The "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer" are also the days that keep emergency rooms jammed with summer fun seekers who now find themselves nursing painful blistered skin that has been burned by the sun or the backyard barbecue.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide reports that burn injuries send 70,000 Americans to hospitals every year and the National Safety Council adds that about 10,000 Americans die from burn injuries every year.
"We see all types of burns, from small burns caused by cooking accidents to large burns caused by grease fires, all year long," but summer time brings with it an increase in burns related to backyard activities, Dr. William Hughes, of the Burn Center Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, told United Press International.
One example Hughes cited was "filling the gas lawnmower when the engine is hot. Some gas hits the hot engine casing and ignites. Or filling the lawnmower while smoking a cigarette." He said every summer his center treats burn victims who were injured while "draining propane containers from grills."
The summer heat that drives people outdoors to backyards and public parks also increases the risk for sunburn, which usually is easily treated but sometimes can require medical attention.
Burn and safety experts agree that most "summer burns" -- as they are called by medical personnel -- whether caused by backyard accidents or by too much sun can be prevented by following some fairly simple safety rules:
-- Do not ignite a gas grill by closing the lid and allowing the grill to fill with propane before lighting. "This is a frequent cause of serious burns because the gas will ignite and flare," said Hughes.
-- When cooking on the grill do not wear loose or flowing clothing that might accidentally come in contact with a flame. Also, if the cook is wearing shorts or a swimsuit it is a good idea to cover-up with a long apron, to avoid burns to the legs caused by hot grease from burgers or ribs.
-- When cooking with grease, keep a lid handy. If the grease starts burning, do not try to pick up the pan, just put the lid on it and the fire will be smothered.
-- Do not refill any gas powered yard equipment when the engine is hot.
To prevent sunburn, the National Safety Council's FirstAidNet recommends, everyone routinely should use sunscreens with a minimum sun protection factor or SPF rating of 15. The SPF rating refers to the amount of time one can spend in the sun without getting a burn, so wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen means it should take 15 times longer for one to burn than it would without the sunscreen.
Some people burn with almost no direct sun exposure. The safety council recommends sun sensitive individuals should wear SPF 15 anytime they are outside, but use SPF 30 if they are going to engage in outdoor activities such as picnicking or working the garden. NSC also recommends the use of a sun blocker such as zinc oxide for these very sensitive individuals. The sun blockers -- new processing methods mean that zinc oxide now comes in transparent formulas rather than the old white paste compounds -- should be applied to the very sensitive areas such as the nose and the tips of the ears.
Not all burns are from open flames or bright sun. The Los Angeles Fire Department warns that babies and young children can be burned by hot metal and vinyl -- materials often found in playground equipment such as swings and slides. The LAFD recommends using playgrounds only in the early morning hours when equipment has had a chance to cool over night and before it begins to heat up with the midday sun.
Likewise, the fire department suggests any safety seat or stroller left in the sun should be covered with a towel or blanket and tested for potential hot spots before the child is placed in it. Metal in parked cars can also become hot enough to burn, so the metal seat belt parts should be hidden in the seats to protect them from direct sun exposure.
When prevention fails, however, and burns result, what is the best first aid approach?
Hughes told UPI it depends on the burn. For example, a sunburn that only causes redness and some blistering and tenderness is a first-degree burn, meaning it only affects the outer layer of the skin. "In this case, the skin will be sore or tender for a few days and then it will become itchy and it will peel," said Hughes. The only treatment needed for this type of burn is a moisturizer.
Burns caused by scalding or grease can also be limited to "first degree" -- meaning it only damages the upper layer of skin -- by prompt action. Any burn will continue to damage the skin as long as the temperature is elevated, so the first step is to cool the burn. "Use cool water, not ice," said Hughes. He said if the burn occurs in the backyard use the garden hose, but avoid pool water because it can contain a number of bacteria that can infect the skin.
Once the burn is cooled, inspect the skin. "If you see blistering, apply a first aid antibiotic cream and wrap the area in gauze bandages," said Hughes. He said the bandages should be changed at least once a day, adding that the area should be washed at least once a day, but more frequently if it is an area likely to exposed to dirt, such as the hands or feet. "This type of burn can be safely treated at home," he said.
A burn that looks like an open sore "with denuded skin. This usually means the burn has penetrated two layers of skin is a second-degree burn," said Hughes. This type of burn requires medical attention because there is a significant risk for infection. "With this type of burn, we advise a trip to the family physician or if no physician is available, a trip to the emergency room," he said. Treating this type of burn also may require the use of oral antibiotics.
More serious burns, those that penetrate to the fat below the skin require treatment by a burn specialist, Hughes said.
Hughes also advised careful inspection of even minor burns for signs of complications. "The area around the burn will be red, but any signs of spreading redness or red streaks extending from the burn, require immediate medical attention," he said, noting these are early signs of infection.
