Each year, for example, U.S. emergency rooms treat more than 450,000 cycling injuries and more than 8,000 fireworks burns. Despite your best efforts to prevent warm-weather injuries, accidents do, unfortunately, happen. The next best thing to prevention, explains George Miller, D.O., director of emergency medicine at South Suburban Hospital, is to be ready to respond when emergencies do happen. The following chart offers guidelines for treating some common springtime injuries. Post this page on your refrigerator for easy reference.
Insect stings Remove the stinger with tweezers, then swab with disinfectant.
To limit swelling, apply ice, calamine lotion or a baking soda paste. Yes, if you are allergic or have a severe reaction, including breathing problems, faintness, swelling of the lips or throat, diarrhea, confusion, rapid heartbeat, hives or nausea. If these symptoms develop, soaking your skin in cool water or applying calamine lotion may help. If these treatments don't work, see your primary care physician, who can prescribe a more appropriate medication. Burns Hold the burn under cold running water for 15 minutes.