It's not often that we see the sun. So in the summer months, it's tempting to make the most of the warm weather. But letting the children play in the garden and having friends round for barbecues isn't always as safe as it seems. Cuts and bruises, burns and stings are just some of the injuries that can be sustained in the garden. But before reaching for expert medical help, there's action that can be taken at home. Deep cuts you can't cover with a plaster Children often fall over when playing out in the summer and sometimes a plaster just won't cut it on slightly deeper wounds. It's often handy to have first aid items such as Nexcare Steri-Strip skin closures close to hand. Wash the wound and dry with a clean non-fluffy cloth and apply a Steri-Strip dressing to hold the edges of wounds together. Bee and wasp stings These are one of the most common summer injuries and can cause panic among anxious parents. Swelling around the site of the sting is perfectly normal but if your child is having breathing difficulties or has developed a rash, call 999 as they may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Do not squeeze the sting out as this may force venom in to the blood stream - instead scrape it out with a credit card. Wash the area with warm water and soap then apply an ice pack and if the sting area continues to be swollen or itchy, ask a pharmacist to suggest an antihistamine treatment. Sunburn It's tempting to make the most of tanning time when the sun comes out, however, if you spend too long in the sunshine your skin may burn and become red and itchy. If blisters start appearing and you feel sick or dizzy you will need to seek medical assistance. Otherwise, stay out of the sunshine and rest, cool down with a cold bath for ten minutes and drink frequent sips of water. Food Poisoning Food poisoning in summer is common, owing to poor food storage and preparation for picnics and undercooked barbecued meat. Drink plenty of water and rest. When the nausea subsides, eat plain food such as crackers, rice or bread. Other top summer health tips: * Never sit in the midday sun. * Ensure children wear a T-shirt and cap - as shown above - when in the sunshine. * Always wear sunscreen whatever your skin type and reapply regularly and after being in water. * Always drink plenty of clear non-alcoholic fluids to prevent de-hydration. * Keep a well-stocked first aid kit handy to cope with any mishaps easily. | 
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