Real Talk!

Climatologists with Environment Canada have announced that we are in for scorching temperatures this summer. They suggest that we need to keep a watch out for severe storms and violent weather. All I can think about are the devastating tornadoes that went through Combermere, last summer.

Combermere is Fabian's home town. His brother and family, as well as his parents still live in the town. Last year, we heard about the tornado, as it was happening and we jumped in the car and drove into the storm!

That's a whole story in itself!

With scorching temperatures you can expect smog alerts, fire bans, hail storms, high winds, drought and sunburns! Sun damage to your skin is nothing to laugh at. You need to prepare yourself for the sun.

*Wear sunglasses that provide UVA protection. UVA exposure can cause cataracts.
*Wear sun-protective clothing if you are particularly fair.
*Apply sun block at least 15 to 30 minutes before venturing out into the sun and re-apply at least every two hours especially if you have been swimming
*Take frequent breaks from the sun by going indoors or moving into the shade.
*Drinking lots of water, avoid alcohol & caffeine and drink up and don't wait until you're thirsty - drink before you feel thirsty!
*Wear a wide-brimmed hat Stay out of the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunburns are caused by UV radiation rather than heat (we can get sunburns on snowy days). Douglas Brash, PhD, Yale professor of therapeutic radiology, genetics and dermatology, recently completed a study that suggests the type of pigment an animal has, in addition to skin transparency, plays a large role in who burns. Dr. Brash found that the type of melanin that causes blonde and red hair actually increases the risk for cell death such as seen in sunburn.

Sunburn should be treated for the healing of current sunburn pain, skin damage and potential skin cancer as well as to prevent further sunburn. Sunburns destroy skin, which controls the amount of heat our bodies retain or release, holds in fluids, and protects us from infection. There are the several ways we may do this.

If you do get a sunburn, here’s what you can do:

1. Get out of the sun. Staying in the sun after the burn is present will make it worse.
2. Look for blisters. Blistering means the skin is completely damaged and complications are likely. If the area with blisters is bigger than one entire arm or the whole abdomen, seek medical attention by calling 911 or visiting the emergency department.
3. Take a cool shower or bath to soothe the pain.
4. Apply aloe or witch hazel lotion (a good aloe alternative) another cooling agent. Whatever you use - DO NOT APPLY BUTTER OR OIL TO ANY BURN!
5. Unless you have abrasions on the burned skin, try vinegar. Mix 50-50 with cool water, put it in a spray bottle or soak tea towels and make a cold compresses.
6. Wear loose-fitting natural clothing (like silks or light cottons) that will not irritate the affected areas. Other materials, especially man-made ones like polyester, can rub harshly against the skin and make a burn feel much worse. If you are able to stay at home, do so and wear as little clothing as possible to keep it from hurting your skin. But put a soft cotton blanket over the couch or bed to keep your skin from rubbing against upholstery.
7. Keep it cool; not too much clothing and an ice pack can be great on a burn. Bathe with cool water and avoid soap, which can cause irritation. Set up a fan.
8. Over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used for the pain of sunburn. If stronger pain relief is needed, contact a physician or go to the emergency department. Aspirin dissolved in water in small doses may be directly applied to affected areas.
9.Vitamin E, one of the antioxidants, can be taken regularly as part of a daily vitamin and mineral supplement or spread as in an ointment on sunburn. Vitamin C is another antioxidant that will help prevent severe damage from sunburn and shorten its effects. Selenium is a mineral that will help fight sunburn
10.To protect the eyes and the area around the eyes, try placing thin slices of fresh cucumber over closed eyelids when out in the sun. Cucumber will absorb all the ultraviolet light and keep the eyes safe and cool.

Further Tips:

Watch for Dehydration!
Symptoms may include:
thirst
less-frequent urination
dry skin
fatigue
light-headedness
dizziness
confusion
dry mouth and mucous membranes
increased heart rate and breathing
In children, additional symptoms may include:
dry mouth and tongue
no tears when crying
no wet diapers for more than 3 hours
sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks
high fever
listlessness
irritability
skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
Cases of serious dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency, and hospitalization, along with intravenous fluids, is necessary. Immediate action should be taken.

Watch for signs of Heat Exhaustion:

Burns cause Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:
heavy sweating
paleness
muscle cramps
tiredness
weakness
dizziness
headache
nausea or vomiting
fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if the symptoms are severe, or the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure. Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.

Watch for Heat Stroke:

The common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include:
high body temperature
the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin
rapid pulse
difficulty breathing
strange behavior
hallucinations
confusion
agitation
disorientation
seizure
coma

How do you treat a heat stroke victim?
Victims of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage. First and foremost, cool the victim. Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin, fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, place ice packs under armpits and groins. Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102 degrees. Always notify emergency services (911) immediately. If their arrival is delayed, they can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim.

Other tips:
Sunburn can cause swelling. Burns of the face and neck can sometimes swell enough to cause difficulty breathing. If that happens, call 911 immediately. It is possible, though rare, to have third-degree burns from the sun. If you suspect this might have happened, see a doctor immediately. Burns that completely circle the hands or feet may cause such severe swelling that blood flow is restricted. If swollen or tight hands and feet become numb and tingly, blue, cold, or "fall asleep," then call 911 immediately.

Do not peel or pick at dead skin. Picking at dead skin can lead to infection, bleeding and scars.

Even the Environment Canada senior climatologist said that while we are definetly in for a hot summer, there's no real certainty that we will see an increase in severe weather activity. I wonder if you can count sunburn as a result of severe weather?