Oh, summer, where have you been? Longer days and later nights, the sound of kids playing in the neighborhood, snow cones, swimsuits and sprinklers, carnivals, camping, and family vacations. Summer is a time when people and their families make memories enjoying the outdoors. It’s supposed to be filled with fun, so here are a few reminders to ensure it stays safe while having fun.
All the cool kids are wearing helmets. Summer is when kids love riding their bikes, rollerblading, skateboarding, and using motorized scooters. Encourage your children to wear a helmet, and explain that it just may save their life. Many injuries happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets. Children learn best by observing you, so set the example. When purchasing a helmet, look for a label or sticker that says the helmet meets the CPSC safety standard. A helmet should be worn so that it is level on the head and covers the forehead, not tipped forward or backward. The strap should be securely fastened with about two fingers able to fit between chin and strap. The helmet should be snug on the head, but not overly tight.
Streets are for cars, not kids. Teach your children road safety.
Teach them to use crosswalks, if available.
Teach them when you should cross and when you shouldn’t. Look both ways.
Encourage them to ride bikes on the sidewalks instead of streets.
Playtime should have restrictions. Your kids should never play where vehicles are moving.
Wear bright-colored clothing so they stand out to drivers.
Sunburns hurt. They can also be dangerous. So, power through the tantrums and resistant behavior when applying sunscreen to your kids. They will thank you when they’re older (or maybe not). Tips for sun protection include wearing hats, using long sleeves or pants when in the sun for extended times, and of course using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF30 or higher. Canyon View Medical has some fantastic blogs on sunscreen. Check these out. Skin Protection by Dr. Paxton, How to Pick the Right Sunscreen by Kristen Wright, FNP.
Hot cars can be killers. NEVER leave your infants and children (or pets) in a car unattended. NOT EVEN for a minute. We hear about cases every year, yet Utah continues to have heat stroke-related deaths due to parents leaving their children in the car. In fact, according to the Utah Department of Health, on average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. In more than half of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car. In 2018, 52 children died in hot cars across the U.S., and by June of 2019, we had already seen 11 deaths nationwide. It may be tempting to run into the gas station while your baby sleeps, or leave your toddler in the car while you drop something off at a friend’s house, but it’s best if you don’t. On an 80 degree day, the temperature inside of a car can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes and keep getting hotter with each passing minute. So, imagine what happens when the temperature outside is 100 degrees or more. Keep in mind that leaving a window open or being in the shade won’t help. Young children are particularly at risk, as their body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child could die. It’s not worth it.
Pools are fun until they’re not. Water safety is important. You may have heard that drowning is the second most likely cause of death for kids 1-4 years of age (only after birth defects), but did you know that 69% of drownings occur during non-swim times? This means most drownings occur during unexpected and unsupervised access to water. Toddlers are, by nature, curious and active. Water safety is important at all ages, but especially for mobile children under 4. Make sure your toddlers don’t have access to indoor and outdoor standing water (i.e. swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, natural bodies of water such as ponds, buckets filled with water, toilets, birdbaths, etc.). Swimming lessons are encouraged. All children should wear a life-jacket when near lakes and rivers, even if they can swim.
Water should be a food group. Make sure your kids drink plenty of water while in the heat of summer, even if they don’t feel thirsty. If possible, avoid activity during the hottest part of the day. Stay hydrated.
References:
www.healthychildren.org, an American Academy of Pediatrics website
Whether you are excited about your outdoor adventure or dreading it, preparation will help make this a more positive experience. Having the proper gear, knowing how to avoid health complications and a great attitude are vital to making this a memorable and enhancing experience. Here are a few health highlights that will help as you plan your adventure!
1. SHOES:
Don’t count on your old comfy shoes to be good enough. They may be too worn down, even if they don’t appear to “look old” from the outside.
Even though these shoes look “okay”, take a look at the tread on the bottom.
You can see the wear on the soles.
This means the cushions and support on the inside have also been well worn.
Good shoes for this type of excursion include:
a. A firm sole is more suitable for rocks and uneven surfaces. Avoid lightweight and flexible soles that bend easily.
Firm sole option best.
This is a great running shoe but not great for Trek.
b. A wide base of support creates less chance of twisting an ankle or getting rocks down in your shoes. Consider higher shoes/boots for weak ankles or rougher terrain.
c. Make sure there is adequate room in the toe box to lessen the chance of rubbing on the sides of your feet or jamming the toes into the end of the shoe, especially when going downhill.
d. Choose an appropriate upper covering. Engineered mesh uppers are great for running and water events but allow sand and dirt into the shoe, potentially causing irritation and skin problems on the feet.
