Treating Common Summer Ailments
Nothing ruins a lazy summer day quicker than a trip to the emergency room. Here's a few tips to treat the most common summer ailments.
Sunburn
SUNBURNDon't let sunburn stop your summer fun. Use sunscreen often while at the beach/pool and wear a hat, sunglasses and sit under an umbrella or wear something with sleeves. But if you do get sunburned here are some ways to make you feel better.
1. Adults take Aspirin as soon as possible, this can slow the development of a burn
2. Apply cool (not ice-cold) compresses or take a cool bath. Add 2 ounces of baking soda to the water to help relieve the pain.
3. Apply a moisturizing lotion to soothe and rehydrate the skin, and 1% hydrocortisone cream to reduce swelling and pain
4.Try aloe gel to help the healing and resist the urge to scratch the dry flaky skin.
Bee Stings and Insect Bites
Bee stings and insect bites can be very dangerous for people who are allergic to them. Get medical help as soon as possible if you are not sure if the person has an allergy to them. Better safe than sorry!If you know they aren't allergic to bee stings here are a few old remedies that your grandmother would recommend. And they really work.
1.The first thing you want to do is remove the stinger, the faster you extract the stinger, the better: Gently flick it with a credit card or the side of a knife instead of grasping it with your fingernails or tweezers, which can actually release more of the venom.
2. Apply baking soda or a wad of chewed tobacco or a slice of raw onion to the stung area.
3. Mud is another popular poultice for stings and bites. Not only does it soothe the wound, but the stinger is likely to come out when the dried mud is removed.
If you are close to home here are some herbal remedies you can try
1. Papain: The Commercial meat tenderizers are the most readily available source of papain, an enzyme derived from papaya skin's milky juice. To treat an insect bite, moisten a teaspoon of meat tenderizer with a little water and rub it immediately into the skin; papain's protein-digestive properties will help decompose the venom. Papain may induce an allergic reactions in sensitive skin so be sure you know before using. Meat tenderizers may also contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), to which some people show sensitivity.
2. Plantain: (no not the banana ) the herb (Plantago major) is a weed that grows in most parts of the world and is valued for its wound-healing properties. To treat bites or stings, apply a poultice made from crushed fresh leaves. Or use a commercial plantain extract.
You probably have this plant growing in your yard. The picture above is Plantain.
3. Aloe vera A time-tested wound soother and emollient, aloe vera is one of the most widely used herbal remedies in the U.S. Apply it to a bite or sting, using fresh gel scooped from the leaf. Fresh gel is more effective than many of the aloe products found in stores.
HEAT EXHAUSTION and HEATSTROKE
1. Rest in a cool shaded area and elevate your feet above your heart.2. Bring down the body temperature as quickly as possible using cool water.
Use a sponge or wrap yourself in a wet towel or sheet, then have someone fan you.
3. Sip salt water or a sports drink (Gatorade) to replenish sodium levels. Avoid alcohol or sugary drinks, which increase dehydration.
4. Do not take medicines used to treat fever, such as aspirin or acetaminophen.
5. Call 911 or get to the ER if you have a high fever, nausea, pale and clammy skin or a rapid pulse, or if you feel faint.
SWIMMERS EAR
1. Dry ear gently with a towel after each swim.2. If you have been swimming in contaminated water or if you're prone to swimmers ear, put a few drops of an alcohol-based ear product in each ear after a swim (ask pharmacist for recommendation)
3. If you experience ear pain or drainage from the ear see your doctor, it could be an infection that requires an antibiotic.
HEAT RASH
1. Wear moisture-wicking clothes made of polypropylene to stay cool and dry.2. Dust your skin with body powder that contains cornstarch.
3. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to ease the itching.
POISON IVY or POISON OAK
Leaves of three on dark red stems
1. Wash with cold running water and, if possible with special soap to remove plant oils that cause the allergic rash.2 .Apply calamine lotion or Burow's solution (both available at all drugstores) to help relieve itching.
