Holidays are one of the most anticipated times of the year . The possibility of leaving routines behind for at least a few days, traveling or simply staying home to dedicate yourself to “dolce far niente”, that enjoyment of doing nothing, is a temptation that is difficult to resist. But you also have to be vigilant .

In that relaxation and "disconnect" from everything accidents can happen: burns, poisoning, blows and traumatisms . Enjoying and being prevented are not two incompatible activities. Here, the best prevention tips and guarantee the well-deserved rest without frights .

What to do in case of burns

Whether we are at the beach or in the mountains or we have stayed at home, summer and heat invite us to spend more time outdoors.

It doesn't matter if we find ourselves surrounded by a paradisiacal landscape, on the balcony or on a baloney, the truth is that at this time we spend more hours exposed to the sun and the risk of skin burns increases . How do we prevent them? Florencia Salvo, dermatologist (MN140.016 / MP3.270), highlighted in dialogue with GO Noticias that “ the main thing to always keep in mind is to take care of the skin from the sun, look for high sun protection factors (50+) and renew it every two hours or when getting in and out of the water .” Another key, she added, is " avoid exposing yourself to the sun at critical times, from 12 to 4 pm ", since in that time slot " the incidence of rays affects much more ".

“ The skin suffers a lot from solar radiation, which can cause burns and even future cancer. That is why it is important to take care of it with protectors that have double action: UVB and UVA protection , ”she explained.

How to choose the right sunscreen? “ It is recommended to use protectors whose FPS is greater than or equal to 50 ”, said Salvo, who clarified that for babies and children, protection greater than 60 FPS or even blockers is required. Other tips: wear hats and t-shirts or clothing with UV protection.

Now, what should we do if —despite following these recommendations— we suffer a sunburn? As a first measure, the doctor advises consulting a dermatologist . She also " suspend exposure" to the sun and "moisturize the skin well with refreshing and post-solar gels ."

How to avoid poisoning?

Another problem that can make vacations bitter is poisoning , since high temperatures increase the risk of contracting diseases transmitted by food in poor condition or poorly refrigerated.

It happens that spending the day in the sand or in a park often means having lunch or a snack away from home. Many vacationers carry food and "snacks" in coolers or lunchboxes. But when the day in the sun is longer than expected, food can lose the cold chain and become a problem .

How to avoid poisoning? The Ministry of Health recommends on its website to keep foods that can be spoiled by heat refrigerated . And on suspicion that a product may have lost the cold chain, they advise discarding them.

To know if a food has lost the cold chain or not, they recommend observing its smell, color or texture. If they are abnormal, they should be ruled out .

Foods that can be out of the refrigerator, such as a piece of fruit or a package of cookies, should be kept in cool places and not exposed to the sun . As long as perishables —such as, for example, a sandwich containing beef, chicken or cold cuts— that have been out of the refrigerator for two hours or more, should not be consumed .

What can happen if I ate spoiled food?

As explained by Andrea Calzetta, a member of the General Coordination for the Approval of Food Products of the National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa), the consequences are, in general, “gastrointestinal episodes that do not require hospitalization. They are short pictures that are limited to diarrhea, vomiting, nausea. In any case, she clarified that there may be more serious cases that require medical assistance, so in the event of symptoms of discomfort, it is recommended to consult a specialist.

Another mistake that is often made when we are away from home is to buy food at street stalls or from street vendors, whose origin or preparation are unknown. Therefore, the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) advises not to consume products that do not have information on their date of manufacture and that do not have guarantees about the conditions in which they were made.

Blows, injuries and accidents

On vacation we tend to “lower our guard” and commit carelessness that can lead to accidents. Some minor —such as blows and falls— and others with consequences that can be serious. How to prevent the most common?

Every year, on tourist replacement dates, traffic accidents occur on the routes with injuries or fatalities that —in some cases— can be avoided by simply complying with current regulations. For this reason, the Ministry of Health recalled a series of tips to avoid road accidents:

Another risk situation that can surprise us when we are on vacation on beaches and rivers are electrical storms . How to act in these cases? As a first measure, from the health portfolio they advise getting out of the water and leaving the beach. It is also important to wear shoes. Other recommendations: do not take shelter from the storm under trees, umbrellas or parasols and stay away from metal objects.

When we are in the water, whether in a club pool or in the sea, always respect the recommendations of the lifeguards and respect the zones and times allowed for swimming .

If we are in the pool at home, there always has to be someone of legal age who knows how to swim controlling the boys, since they can drown in minutes, even in shallow depths.

Where to call in an emergency

No matter how careful you are, the risks of having an accident always exist. For this reason, it is advisable to have the emergency telephone numbers at hand to call in case you need them: