

If you are bitten, any bite up to a quarter to a half dollar size is a localized reaction that doesn’t require medical care. If the border of your bite reaction starts to creep beyond that, you should see a doctor.

Use a buddy system to check family members for ticks and other insects after spending time outdoors. If you are bitten by a tick, removing the tick within 36 hours reduces the chance of bacterial infection. Be mindful of the secondary features of Lyme disease, such as flu-like fevers and knee pain, and report them to a doctor if you experience them within 2 weeks of a tick bite.

Mosquitos can carry West Nile Virus, which if bitten, can cause someone to be seriously ill or, in rare instances, may be fatal. Use insect repellant and clothing to protect against mosquito bites, and be watchful for symptoms of West Nile.

Be wary of stings that mean something more.

Signs of an anaphylactic reaction to a sting include:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Hives that spread beyond the sting.
• Swelling of the face, throat or mouth.
• Wheezing or difficulty swallowing.
• Restlessness and anxiety.
• Rapid pulse.
• Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure.

Any reactions of this nature require emergency medical treatment as soon as possible. Carry an epinephrine auto injector (sold under brand names such as EpiPen) if you or a family member has a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings.

If stung by a bee, wasp or hornet, wash the site with soap and water. Remove the stinger with gauze or by scraping a fingernail over the area – never squeeze or use tweezers, according to the CDC . Apply ice to reduce swelling, and avoid scratching, which may increase swelling, itching and the risk of infection.

If bitten by fire ants, rub the ants off briskly, consider taking an antihistamine and monitor for signs of anaphylaxis. Seek medical care for any snakebite.

Take heatstroke seriously.

Sometimes the heat can just be too much. Muscle cramping could be the first sign of heat-related illness, according to the CDC, and may lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Drinking enough water is the mainstay of prevention for heat-related illness in addition to paying attention to the heat index. Avoid prolonged outdoor activity if there’s a heat advisory in effect. Heatstroke can happen quickly and can be fatal without prompt medical attention.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include:

• Heavy sweating.
• Weakness.
• Cold, clammy skin.
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Fainting.

If you suspect heat exhaustion, move to a cooler location, lie down and loosen your clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths to as much of your body as possible and sip water. Seek medical attention immediately if you are vomiting.

Heatstroke can happen quickly and doesn’t have to be preceded by heat exhaustion. Symptoms to look for include

• Confusion or loss of consciousness.
• Very rapid or dramatically slowed heartbeat.
• Rapid rise in body temperate above 103 degrees.
• Drenching sweats with cold, clammy skin or decreased sweating with hot, dry, red skin.
• Convulsions.

If you suspect heatstroke, call 911 immediately. Heatstroke can quickly turn fatal. Move the person to a cooler environment, apply cool cloths or even a cool bath and do not administer fluids until help arrives.