Smyrna times., 1946-07-04
WARNINGS AT
VACATION TIME
List of Summer Vacation
Hazards Given by State
Board of Health
SWIMMING POPULAR

The State Board of Health's list
of summer vacation hazards in
cludes: swimming, boating or can
oeing, sunburn, sunstroke and heat
exhaustion, poison ivy, automobile
accidents, and typhoid fever. The
Board issues warnings about all o1
them. Swimming is one of the
most popular of summer past.
times. 1t is both good fun an6
good exercise but it can be danger.
Gus, the Board warns, when people
have an exaggerated belief in theii
own ability as swimmers and dc
not realize the dangers of the un-
der-tow at the seashore or go over
their depth in lake or stream and
then tire quickly. Stomach cramps
may occur even in good swimmers
if people go in the water too soon
after eating. 1t is well to wait an
hour after eating before going
swimming, the Board warns.
Another swimming hazard is div
ing, without knowing the water is
deep enough for it, or whether
there are submerged objects, such
as rocks, old logs or piling. Such
carelessness may lead to concus-
sion. /. or a broken neck. Twenty
six deaths by drowning were re-
ported is Delaware last year, some
were due to persons taking need
less risks while swimming, some
from boats or canoes over-turning
in choppy water; while others
We're not connected with summer
sports. Doctors warn that any
wounds obtained in the water are
just as apt to become infected as
those that happen on land. When
one steps on broken glass in a
stream, or is scratched by nail
on submerged wood, the wounds
need care to prevent infection.
There is no healing quality, they
warandl the water.
IN Can Be Dangerous
Too many people figure that if
a little sun is good, a lot must be
better. This over-enthusiasm of
sunworshipers in the early weeks
of summer, or the first few days
of their annual vacation, prompts
MANY people to go in for sun-ex-
posure, with sad results. Trying
for a quick vacation tan" may re-
suit in painful sunburn. 1t is wise
to confine the first sun bath of the
season to Is or 20 minutes, in
creasing it daily but keeping it
within the limits that the individ-
ual can safely tolerate. Time diff
fers, as brunettes can usually
stand more sun than can blondes
safely tolerate. The Board warns
that children should have less sun
than adults, and that babies bear
sun badly and should only be ex-
posed for very short periods, not
over ten minutes at the most. Both
sunstroke and heat exhaustion
should be classed as emergencies
and competent medical advice
should be sought Immediately.
While the doctor is being summon
ed, the patient should be placed in
the shade, the clothing loosened,
and kept at absolute rest until the
Doctor comes. People living in the
tropics, long ago found that wear
ing hats with air space between
the head and hat crown, cut down
the danger of sunstroke.
Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy has 8 leaves instead
of the usual 5 of most non-poison-
Gus vines, and it is we'll to learn
to recognize it and stay at a re-
spectful distance. Symptoms range
from redness and itching to swell
ing, and blisters. Ivy poisoning
calls for the family physicians at
tention
Automobile Accidents
Last year there were % deaths
from automobile accidents in Del
aware during the summer vacation
months, SO the Board warns about
the need for care while driving on
crowded roads while vacationing
or on weekend trips.
Still another point is, when pic
nicing, not to drink from streams,
since even clear looking ones may
be polluted and carry typhoid few
er, if they have had sewage going
into them. There were 18 cases
of typhoid fever in the state last
year.