Swimmer’s Ear to Sunburns: How to Protect Kids From Common Summer Health Hazards 

Summer is creeping up fast, and the kids are about to be out of school for the summer. That often means hours outside playing, swimming, and various sporting activities.

While summer is a carefree and fun time for kids, it's sometimes a parent's worst nightmare. The heat of summer brings on many health challenges, including heat exhaustion and sunburns.

At Calvary Urgent Care, Dr. Joseph Goin understands the hazards of summer for kids and adults. He offers urgent and primary care services to address minor issues like sunburns, insect bites, and swimmer's ear so you can enjoy the warmer months.

Prevalent summer health concerns

Summer is exciting for kids and adults, even though the temperatures get hot. Kids love to play sports, go to the park, and swim during summer, which is great for their mental and physical health.

However, summer isn't carefree – it also comes with some dangers, especially to kids. A few of the prevalent summer hazards your child may encounter include:

• Dehydration
• Sunburns
• Heat illnesses
• Insect bites
• Poison
• Drowning
• Heat rash
• Accidental injuries
• Allergies
• Swimmer's ear
• Lyme disease

Kids will be kids and likely come home with a few scratches or bruises, but more severe issues are a significant concern. Be sure to discuss with your kids specific issues they may encounter during the warm summer months.

Tips to protect your child over the summer

Your kids can have fun over the summer if you vigilantly keep them safe. We offer various tips to keep your child safe from common summer hazards, which include:

Encourage fluid intake

Dehydration is a huge risk over the summer, especially when your child is out and about having fun. Encourage fluid intake through water, popsicles, or electrolyte drinks to keep them hydrated all day.

Apply sunscreen often

Sunburns can happen to anyone out in the sun during the day. Kids are especially susceptible to sunburns because they're often too busy to apply sunscreen. Ensure your child applies sunscreen throughout the day, especially at the beach or pool.

Check for ticks after outside play

Warm summer heat means ticks are out and about. Lyme disease is a major tick-borne illness that leads to lifelong issues. After your child comes back from playing in the weeds or woods, check them for any ticks that could be lingering.

Use earplugs for swimming

Swimming is an excellent summer pastime for kids, but can lead to swimmers' ear. Your child can use earplugs while swimming to keep water from entering the ear canal and causing pain and other symptoms.

Monitor while mowing or playing

Injuries are bound to happen, especially over the summer. However, you can prevent some injuries by monitoring your child while playing on the trampoline or mowing the grass. Ensure your child knows safety tips and what to avoid while doing summer chores and playing.

Build in rest periods

When temperatures begin to rise, heat exhaustion is a major issue. To prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke, make sure your child spends time in the air conditioning while hydrating. You can encourage them to take breaks while playing outside as well.

Owning a first-aid kit is also crucial in case of a minor injury or burn. However, if you can't handle something, head to our urgent care for immediate assistance.

Call Calvary Urgent Care in Humble, Texas, today to schedule an appointment for dehydration or other injuries.  You may also visit our urgent care or utilize the booking feature on our website to request an appointment.