Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 7-16-21

Health
– frozen veggie packs will also do the trick.
SUNBURN
3 PICNIC POISONING Food poisoning places about 300,000 people in the hospital each year. Avoid cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or worse, dehydration due to restless potty breaks, with these steps provided by the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture:
Wash your hands as well as
the surfaces where you’ll be preparing food.
Wrap raw meat and store it away from other items.
Have a meat thermometer on hand when grilling meat. Steaks should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees, ground beef and pork to 160 degrees, and poul- try to 165 degrees.
Refrigerate everything. Store perishable food items in a cooler packed with ice.
Mild cases can be treated at home by avoiding solids foods and adopting a clear liquid diet to stay hydrated. Should symp- toms persist for more than a few days — 24 hours for children —
see a doctor.
Summer is here! Along with the sudden urge to be carefree comes the need to protect your- self from summer health haz- ards. The list can be lengthy — some self-inflicted, others sim- ply Mother Nature’s way of re- minding us to pay attention.
For a list of common health hazards and how to protect yourself, keep reading...
1 DEHYDRATION You’ve spent the day poolside in the blistering heat. Suddenly you feel dizzy, light- headed and your mouth tastes like cotton. You’re dehydrated
— meaning you haven’t con- sumed the necessary fluids to replace those you’ve been sweating out.
When you are active out- doors in the hot sun, you are at risk of dehydration and heat- stroke. Avoid this by drinking plenty of water, take regular breaks in the shade, and try to schedule your most strenuous outdoor activities for early morning or evening hours.
For persons suffering more serious dehydration or heat stroke, get them indoors, have them put their feet up, and cool off with a cool cloth or ice pack
If left unattended, many stings and bites can be life- threatening. In fact, 3 in 100 adults in the United States — or nearly 7 million people — have life-threatening allergies to in-
2
33.7% in 2004.
This, of course, doubles
your risk of developing melanoma if you’ve had just five sunburns in your life. Wear sun- screen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays, pro- tective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and seek shelter from boil- ing midday rays.
For those already suffering from sunburn, soak the burn in cool water for just a few min- utes and take an over-the- counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen. Itchy? Try a cream containing diphenhy- dramine (like Benadryl), which helps block the inflammatory reaction. Applying aloe vera will also soften and soothe the burned area.
According to the CDC, “the percentage of adults na- tionwide who got at least one sunburn during the preceding year rose from 31.8% in 1999 to
STINGS AND BITES
4
sect stings.
Stay free of stinging insects
by avoiding heavy perfumes and scents (like florals), wear light- colored clothing, and cover your food and sugary drinks like sodas. While most people only experience pain when stung, if you develop hives, itchiness, trouble breathing, or swelling of the tongue or face, consult a doctor immediately. Of course, those with a known insect al- lergy should always carry an EpiPen.
FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 11-B