Summer Safety Tips

For those of us in the Austin Independent School District, today is the first day of “summer” so I thought I would mark the occasion by sharing some summer safety tips.

SUNBURN:  The number one summer ailment in Austin has to be sunburn.  Make sure to limit your exposure to peak sun, use sunscreen, and keep covered.  If you experience a sunburn, remember that ibuprofen or aspirin can help relieve the pain. You can also use moisturizing cream and cold compresses/washcloths as long as the skin isn’t blistering.  If the skin does have significant blistering, seek medical care.

HEAT EXHAUSTION:  We all hope this summer won’t be as bad as last summer, but even in a “typical” Austin summer, heat exhaustion is a concern.  Remember to drink plenty of liquids and modify your activities as the weather requires.  But most importantly, be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion.  Common symptoms include:

• You quit sweating.  If heat stroke sets in, your body can’t compensate and you quit sweating.
• Pale skin.
• Muscle cramps.
• Confusion or disorientation.
• Headaches.
• Nausea or vomiting.

If you or a friend experience heat exhaustion, know what to do.  Get to a cooler area, apply water to the person (or immerse them in a cool pool or bathtub), and apply ice to neck or armpits.  If the symptoms are severe enough, call 911.

SPORTING INJURIES:  As kids have more free time, the number of sporting injuries increase. Whether biking, skateboarding, or riding scooters or horses, make sure your kids are wearing helmets.  As a personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen too many head injuries that could have been minimized or even eliminated by a helmet.  Protect your kids.

Make sure that your other sporting equipment is safe.  If your kids frequent playgrounds, make sure that the playgrounds have a safe surface (falls account for over 60 percent of playground injuries).  Watch out for movable soccer or basketball goals that can fall over on children, and if your kid is playing on a trampoline, make sure that they know the safety rules and that the trampoline is well maintained.