WARNING: SUMMER MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!

May 26, 2022


I get it! Summer is fast approaching, and we all want to celebrate the end of our Covid winter nightmare, despite the fact that Covid is far from over. But that's a topic for another newsletter. As the Gershwin brothers promised us: "Summertime and the livin is easy!" While the fish may not be jumpin as much due to climate change, most people are eager to go outside and enjoy the great weather. However, soaring temperatures and harsh sunlight can pose health hazards. And many of the leisure activities we look forward to in the haze of summer may also come with hidden dangers, especially the following:

1.  Heat-related Illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke are common summer health issues. Heat exhaustion come with many unfortunate symptoms, including increased pulse, dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea and headache. Heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a more severe condition that may require emergency medical care, without which you may damage your organs and muscles or, in the extreme, it could even be fatal. At a recent Fenway Park baseball game I attended, a young man in his 20's actually collapsed in his seat from heat exhaustion. Fortunately for him, Fenway's security and medical team were there in an instant. The rest of us may not be so lucky. We need to pay attention to the symptoms of heat exhaustion, seek cool shelter and hold off on any physical activities. Your body is telling you that it needs rest and hydration. Some of us are more prone to heat exhaustion than others. Children, older adults and people who are not used to high temperatures are more at risk for heat-related illnesses. All of us need to reserve outdoor physical activities for mornings or evenings, when the weather is coolest. High-intensity activities should be avoided during midday. As a former Little League coach and manager, I know first hand the benefits of scheduling all of our practices and games in late afternoon and early evening. It may seem obvious, but summer is the time to wear (and show off) your lightweight, flowy clothes. Save the tight and heavy outfits which retain heat for the winter months.

2.  Dehydration goes hand in hand with heat-related illnesses. If you don't stay hydrated in the summer heat, you most definitely will become dehydrated. A child or infant who is dehydrated won't shed tears while crying or may have sunken eyes or a dry mouth. 


This is especially important if you are active, engage in daily exercise routines, are ill, live in hot, humid climates or are pregnant.  The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking on average 8 glasses of water/day and supplementing our liquid hydration with fruits and vegetables that typically fill about 20% of our hydration needs, such as watermelon, strawberries. tomatoes, cucumbers, celery and lettuce.Dehydrated adults will feel fatigued and thirsty, possibly even resulting in dizziness or confusion. Dark-colored urine is a very common sign that you aren't drinking enough water. The solution is obvious: keep a water bottle nearby and use it often. 

3.  Food Poisoning affects an astonishing 25% of the U.S. population every year, according to the World Health Organization.  Sometimes, food poisoning is not of our doing but results from Salmonella present in some of our fruits and vegetables or Cronobacter in our infant formula or other dangerous bacteria found in meats and other food products. However, many of us cause our own food poisoning, mostly from bad hygiene habits and not following common sense.  If you are planning a picnic or a barbecue at a local park, beach or even in your own backyard, keep in mind that hot weather can affect the food you are bringing along or planning to serve.  If certain foods, including meat and dairy products, are left unrefrigerated for too long, bacterial growth will make them unsafe for consumption.  Any perishable food that has been left at room temperature (or warmer) should be disposed of immediately.  You may rave about Granny's fabulous potato salad, but if it hasn't all been eaten in two hours, you'll have to throw it out (preferably out of Granny's view).  Perishable food should be packed in a cooler along with plenty of ice.  And, when barbecuing, use a meat thermometer to ensure that grilled meat is at a safe temperature.


If you do develop a case of food poisoning, you'll likely have to deal with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.  As stated above, drink plenty of clear fluids to avoid dehydration (room temperature water is best) and stick to bland food such as toast and unsalted broth until you start to feel better.  Of course, if the symptoms don't subside in 2-3 days, or if you have blood in your stools, you should seek medical attention.

4.  Sunburn is one of those summer health risks that can come with long-term consequences. Just a few sunburns will increase your risk of skin cancer. When I was in my teens, my friends and I all believed that a sunburn was the necessary price to pay to get a golden tan...and the darker the better! We were encouraged by our elder relatives, including my Great Aunts Sadie and Ida who lived near the North Shore beaches of Greater Boston and whose year-round bodies were not only tanned, but definitely wrinkled beyond repair! We even used baby oil, incorrectly thinking it was a safe way to speed up getting our bodies tanned. Of course, every dermatologist in America would cringe if they read this newsletter! Today, we know better. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer before they reach 70, many resulting from our "youthful indiscretions." Every hour, 1 American dies from Melanoma. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), just ONE childhood sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer by 50%. Sun exposure is cumulative, and chronic overexposure to the sun can damage the integrity and health of your skin, hasten the aging process and lead to higher risk of skin cancer. Again, according to the AAD, while, there is no healthy way to tan, you should at least adopt these "better practices":

  • a. Apply sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays even on cloudy days because the sun's rays go through the cloud cover. The higher the SPF (sun protection factor), the longer you can stay in the sun until your skin starts to turn red. An SPF of 30-50 may protect most people for at least a couple of hours, but it should be reapplied every few hours, especially in high heat.
     
  • b. Avoid midday sun exposure. Stick to shady areas during these times. If you have had skin cancer or there is a history of it in your family, you should avoid most sun exposure.
     
  • c. Avoid taking long naps in the sun.
     
  • d. Wear clothing such as hats or long-sleeve cover-ups when you are in the full sun.


5.  Swimming Accidents can ruin an otherwise joyful summer experience, especially among children and young adults.  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 300 children age 1-4 years old, drown every summer in a private swimming pool.  Drowning is the leading cause of death for young children, according to the National Safety Council, and the real tragedy is that most of these deaths are very preventable.  In the ocean, rip currents and rough waves can catch swimmers off guard and also lead to drowning. Stay safe on the beach by sticking to areas where lifeguards are present.  Heed any warnings about the weather or the water conditions.  When using a swimming pool, avoid running near the edge of the pool, where you could potentially slip.  Ensure that kids are playing safe and always have adult supervision. Lifeguards may be present, but they are not your babysitters; it is your responsibility to keep your eyes on your child.  Never consume alcohol or other substances when watching your child.  Always have a first aid kit handy; training in CPR is also advisable.  Drownings in pools and at beaches aren't the only hazard you may face.  Diving into shallow water, especially in residential pools, unfortunately results in too many tragic outcomes.  Again, according to the CPSC, there are approximately 1000 spinal cord injuries each year in the U.S. due to shallow water diving, mostly resulting in paralysis and mostly among males aged 15-25, 1/2 of whom have been drinking or consuming drugs at a pool party where there were NO WARNING SIGNS POSTED AT THE POOL.  I designed the following No Diving sign now recommended by the National Spa and Pool Institute and other organizations.


Given the age of most of those receiving diving injuries, a sign should be supplemented with repeated no diving oral warnings from the pool owners and other pool supervisors.  A safe rule to follow is to never dive into any body of water that is less than 9' deep.


These are not the only hazards you may confront this summer; amusement parks, for example, are the home of over 30,000 injuries/year that require a visit to an ER, but that is a story for another newsletter.  If you follow the above safety tips I provided for some very common summer hazards you may confront, I promise you will more likely than not have a joyful, injury-free summer of fun.

Check out my latest podcast "EXPOSED! An Exclusive Look Behind the Curtain of Corporate Greed"

Check out my book "Murder, Inc.: How Unregulated Industry Kills or Injures Thousands of Americans Every Year...And What You Can Do About It". Available in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle & Audiobook on Amazon now.

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