Sunburned skin
Whenever possible, people stay outdoors at the cottage, and sunscreen bottles can easily get forgotten at the back of cupboards. But you should still remember to protect yourself from the sun when you’re at the cottage.
Once burnt by the sun, it’s easy to burn again.
Burnt skin becomes red, hot, itchy and scarred.
First aid:
Cool the burned skin with cool water or place a cool, moist compress on the sore spot. Drink plenty of water.
Moisturise the skin with a moisturiser or after sun cream for several days. You can also soothe the skin with a mild hydrocortisone cream. Symptoms can also be relieved with oral NSAIDs and hydrocortisone tablets taken for one or two days.
In future, protect the sunburned area from the sun as it is prone to burning again. Seek medical attention if the burned area is extensive or very painful, or if nausea, headache and fever occur.
Hookworm in the skin
Fishing is fun, except when a human trap gets caught on the hook.
In most cases, it is best to have the hook removed by a doctor.
First aid:
Small foreign objects, such as sticks and pieces of metal, can often be removed from the skin by pulling. The shape of the fishhook is tricky: pulling on it can make it stick more firmly.
If the tip of the hook has pierced the skin and become visible, cut off the tip. This way, the force at the tip of the hook will not prevent the hook from being pulled out of the wound. Clean with an antiseptic solution and protect the wound.
Removing the hook may be difficult. It is often safest to have it removed by a doctor.