3. Bathe in tepid water with a little oatmeal or baking soda added to ease itching and dry blisters.
4. See a doctor. The doctor may prescribe cortisone if it's a severe case or if the over the counter version isn't strong enough.
Poison Ivy Treatment
How To Treat Poison Ivy - Cures for poison ivy
http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-7155402.html What do you do if you have a close encounter with some poison ivy? Dermatologist and author Dr Doris Day has remedies to treat a poison ivy rash, and help minimize the scratching, scarring and possible infection. How To Treat Poison Ivy - Cures for poison ivy A poison ivy rash only occurs if youre allergic to it. But you can develop the allergy at any time. It could take two or three weeks for poison ivy to completely clear up. Consider these poison ivy remedies to keep from scratching, scarring, and infection. The Best Poison Ivy Treatment - Avoidance: * The best prevention is to avoid the plant. It has an easy-to-identify 3-leaf pattern. If its on your property, have an exterminator come destroy it. * Wear clothing that covers the area completely including sleeves and gloves. Wash the clothing right away. The resin from the plant can stay on the fabric for months. If You Have Just Come In Contact with Poison Ivy: * Once youve been exposed to the plant, get inside within 10 minutes. There are soaps and wipes designed to remove the resin before it has the chance to cause a reaction. Wash any exposed clothing immediately. Pets should be cleaned off ASAP, too. If You Have a Poison Ivy Rash: If you prefer poison ivy home remedies: * Take a soothing bath with household ingredients. Take a cup of oatmeal, some whole milk, honey, and aloe and mix it into a paste. Pour it into a lukewarm bath. Soak for 15 or 20 minutes, a couple of times a day. Try a commercial poison ivy treatment: * Apply a 1% hydrocortisone ointment to problem areas. If that doesnt provide relief, see your doctor for a prescription strength ointment. * Calamine lotion helps dry out moist bumps or blisters. Dont overuse it, and dont apply it to dry areas. * Take an antihistamine like Benadryl. It may make you drowsy. You can take a non-sedating Claritin or Zyrtec during the day, and a Benadryl at night. * Refrigerate and use an anti-itch spray for instant relief. * If none of these methods work, see your dermatologist. * Young children and infants should see a doctor right away. Young adults and adults can be initially treated at home. Any poison ivy treatments or remedies you choose need to be applied repeatedly. Since a poison ivy rash can take 2-3 weeks to heal it's important to not scratch the area. Scratching the rash increases your chance of scarring and infection.
Runtime: 283
11210 views
75 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Taking care of Lacerations (cuts) and Scrapes
Summer is a time for bare feet and going barefooted means there is a risk of getting small cuts, lacerations or scrapes that require treatment.Don't panic when you see blood, this blood is actually helping clean the wound.
If the flow of blood is slow and when you wash the wound the flow stops or becomes minimal then all you need to do is apply an antibiotic and cover with a band-aide or gauge pad to keep it clean. The body will heal it's self. Change the dressing every day and check for redness or oozing fluids from wound. You should see a doctor if this occurs because it may be an infection in the wound.
BUT if the wound is deep and the flow of blood does NOT stop when cleaned you will need to see a doctor.If this happens after you rinse the wound, to be sure it is free of any debris, then you will need to apply gauge and pressure to the wound to slow or stop the flow of blood until you can get help..Deep lacerations may require stitches. Scrapes will also need to be cleaned and a topical antibiotic applied then covered to keep clean.
by Kowgirl
Hello Friend. Welcome to my lens Living with Type 2 Diabetes, Cash_Club and Free Money Makers. I hope you find them interesting and of some help...
(more)Explore related pages
Tips for Parents That Have a Child With PDD-NOS- My daughter has PDD-NOS. PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not...
Aloe Vera for Health, Beauty and Luck- Aloe Vera plants kept Cleopatra beautiful, healed Alexander the Great's sold...
Swimming Pool Safety, Sunburn, and More- Summer is here and that means plenty of outdoor fun. If you have kids that may m...
Bands That Changed My Life
- Muse
Cold Cream Recipe
Aloeride and your health- I remember seeing aloe plants when I was travelling in Mexico many years ago. Th...
