Summer means exploring the great outdoors. Camping, days at the beach, hiking, and fishing by the lake…sounds like idyllic Summer Fun to me. And it is. But with all the fun, we know as parents we’ll be faced with our fair share of skinned knees, insect bites, red noses and shoulders (oops!), and the occasional freak-out….Oh no! Please don’t tell me he needs stitches!
I recently had one of those mini inner panic attacks when my son fell on our way down to the lake for some sunset fishing. We were pretty well into no-man’s land. No WiFi. No cell reception. And we were loving it. But when I saw that cut on his arm, all I could think was…please, no stitches, no stitches.
Stitches would mean the end to our little getaway and a 3 hour trek back to civilization.
No stitches (yes, I put on my Dr. hat and made the call.) Phew.
But it did make me take a good, hard look at my First Aid Kit. I had done pretty good. But it was missing a couple of things. Experience is so often the best teacher, isn’t it?
So, as you head out for your own Summer adventures with your family, keep these important tips in mind when faced with the minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and/or bites that inevitably follow us on our summer outings.
My Favorite Sunscreen Tip: Reapply every 2 hours. No matter what the SPF. Sooner if your child has been swimming or in the water.
Missing from my First Aid Kit: Topical pain reliever such as a numbing spray for superficial cuts/scrapes. My son kept asking for one as I was cleaning him up!
Found: Antibiotic ointment, some non-stick tape to secure a bandage, and lots of TLC. Liberal use of TLC recommended.
Tip #1: Use an insect repellant with DEET (at least 10% but no more than 30%) to fend off those biting mosquitoes and ticks. Particularly when out at dusk and if hiking around wooded areas.
Tip #2: If you find a tick on your child’s body, remove it gently with tweezers. Straight out. Do not smother with vaseline or other products. Which reminds me, tweezers are an essential part of your First Aid Kit (great for splinter removals on the fly!)
Now, it’s time to get out there and savor the rest of your summer. No need to let minor mishaps spoil summer memories in the making.
Disclosure: I receive compensation for my participation in the CHPA educational foundation’s OTC Safety Ambassador program. However, the content and opinions in this post are my own.
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