Health First aid
Summer
first aid
We all want to enjoy our summer, whether we're going abroad or holidaying at home. When you're out and about it can be easy to worry about your family's health. Here are our top tips to treat common health concerns this summer
From minor injuries to long-term health conditions, we have everything you need to look after yourself and your family this summer.
Cuts and grazes
What you need: Sterile adhesive dressings (eg plasters).
What you should do: First stop the bleeding by applying pressure using a clean and dry absorbent material. Apply a plaster and change as often as necessary. After a few days the wound should be closed, so you can take the plaster off.
Blisters
What you need: Soft plasters or dressing (ask your local Careway pharmacist about special plasters designed to treat and protect blisters).
What you should do: Blisters should heal on their own within a week. If you have one that’s likely to burst, cover it with a plaster or dressing. See your GP if:
• A blister is very painful or keeps coming back.
• The skin looks infected. • The blister is in an unusual place.
• Several blisters have appeared for no reason.
• A blister was caused by a burn or scald, sunburn or an allergic reaction.
32 All About health Asthma
What you need: Your usual asthma medication.
What you should do: Make sure you’re using your inhalers as prescribed – you should use your preventer inhaler every day to prevent asthma symptoms, and your reliever inhaler when you need to quickly relieve your symptoms for a short time. If your symptoms are getting worse and you’re using your reliever inhaler frequently, speak to your GP or pharmacist as soon as possible.
Allergies
What you need: Allergy medicines, including antihistamines, decongestants, creams, sprays, tablets and drops. Many allergy relief medicines are available over the counter at your local pharmacy – ask your pharmacist for details.
What you should do: If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms, try to avoid whatever is triggering the reaction. Be careful what you eat if you have food allergies, put an allergy barrier balm around your nostrils to trap pollen and wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes if you have hayfever, and use allergy-proof duvets and pillows if you’re allergic to dust mites. When you can’t avoid your triggers, allergy medicines help relieve your symptoms.
Sunburn
What do you need: Aloe vera lotion or calamine lotion, plenty of cold water.
What should you do: Sunburn is skin damaged caused by the sun’s rays. It can be sore and tender, and may start to flake and peel after a few days. But usually your skin will be healed within seven days. Treat it by getting out of the sun as quickly as possible and cooling your skin by having a cold bath or shower. You can also sponge your skin down with cold water or hold a cold flannel to it. When your skin no longer feels hot, apply aloe vera or calamine lotion, and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Pain relief
If you have any type of pain this summer – from that caused by a headache, toothache, sunburn or muscular aches – your local Careway pharmacist can recommend the right type of painkiller to treat it. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are
available to buy over the counter at pharmacies – your pharmacist can help you choose which one would be the most effective. They can also advise you about painkillers for children. Everything you need to take care of
your health this summer is available at your local Careway pharmacy. Find your nearest pharmacy at
www.careway.co.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
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