Say No to Summer Sickness

Now that summer's here, people want to enjoy the time off from school, the long days and the warm weather.

Getting sick is probably the last thing on your mind, but there are some very real medical issues that could strike. Dr. Jose Chibras, the chief medical officer at , has some information to help people avoid these common ailments.

1. Dehydration This is especially problematic within the farmworker community. Victims typically show up in the hospital emergency room.  Some preventative measures are to wear a large hat, drink lots of water, rest and really push the fluids all day.
2. Sunburn/Sun damage Solutions are wear big hats, sunscreen, lots of clothing: long parts, long sleeves and the largest dark glasses you can find with big lenses and full UV protection. These glasses also help with foreign bodies in the eyes (dust and thorns, etc). Excessive sun exposure can lead to melanoma (skin cancer).
3. Drownings It's much more common to see diving accidents from people diving into shallow pools. It's also common to see accidental drownings from people swimming where there are no lifeguards, and among small children and infants left unattended while using small inflatable kiddie pools. It only takes 2 inches of water for a small child to drown.
4. Unwanted Pregnancies & STDs The long days and long nights of summer lead to more sexual activity, especially among youth. It's imperative to use protection.
5. Motor Vehicle Accidents With all the graduations this time of year—and the drinking and driving that often goes with these celebrations—motor vehicle accidents are especially common. Buckle up and designate a sober driver.
6. Fourth of July Fireworks It's very common to see burned hands and damaged fingers from fireworks, especially when combined with alcohol use. It's also more common this time of year to see health issues as a result of wildfires (burns and trouble breathing). The answer is to use common sense around fire. Also, avoid alcohol consumption when dealing with fireworks or other open flames.

Another summer concern is West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by mosquito bites.  earlier this week to reduce the mosquito population.

Summer flu and colds can be a problem, too. This article talks about how to prevent catching a bug while traveling (and I'd recommend taking precautions—I caught a head cold last weekend that nearly wrecked our camping trip).