They say those who nag you about wearing sunscreen love you… but really wearing sunscreen is just smart.
Longer days in the summer mean more sunshine and clear blue skies, but this year, record temperatures and increased sun exposure can lead to some pretty serious medical emergencies. The Indianapolis Recorder wants you and your families to have a safe and fun summer, so here are some things to keep in mind.
The most important thing is to be prepared, Dr. Colton Junod, emergency medicine resident physician at IU Health, told the Recorder.
“Whether that is taking sunscreen if you’re going to be out, wearing appropriate clothing, wearing loose clothing, as well as taking bottles of water or Gatorade whenever you’re expecting to be out in the sun or the heat, so you can stay cool and stay hydrated,” Junod said. “Those are probably the three main things that will protect you when you’re out here in the heat this week.”
Sunscreen
One more time, for those who missed it in the last graph: Everyone should be wearing sunscreen. (Yes, everyone).
Any type of full purpose sunscreen SPF 30 or higher blocks all types of UV rays and should work for most people, Junod said. These can be purchased just about anywhere, including the local drugstore. However, for those with kids, Junod recommends specifically using a non-toxic children’s brand, which is formulated for children and infants.
“If you are going out to an activity with your children or are going to be in the water, you really need to reapply that every hour or two, especially if they’re getting wet, and letting that dry before they get back into the water,” Junod said. “It’s really imperative to reapply that sunscreen.”
Dr. Guy Crowder, chief medical officer for the Indiana Department of Health, said a lot of people forget to wear hats or sunglasses to protect their faces and eyes from the sun. An SPF 30+ infused lip balm is also crucial as lip sunburns are just as common as skin sunburns.
Proper dress for summer weather, especially in the Midwest, includes light, loose clothing with long sleeves or pants whenever possible. Children and infants should be properly covered and remain out of direct sun whenever possible, Crowder said.
Sunburns
Sunburns can be very painful and lead to several problems if not treated, Junod said. For those who experience a sunburn this summer (ouch!), applying a cold compress or wet washcloth over the affected skin may provide some relief. Crowder recommends cooling the skin with a cold shower, but it’s important to avoid overbathing so as to not dry out the affected skin.
Applying aloe vera or other moisturizers can help soothe the pain topically but avoid petroleum-based products.
READ MORE: Summer dos and don’ts: Tick safety
“If you’re having a lot of pain from it, you can also try some hydrocortisone, as well as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen, to help with the pain,” Crowder said. “If you’re experiencing significant blistering, it may be good to check in with the physician or other provider for a checkup.”
If a sunburn starts to get redder or more painful, covers most of the body or is accompanied by a fever, it is time to visit your primary care doctor or go to urgent care to get evaluated for an infection, Junod added.
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion
“I think sometimes we focus on the sun so much that we forget about the heat and especially in light of the heat dome that we’ve been under,” Crowder said. “We can have a situation where we have heat exhaustion that then later becomes heat stroke, which can be very serious, potentially life threatening.”
Heat exhaustion happens when the body is exposed to heat for a prolonged period of time and becomes too warm. Symptoms include lightheadedness, feeling thirsty, weak and tired, excessive sweating, nausea and headaches.
“Sometimes heat exhaustion comes just from so much sweating and electrolyte changes that happen because of it, and then we can see decreasing urine as well,” Crowder said. “Certainly, that would be a time to act, to try to cool off, if you can shed layers and rest in a cool place, try to rehydrate at that point, that can be really helpful.”
Heat stroke, however, is a medical emergency and needs treatment immediately, Junod and Crowder said. Heat stroke, which is when the body has gotten too hot to cool itself, happens when heat exhaustion is not treated and can be life threatening.
Symptoms of heat stroke include dizziness, confusion and loss of consciousness. Heat stroke symptoms are much more intense, and Crowder said the body can reach temperatures of 104 or higher, causing the skin to be very hot and dry, often unable to sweat.
If you see anyone experiencing heat stroke, call 911 immediately, Junod said. Help remove layers of clothing, move them into a shaded or cool area and help rehydrate and cool them off as much as possible until help arrives.
Other risk factors & safety tips
People with certain medical conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, and medications, such as contraceptives, antibiotics, antifungals, acne medication, SSRIs and diabetes medications can make people sensitive to sunlight or heat. Always talk to a primary care physician before being active outside in direct sun and heat, take preventative measures to stay cool and hydrated, Junod and Crowder said.
Try to keep young children and infants indoors during the peak time, as they are more at risk and cannot always vocalize when they get too warm.
Those planning to exercise or swim should go before 10 a.m. or in the evening to avoid the mid-afternoon sun, Junod said. Make sure children are supervised at all times and never swim alone. Adults supervising children swimming should not consume alcohol or otherwise be distracted. Children who are not swim trained should also use a flotation device.
Indianapolis also has multiple cooling centers located around the city for those who do not have access to air conditioning. For more information, visit parks.indy.gov/coolingcenters.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
