BEATING THE HEAT

Chigger bites can leave an itchy memory of a hike through the woods.

Summertime is the time of year for sitting in the sun, working in the yard or trekking through beautiful realm of Mother Nature.

Which of course means getting deep fried, put on a slow boil and chewed up by some of Mother Nature's more nasty children.

Except for resorting to the extreme of staying locked inside climate-controlled, critter-free domiciles, people who wish to avoid the unpleasant maladies which summer can bring must take a few precautions when venturing outdoors.

"Obviously, sunburn can be avoided by using sunscreen, not staying out in the sun for long periods of time and wearing large hats and light clothing if you are going to be out in the sun for long periods of time," said Vicky McDowell, a registered nurse with the Cape Girardeau County Health Department.

While for most a sunburn is little more than a annoyance, severe sunburn can be a major problem.

"Some aloe preparations can soothe a burn, but a burn just has to run its course, followed by the ugly peeling," McDowell said.

"But people can have really severe sunburns and get to the point where they experience chills, fever and vomiting. If someone stays out in the sun so long that they get blistered, they need medical treatment."

Also, McDowell notes, prolonged and unprotected exposure to the sun can contribute to melanoma.

When it comes to avoiding heat exposure, it is wise understand one's limitations in respect to the temperature and wear the proper clothing.

"When someone suffers from heat stroke, whoever is close at hand needs to get them to a shady spot, put ice under their arms and get them medical attention," McDowell said.

Although the head might seem the prime place to put ice to cool someone down, McDowell says that isn't so.

"Ice on the head certainly won't hurt," she said, "but there are main points on the body to help with cooling, and under the arms is a good place to start."

While the elderly should certainly be concerned with overexertion due to heat, McDowell warns that the young need to be concerned as well.

"I think young people need to be careful because they think they are invincible," she said. "They go out and work too hard and I think they can get overheated more than and elderly person who does not do that much. Because they are young they think they can do more and not pay as much attention to the heat."

So far this summer, McDowell says heat-related illnesses have not taken a large toll as area hospitals have only reported five such incidents.

When it comes to bug bites, the wisest course is once again prevention. Insect repellents and protective clothing can spare one much irritation.

"If a person knows they are going to be out in the weeds and places that have chiggers, they need to wear light clothing, long pants and socks," McDowell said.

If one does get bitten, there are lotions available to soothe the irritation, but nothing to completely stop it.

"It just has to run its course and it is going to itch for a while," McDowell said.