The thin, porous upper on the shoe on the left allow too much dirt and sand to enter the shoe.
e. If new shoes were purchased, PLEASE WEAR THEM before going on TREK to break them in! It’s best to go on actual hikes (ideally 30 to 40 miles) or break in your shoes on uneven surfaces (rocks or slopes, rather than a smooth road or paved river trail) since this is more likely to simulate the TREK terrain. (Most higher quality brands that sell running shoes, for example, offer a 30-day return or exchange because they recognize that it takes more than 3 to 5 miles to evaluate if the shoes are a good fit for your feet.)
f. Keen, Columbia and Merrell are good brands.
g. Bring 2 to 3 pairs of shoes and waterproof them!
2. SOCKS:
a. Avoid 100% cotton.
b. Two thin layers are acceptable (liner sock made of synthetic materials or knee-high nylon with a thin wool sock on top) or a polyblend sock will lessen the chance of friction and blisters.
c. “SmartWool” is a good brand. These socks will cost a little more but the comfort and protection are very beneficial.
d. Be aware of wet conditions. Wet socks and shoes increase the risk of friction and skin breakdown. Consider bringing bread bags or small garbage bags along to wear over socks and under shoes to keep feet dry.
e. Be sure to have an adequate number of socks!
3. FEET:
a. Trim toenails two to three days before TREK. This way they can grow out a little if they are accidentally clipped too short.
b. Ideally, feet should be inspected a couple of months before going on TREK for any conditions that need to be addressed before hiking (ie. warts, tinea (infections), ingrown toenails, inflammatory conditions, etc.) Check feet again the weekend before TREK to be aware of any problematic spots.
4. CLOTHING:
a. Dress in moisture-wicking layers. It may be very cold at night so multiple layers, ie: T-shirt or Under Armour cold gear, a pullover, thicker flannel shirt, raincoat, and larger jacket, etc.
b. Avoid going to bed wearing the clothes that you wore in the day. They are likely to be wet and cold.
c. Be prepared for abrupt weather changes and potentially severe weather.
d. Try on clothing now, so adjustments that need to be made, can be made (taking in or out, hemming a seam up or letting it down, etc.) Try not to worry about like clothing. Of course, it is going to be different from what we are accustomed to wearing!
e. Remember to bring some kind of leather gloves for pulling the handcart (to prevent slivers.)
f. CHAFFING
Consider wearing a sports bra or proper underwear to provide adequate support and prevent excess skin rubbing and irritation.
Use some kind of anti-chaffing product if needed where skin rubs together (examples are not limited to, but include: Body Glide, Gold Bond Powder, Monkey Butt, etc.)
Underclothing, such as yoga pants, compression shorts, Under Armour tights, athletic leggings, hiking pants, etc. may be helpful in preventing chaffing.
5. SLEEPING:
a. Cold-rated sleeping bag. (A six-pound fill is rated for zero degree weather while a three-pound fill is good for 60 degrees.) An additional thin liner or fleece blanket inside the sleeping bag will add extra warmth. (A fleece liner is also easy to launder.) A small pillow, adequate pad for cushion and tarp to layer on the bottom are important. The general rule of thumb in keeping warm at night is to have twice as much bedding under you as compared to on top of you. If you are concerned about being cold, a rip-stop nylon poncho thrown on top of these layers will retain more heat. FYI, there are no government regulations to control manufacturer’s claims on sleeping bag warmth ratings. Expect 10 to 20 degrees less than stated by the manufacturer. (If a bag is rated for 40 degrees, you may only be comfortable in it when the temperature is actually 50 degrees.) Some good sleeping cushion brands include (but are not limited to) Big Agnes and thinner Klymit pads.
b. Change underclothing at bedtime, when the temperature is warmer vs. in the morning.
c. Avoid sleeping with your nose and mouth under the sleeping bag. The breathing contains a great deal of moisture and that may cause dampness to collect in the bag.
d. A hat, liner and wool gloves, warm wool socks, Long Johns and instant hot packs may also be helpful.
Look for sales and coupons. There are numerous products online and
local sporting goods stores that will carry these supplies.
