Summer is supposed to be fun for the whole family. That being said, the last thing you want to do is frantically search for an “urgent care near me” because one of your little ones spent a little too much time outside without the protection of sunscreen.
And even if you do provide the most diligent at-home care, your child may be visiting friends or at summer camp and experience the damaging impact of a harsh summer sun.

So, what’s a parent to do? Keep reading to learn some of the ways you can provide the best sun protection for your little one this year.

Kids Need Special Sunscreen

Chances are that you can spend more time outdoors in the sun without wearing sun protection than your little one can. There’s a reason for that. Your child’s skin is different from yours and requires a different level of care. For best protection, make sure that you purchase – and APPLY — specially formulated sunscreen creams for kids that protect against both UVA and UVB rays and contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide with an SPF rating of 30 or above.

Timing is Everything

Another way to avoid searching for an emergency room in Waco after a hot Texas day is to keep out of the sun between the 10:00 in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon. These are prime hours for the most intense UV rays, even if it’s not extremely hot outside. Instead of planning outdoor time, instead choose indoor activities like lunch, naps, and reading. If you do find that you need to be out during these peak skin-damaging hours, try to keep your little one’s skin covered with breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. And don’t forget the hat!

These Two Go Hand-in-Hand

When it comes to summer, kids will run, play, and sweat. And when your child sweats, there’s a good chance he or she will develop prickly heat from clogged sweat glands. The best prevention is to make sure that your child takes a fresh-water bath or shower after being outside. If you see a rash develop, you can treat it with calamine lotion. However, if the condition worsens, it could be a sign of a more serious condition, and a trip to Express ER in Waco can help in its diagnosis and treatment.

Common Summer Allergies Affecting Children

It is common for children to have allergies from grass and pollen to insect bites and sun exposure. Some of the typical summer allergies that might require urgent care for kids in the summer are:

• Hay fever: Also called allergic rhinitis, it is a common allergy caused by exposure to pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds.
• Insect bites and stings: Mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and other insects can cause allergic reactions in some children. Symptoms can range from mild swelling and itching to more severe reactions like anaphylaxis.
• Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: Contact with these plants can cause an itchy rash, blisters, and swelling. Children who are sensitive to these plants should avoid them.
• Sun sensitivity: Some children may be allergic to the sun, which can cause a rash or hives. The condition is known as polymorphic light eruption (PMLE).

Severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis might require immediate medical intervention. At our emergency room in Waco, we provide immediate care and administer life-saving treatments such as epinephrine, antihistamines, and steroids.

Heat Strokes

Besides these allergies, heat stroke is another thing to look for, especially if the mercury rises in the summer. It occurs when your body’s internal temperature rises to a dangerous level, and the body can’t cool down. Children are more susceptible to heat stroke because their bodies have difficulty regulating temperature.

Symptoms of heat stroke in children include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, high body temperature, and decreased urine output.

At Express ER, our trained staff can quickly initiate heat stroke emergency treatment and administer intravenous fluids to resuscitate the child and restore electrolyte balance.

Accidents and falls while playing, especially while jumping on a trampoline, are expected during the summer. Express Emergency Room is prepared to treat a child experiencing bleeding, fractures, or dislocations due to falls.