From dehydration to cuts and bruises, Michelle Lyons writes about the fun and the hazards of the season as summer comes to an end
When the bells ring out for the last time this school year, chaos ensues.
How will we occupy these energetic little humans?
Have we booked enough camps to keep them busy for the next couple of months?
How long is left until they’re back on that classroom?
Summer begins. Children are out playing from dawn ‘til dusk, adults are acting like kids again, all because it’s that time of year were it’s expected to act like a feral animal, summer equals fun!
Summer also brings out other ailments like dehydration, burnt skin, nasty little insect bites, strains, sprains and breaks.
The more we interact with one and other, the more chance there is of getting hurt. Falls from skates or bikes that require paper stitches. The catch of the ball that ends up in a strap. The red skin glowing during the day but screaming at night, the drizzly little spells that makes us falter on the move.
Responsibilities
When the suns out, we seem to forget our responsibilities and the dangers that can come with it.
A simple walk in the park can leave us in the emergency department. We’re walking food for those pesky midges. Instead of our favourite perfume/aftershave, we drowned in insect repellent and dosed up on antihistamines. Yet we still manage to look like a join-the-dot.
Not only do we worry about midges, we need to make sure we’re staying hydrated in the heat, make sure were taking our electrolytes, keeping the salts in the body to help from dehydration, cramping and dizziness. If we’re dehydrated, injuries can occur more often from our muscles needing to be watered.
Sprains and strains happen more as we’re out doing more, trying to cram as much into the day as possible, only ending up not being able to do much because we’re strapped up and need to rest for a while, swallowing pain medication with the water we should’ve been drinking more of. No-one wants to be restricted when we’re supposed to be out enjoying the bright evenings and warm days.
With the warm days brings less clothes and more skin on show. As much as we’re not used to the sunny days, it’s super important to protect our skin. Sun protector is vital. Burning and blistering is not a good look, nor is it good for the damage it does to the skin. Staying safe, sitting in the shade, using umbrellas and wearing hats might not seem so cool at the time, but your future self will be forever grateful you did.
Back to school
While the skin is cooling, the injuries are healing, the clock is ticking down and it’s back to the days of the dreaded alarm, beeping early in the morning again. School is coming back — the germs, the lice, the routine.
Most know though that the ‘routine’ starts the couple of weeks before the actual event. The nitty gritty and Lyclear defence sprays are brought out of the kitchen cupboard, and the tea tree bobbins and oils are put on the bedside table for first thing in the morning!
The prep begins to get the immune system stronger than ever, to fight off the viruses you’re sure will be caught once everyone’s herded back together, whether it be in the office or the classroom. A constant stream of vitamin C to fight off those colds, vitamin D to keep the winter blues away, and the zinc to rebuild that immune system.
From the time you find out you’re having a baby, your primal instinct is to take care of this little boy or girl. Coming into the pharmacy, asking what’s the best thing you can take, to give them the best chance in the womb. Every time they snuffle or do something different, from the book they’ve read and the Internet can’t explain, they’re straight in trying to find out what’s wrong and looking for a remedy to take their little baby’s symptoms away.
Parental anxiety
Parental anxiety is a different level of anxiety. You’re thrust into a world where you have to be responsible for a whole other life, wondering how you can take care of this little creature, when you’re barely managing yourself in that moment. Life has changed, this overwhelming sense of helplessness can take over, and that’s the best thing about coming in and asking for advice — most of the time, the staff member you’re talking to has heard it all before. Reassuring parents that this is all normal and everything you’re doing, you’re doing it right. A few reassuring words can put first-time parents at ease or those who haven’t done it in quite some time, bringing them back to the repressed memories they’ve chosen to forget!
Time goes by so quick and the journey from the cradle to the schoolyard can feel like only minutes. As the autumn months come swooshing in and everyone is settled back into routines, the mind wanders towards filling the dark nights.
Or how are once-tanned skin has gotten so dry — where did all that flaky skin come from around our feet! Jumpers, jackets, heavy socks are back, smothering our skin, and sweating our feet, giving us athletes foot. Our flip-flops never ‘done us dirty’ like that!
At this time of year it’s important to keep the skin hydrated, especially for those who suffer from dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. Once the clothes go on, the skin suffers. Emollients, such as double base, Silcock’s base and diprobase will be your best friend at this time. Keeping the skin moisturised and protected will be the main goal this season for anyone suffering with any skin issues.
Vitamins
As previously mentioned, another way of taking care of ourselves when the sun has vanished is increasing our intake of vitamin D. This plays a huge factor in the maintaining of good bone health and regulating the nervous system, and adults and babies alike should always make sure to include it as part of their supplement intake from August right through to May.
If we’re taking care of the inside and the outside of ourselves during these months, there’s no reason to lose the momentum we had during the summer months while enjoying ourselves. We may just need to get used to doing things more indoors if the weather isn’t agreeing with our plans. But there is no need to slow down in autumn, only adapt, especially when we’ll be fighting fit when that time comes!
