Protecting Yourself From Outdoor Health Risks

Summer can be the perfect time to take advantage of outdoor activities. From fishing, biking, hiking, there are plenty of options, but sometimes you may come into contact with some unwanted outdoor dangers – like ticks or poison ivy. Dr. Benjamin Meyerink with Avera explains how you can protect yourself from some of those risks.

What should I do if I touch poison ivy?

It's not always clear to people when they do come in contact, it's an oil that actually transfers from the plant to your skin that causes symptoms. The rash and everything that can come with it is not always immediate, so if you think you've come into contact with it, you need to wash your skin as soon as you get back inside with soap and water.

Is poison ivy contagious?

It's not usually contagious between people themselves, it's usually whoever directly contacts the plant, but the rash can last weeks. So often people can deal with this at home, but if it is really spreading to more than a quarter of your body or it's just not responding to the things you're doing at home or it's starting to look really red and warm, then you need to give us a call and be seen for that because you probably need some more advanced therapies at that point, but it can last a couple weeks if you're not aggressive with it up front.

Another outdoor risk we can come into contact with: Ticks

Prevention is the biggest measure for all of these things so long sleeves and long pants.

Other summertime safety health tips

I've seen a lot of motorcycles and bikes and kids on scooters, things like that, so I want to preach helmet safety. I think all the parents and adults and kids in the area need to be diligent about that. I love seeing everybody out but we need to be safe with those things, and then of course water safety, never underestimate the importance of life jackets, sunscreen when you're outside, all the basic things that we know how to do, we just need to remember to do them every single time.