(ie: REI, backcountry.com, North Face, Recreation Outlet in AF)
6. HYDRATION:
a. Adequate hydration is essential for a safe TREK experience. Hydration doesn’t mean drinking lots of water at the end of a long, hot day of walking, however. Two to 3 days before TREK, all participants should be hydrating adequately. Cross country runners have learned one of the keys to optimal performance is drinking water two to three days before a race. Without adequate fluid in the body, the body cannot cool down well or mobilize the necessary nutrients and electrolytes needed by the muscles. Feeling thirsty or having a moderate to strong yellow color at any point during the days before TREK means that more fluids are needed.
b. Be aware of the early symptoms of dehydration. They include headache, dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, pale face, and cool, clammy skin, nausea, etc. Address hydration issues NOW! It is much better to take care of minor complaints and conditions before they become major ones!
c. Higher elevations require more water for several reasons.
Typically it is cooler in higher elevations and cooler air holds less moisture.
Higher altitude also means lower air pressure. This results in more rapid evaporation of moisture from the skin surface and from your lungs.
As the body acclimates to the higher altitude, urination is more frequent.
Because higher altitudes contain lower oxygen levels, the body compensates by breathing faster and increasing the heart rate. There is more water lost with rapid breathing.
At 6000 feet above sea level, you exhale and perspire twice as much moisture as you do at sea level.
Over the course of a day, that is a lot of water and can make a difference of a quart or more a day.
At higher altitudes, it gets even more pronounced.
d. The general guideline while trekking is 32 ounces of water every hour. To give an example… One red Solo cup holds about 16 ounces. If you walk for about 8 hours in a day, this means about 16 Solo cups in 8 hours of walking or 2 gallons in a day (which doesn’t include the other 16 hours in a day!) Even if participants are not pulling a handcart or don’t “feel thirsty”, drinking is a MUST! If a person is severely dehydrated, the stomach cannot absorb fluid quickly enough to compensate, therefore PREVENTION is key!
7. HYGIENE:
a. On some TREKs or if backpacking in the outdoors, all the water available to each group must be hauled in, therefore, excess water for bathing may not be available. Wet wipes are a suitable option. Some youth and women are prone to bladder infections if hygiene or hydration is not adequate. Skin irritation may also be a problem. If these are repetitive problems, a visit to a health care provider before TREK can help give women the education or medication they need in order to avoid and treat these concerns.
b. If you are prone to razor burn, a rash or folliculitis with shaving, shave 3 days before TREK to avoid painful conditions or infection.
8. MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
a. Any chronic or high-risk condition should be addressed with a health care provider before going on TREK. It should be specifically brought up that the individual may be required to walk up to 10 miles per day in potentially hot or cooler conditions. It will not be a paved pathway, like our beautiful River Trail!
b. Individuals should verify adequate amounts of medication for the TREK. Most health care providers will have same-day appointments or give a refill until an appointment can be made. If medication is taken on a regular basis, this is not the time to stop.
c. A health care team will be made aware of medications and conditions of all who are going on TREK but please talk to the person in charge of medical needs for any specific concerns.
d. The Medical Team on TREK will probably be trekking with the youth and touch bases with individuals and families throughout the event. The Medical Team is usually clearly identified. They will be mindful of evaluating hydration and “hot spots” on feet, as well as other potential physical or health-related problems.
e. Usually, each Ma & Pa will have a simple first aid kit. They will help with youth who need to take medications daily and have the Medical Team support and backup available. First Aid Kit suggestions to each family are….antiseptic wipes, moleskin, bandaids, antibiotic ointment, hand wipes, scissors, tweezers, baby powder/Gold Bond, feminine products, sunscreen, bug repellant (40% DEET), duct tape, safety pins, and sanitizer, lip balm, burn ointment, anti-chaffing stick, anti-itch cream, garbage bags, basic sewing kit.
The most common health conditions that occur are dependent on the location, climate, altitude, duration of the experience, preparation, etc. Frequently, blisters, sunburn, excessive winds or temperature extremes and mosquitoes are problematic.
Preparation is the key! (physical & mental)
When trekking, you shouldn’t be “aware” of a specific spot on your foot. If you notice a “hot spot” or a place that you are continually aware of, follow this treatment:
Clean foot with a wet wipe and allow to air out and dry.
Apply Nexcare Absolute Waterproof tape to the area affected.
If there is an actual fluid-filled blister, follow this treatment:
Clean foot with a wet wipe and allow to air out and dry.
Puncture the side of the blister with a sterile needle and gently milk the fluid out.
Apply 2 layers of NuSkin or liquid band-aid, allowing it to dry thoroughly after each application.
Apply Nexcare Absolute Waterproof tape to the area affected.
Attitude is Everything!
* This is meant to supplement the specific information you will be given from those who have organized your specific TREK.
