Easy Patch-Ups for 8 Common Summer Mishaps

By Miranda Crowell

Every season has its share of ouches, eeks, and uh-ohs, but summer seems to have the most. From grill burns to sunburns and bug bites to cuts, this first-aid primer covers the prep work, so you can get on with the fun.

The knife will slip, the bee will sting -- and you’ll be ready to fly to the rescue. Here’s your rip-out-and-save guide to summer setbacks (superhero cape not included).

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Ibuprofen, cold compress, skin cream or petroleum jelly

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Take ibuprofen right away, says Lisa Garner, a professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Apply cold compresses to relieve pain, and a thick cream (such as Cetaphil) or petroleum jelly to hydrate.

Call the Doctor if

The burn is blistering or widespread.

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Ibuprofen, cold compress, petroleum jelly, nonstick bandage or gauze

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Dermatologists recommend treating a first-degree burn (red but not blistering) much like a sunburn, running cool water over it, but also covering it with a bandage. “The faster you can take the temperature down, the better,” says Garner.

Call the Doctor if

The burn is blistering or larger than a couple of inches.

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Credit card or tweezers, antihistamine or itch reliever

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Scrape or pull out the stinger with a credit card or tweezers, says Paul Auerbach, a professor of emergency medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. An antihistamine (Benadryl) or itch reliever (After Bite) can keep you from scratching.

Call the Doctor if

Your throat swells or you can’t breathe (signs of severe allergic reaction); the area gets dark or purple (possible infection or spreading toxin).

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Juice or sports drink

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Get out of the sun; rehydrate with a non-caffeinated, nonalcoholic beverage. “One with sugar, salt, or electrolytes works better for rehydration than plain water,” says Lisa Dabby, an emergency-room doctor at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.

Call the Doctor if

You have symptoms of heatstroke: fainting, nausea or vomiting, confusion, seizures, weak breathing, or a fever of 104 degrees or higher.

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Soap and water, 1 percent hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion

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Wash the area with soap and water, ideally within 15 minutes, says New York City dermatologist Jessica Krant, and toss your clothes in the washer. After that, it’s just about managing the itch—hydrocortisone or calamine is usually enough.

Call the Doctor if

The rash is widespread or you can’t get relief.

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Seawater, credit card, hot water, oral antihistamine or calamine lotion

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Rinse it with seawater (not fresh); brush off the stinging cells with a credit card. Then immerse the sting in hot water, which deactivates the toxin. If the spot remains painful, take an antihistamine or apply calamine for up to two weeks.

Call the Doctor if

You have any signs of an allergic reaction: trouble breathing, extreme swelling, low blood pressure, or seizures.

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Pain reliever (such as acetaminophen), elastic bandage, ice pack

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Take a pain reliever, then wrap the area and keep it elevated while applying an ice pack. “Non-weight-bearing movements speed up recovery,” says Thomas Kaminski, director of athletic-training education at the University of Delaware.

Call the Doctor if

You can’t walk, the area is swelling, or the pain is severe.

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Soap and water, gauze, bandage

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Clean it with soap and water. Then apply pressure with a clean towel or gauze for 10 minutes to stop the bleeding before bandaging it, says Dabby.

Call the Doctor if

The bleeding won’t stop in 10 minutes or the wound is deep and gushing.