It can feel great to get outside after many months of being stuck inside, whether that means lighting a bonfire, BBQing dinner or lighting off some fireworks to celebrate Victoria Day.

The May long weekend also marks the beginning of ‘trauma season’, and our Ross Tilley Burn Centre (RTBC) has already started to see a spike in admissions of patients who have been burned in bonfires or scalded while cooking. However, there are a few simple things you can do to stay safe and injury-free.

Dr. Marc Jeschke, medical director of the RTBC at Sunnybrook, says that common sense can prevent many of the injuries they see each summer.

“In the summer, you’re more relaxed, maybe some alcohol is involved. This is when burn injuries can happen,” says Dr. Jeschke. Here are some of the most common causes of burn injuries RTBC staff see, and how to prevent them:

BBQs and fire pits

When barbecuing, Dr. Jeschke says, stick to the rules: use fireproof gear, don’t put gasoline or igniter fluid on the grill and don’t wear loose, flowing clothing while cooking.

“With loose clothing, you turn around quickly or get too close, and the fire ignites the clothes. You then have a major injury for no reason whatsoever,” says Dr. Jeschke.

He recommends waiting until after you’ve finished cooking to consume alcohol. The same principle applies to tabletop fireplaces, which have been growing in popularity as a backyard patio feature.

“These can be dangerous because they’re at the exact same height as small children and pets. Keep loose clothing away from these too, and don’t throw any accelerants on them,” he says.

Ethanol-fueled fire pots

Ethanol-fueled fire pots are often more decorative in nature, set on tabletops or in small bowls or pots, but don’t let that fool you: they are dangerous because they use highly flammable fuels, like butane and ethanol. In fact, Health Canada issued a consumer warning in 2019 and asked manufacturers to stop selling these products.

“Explosions can happen when you try to re-light the fire, because there can still be fumes or low flames that can ignite during the refuelling process,” says Anne Hayward, a social worker at the RTBC.

If you have an ethanol-fueled fire pot at home, Dr. Jeschke recommends getting rid of it.

“We’ve seen way too many people injured while refueling ethanol fire pots. It can happen to anyone. They are dangerous, and they can be deadly,” he says.

The post Tips for preventing burn injuries this summer appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Our long winter means I want to get outside ASAP. I know I’m not the only one who wants to shake off the winter cobwebs with some fresh air!

But before we do, remember these tips from a dermatologist to help us protect our skin from the sun.

A history of sunburns increases the risk of skin cancer, including melanomas. Sun exposure can also cause wrinkles, dry skin and age spots.

Dr. Mary McKenzie, dermatologist in Sunnybrook’s Melanoma Clinic, recommends using a sunscreen 30 SPF or higher if you will be outside. Some make-up and face creams now have SPF between 15 and 30 – that’s OK for your daily use. (For example, if you are just going from your house to car to head to the grocery story and back but not spending time outside, that makeup will provide enough coverage.) If you’ll be outside longer — to take a walk, sit in the backyard or wait in line outside of the hardware store, reach for an SPF 30 or higher. If your skin gets irritated after applying sunscreen, try a mineral formula. If you tend to break out after applying sunscreen, try a formula that is made for acne-prone skin.

While skin cancer is more common in people with light or pale skin, red hair or freckled skin, people with other skin types and tones are not without risk. People of all complexions should also wear sunscreen daily and practice sun safety.

Lips are super sensitive, and should be protected from the sun, particularly when you are near water (which reflects the sun). Try a chapstick with 30 SPF or more. And reapply often. Some colour lipsticks also offer SPF protection.

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the commonly missed places — your ears, tops of your feet and hands. Wear a hat to protect the top of your scalp (in particular if your hair is thin, fair or if you are bald) or apply sunscreen on the top of your head. Dr. McKenzie says the top of the head is a common trouble spot when it comes to skin cancers.

Cover up or find shade

There are ways to cover up besides sunscreen. Wear light, long-sleeve clothing to protect your skin. Linens are nice and airy. Or there’s sun-protective clothing available too. Wear a hat. Avoid the outdoors mid-afternoon when the sun is at its peak. Seek shade. Carry an umbrella.

And wear shades

Dr. McKenzie doesn’t recommend putting sunscreen on your eyelids – sweat can make the sunscreen run into the eyes and sting. Sunglasses do double duty – they protect the eyeballs and the eyelids. So don’t forget them!

If you find your eyes do sting (often from sunscreen mixed with forehead sweat) try a mineral sunscreen.

