After months of cold and snow, Spring Break has finally come! Sun, relaxation, and ROAD TRIPS! Of course, anyone who has gone on Spring Break knows that when you let loose, crazy things can sometimes happen. In today’s article, we talk about some of the most common Spring Break injuries we see at our Naples walk in clinic and some tips of how to treat them.
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Heat Exhaustion
It happens every year: Spring Breakers pour into Florida beaches from cold Northern climates ready to soak up rays. They bring a six-pack (or more) to the beach, spend the afternoon playing volleyball, and maybe even reapply sunscreen a couple of times. Later that afternoon, they come down with a throbbing headache and a feeling of being super thirsty and a bit weak. These are classic symptoms of heat exhaustion arising from water depletion. To perk back up, put down the beer and grab some water. Your body needs pure water – not soft drinks, juices or energy drinks.
Sometimes, heat exhaustion appears with nausea and vomiting. That is usually what happens if you’ve been sweating a lot and losing essential salts. Grab an isotonic drink like Gatorade or PowerAde to refresh your salt balance.
If symptoms persist after drinking proper fluids, drop in to our urgent care center Naples. If heat exhaustion is accompanied by persistent high body temperature, racing heart rate, or an altered mental state, this is most likely heatstroke. Go immediately to an emergency room.
2. Sun Poisoning
In the Midwest, where winter temperatures regularly hover around 20 degrees, your skin isn’t seeing the sun very often. Fast forward to Spring Break when you strip down to your bathing suit and hit the beach. Even if you put sunscreen on in the morning, if you don’t reapply, you are at risk for sunburn.
Most regular sunburns can be treated with aloe, extra fluid intake and ibuprofen, but if your sunburn is bad enough, it can cause you to get blisters, swelling, and even an upset stomach as your body tries to return to homeostasis. In this case, it’s best to go to our Naples urgent care center for medical treatment.
3. Jellyfish Sting
If there is one thing that the Great Lakes don’t have, it’s jellyfish. But they do exist in the Gulf of Mexico! When you are spending your Spring Break in Naples and you go for a dip at Fort Myers Beach or Marco Island, there is always a chance of coming into contact with a jellyfish. You’ll know you got stung if you can see tentacle marks; you feel something strange on your leg and it begins to itch or swell; or you simply have a burning pain on the surface of your skin after a swim in the ocean.
If you get stung, the best first aid is to treat it with vinegar and soak the skin in hot water. Contrary to popular belief, urine, alcohol, and seawater are not great first-aid options. If the itching or pain persists, visiting our urgent care center in Naples is your best bet, as the doctor can prescribe antihistamines or corticosteroids to treat the itchiness.
Sometimes symptoms can be worse, including stomach pain and vomiting or muscle spasms. If you experience these symptoms or the jellyfish has stung your face or eye, go to an emergency room immediately.
Naples walk in clinic
Naples walk in clinic from First Care is available during and after regular business hours to provide medical care to Spring Break vacationers and Naples residents alike. If you have experienced one of the above ailments or you come down a minor illness or injury on Spring Break like a sprain or strain; a fever or sore throat; a cut or laceration; or even need a pregnancy test, our urgent care center Naples is available.