Rub it in

Be sure to put a thick coating of sunscreen on your skin (about a shot glass worth) and rub it in. If you are using a spray sunscreen, keep the bottle close to the skin when you spray. “With the spray bottles, it’s a little harder to tell if you’ve missed a spot,” Dr. McKenzie says. “Be sure to still rub it in and use enough sunscreen.” Don’t spray it in the wind – you want to make sure it’s getting onto your body.

After sun

Is there anything we can do to feel better or minimize a sunburn’s effects? Dr. McKenzie says try a mild cortisone cream, available over-the-counter, to reduce the inflammation. But, most importantly, try to avoid the burn by using sunscreen and following the other tips above.

(This post was reviewed and updated April 28, 2023)

The post How to practice sun safety and protect your skin appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Whether you’re staying in the city, heading to a cottage or taking your chances with the weather and going camping, there are a few simple things you can do to stay safe and injury-free.

Dr. Marc Jeschke, medical director of Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre (RTBC), says that common sense can prevent many of the injuries his centre sees each summer.

“In the summer, you’re more relaxed, maybe some alcohol is involved. This is when burn injuries can happen,” says Dr. Jeschke. Here are some of the most common causes of burn injuries RTBC staff see, and how to prevent them:

BBQs

When barbecuing, Dr. Jeschke says, stick to the rules: use fireproof gear, don’t put gasoline or igniter fluid on the grill and don’t wear loose, flowing clothing while cooking.

“With loose clothing, you turn around quickly or get too close, and the fire ignites the clothes. You then have a major injury for no reason whatsoever,” says Dr. Jeschke.

He recommends waiting until after you’ve finished cooking to consume alcohol. The same principle applies to tabletop fireplaces, which have been growing in popularity as a backyard patio feature.

“These can be dangerous because they’re at the exact same height as small children and pets. Keep loose clothing away from these too, and don’t throw any accelerants on them,” he says.

Camping

When camping, there can be a lack of familiarity with the tools you’re using. For example, while you use your stove at home every day, you don’t use your camp stove every day. The same goes for cooking over an open fire or refilling lamps with kerosene or gasoline.

“Do not pour gasoline or another igniter fluid onto a fire that’s already burning, whether it’s a bonfire or a camping lamp. The fire can come right back up into the container you’re holding, which will then explode,” he says.

Always have a container of water nearby or a garden hose on standby before starting the fire.

Fireworks

“Fireworks can be dangerous because if a large number of fireworks blow up, you get explosive burns,” says Dr. Jeschke.

Read safety instructions for fireworks before using them, and don’t let children be around them unattended. Don’t use fireworks inappropriately, like letting them explode in your hands or holding them while igniting them.

If you do suffer a burn:

If it’s a significant burn, call 911. While waiting for help to arrive, don’t put butter, vinegar, oil or lemons on the burn.

“The best initial treatment for all burns is cool running water. Don’t soak the injured area, just let the water run over it,” says Dr. Jeschke.

The post How to fireproof your summertime plans appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Don’t shy away from warm meals

While you make not feel like something hot, it actually might help to cool you off. A warm meal can make you sweat, which is our bodies’ way of lowering our temperature.

If you opt to leave the oven off and use the barbecue instead, be sure you minimize charring the meat to help prevent cancer, and follow these BBQ safety tips. You can serve the meals with fresh greens or a tomato salad.

Use your slow cooker – it won’t heat up the house the way some ovens do. If you cook, make extra so you can eat that the next day and save yourself from cooking again. You also have an option to freeze these for a later date if you have freezer space.

Eat food that feels fresh

Think green, red, yellow or orange peppers, watermelon, crispy carrots, leafy green salad. Visit your local farmers’ market for fresh produce. Check out what’s in season.

Minimize salty foods

Eating high salt foods can lead to water retention, and can result in more swelling and bloating, particularly noticeable during hot weather. Reach for foods that are lower in salt. There are a number of lower sodium choices available.

Drink lots of water 

This sounds like a cliché, but we are serious. Drink more water when the weather is hot. Not a fan? Slice a cucumber, lemon or strawberries and keep a fruit-infused water jug in the fridge. Unsweetened herbal iced teas, and even cold soups are also refreshing.

But you don’t have to stop drinking hot beverages—they can actually help your body feel cooler. 

Be mindful of caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, which means they can make you pee more! More trips to the washroom mean a higher chance you’ll get dehydrated.

A cold beer tastes great on a hot day, but remember to drink responsibly: stick to the recommended daily alcohol limits and alternate with water so you stay hydrated.

And if you are drinking, make sure you’re not drinking, boating, swimming or barbecuing.

Freeze some fruit

Try frozen grapes or strawberries, or chop up some fruit and put it in your freezer. It’s super refreshing, helps with hydration and is more nutritious for you than popsicles or ice cream as there is more fibre and other nutrients from the fruit.

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