Ah, the great outdoors. Though as germ-phobic and risk-averse as Americans have become, are we still able to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and critters and plants that come along with it? There’s no need to obsess over every slithering four-, six-, or eight-legged creature out there, but it’s important to be informed and prepared. Some appropriate precautions should become second nature. www.healthcentral.com/asthma/asthma-in-children-253479-5.htmlwww.pediatrics.about.com/od/pediatricadvice/a/summer-camp.htmwww.training-cpr-first-aid.com.

The Center for Disease Control’s website puts camping risks into perspective. Start with cdc.gov/family/camping. Regardless of the season or activity, remember to keep first aid kits stocked and accessible and medication refills current, and provide up-to-date medical records to schools, camps and programs. Keep vaccinations current, too, especially tetanus for kids and adults.

Colleen Atkinson and Doug Lo Presti, EMTs and state-certified emergency medical services instructors who have trained many daycare and healthcare professionals, sports coaches, and individuals along the shoreline communities through their Old Lyme company, Critical Skills Education and Training, say that often times we discount one of the highest risks out there: heat illness.

“Heat illness is insidious, it sneaks up on people,” says Lo Presti, who recommends that parents and caregivers become familiar with the symptoms and to recognize that the condition can escalate very rapidly or unexpectedly.

“Everyone expects to get hot and sweaty out in the sun, mowing the lawn, or golfing, so they don’t pay attention to the symptoms,” he says. “But children are much more susceptible to this than we adults realize. It sneaks up to an ill-defined line between stage one and two, and then it suddenly becomes life threatening and you can’t stop heat stroke outside of a hospital.”

The first stage, heat cramps, includes symptoms of sweating, fatigue, thirst, and muscle cramps. It’s recommended to stop the activity, move into shade, cool the body, and hydrate well.

While electrolyte drinks help, Lo Presti says to pay attention if a child isn’t sweating or isn’t peeing regularly. Get them out of the sun and cooled down. The same goes for adults. Hats shade the head, but can also hold in the heat.

“As Little League and soccer coaches, we’re all used to the kid that stands out in right field in the sun and isn’t moving much. He looks normal from 50 feet away, but he’s probably close to heat exhaustion, or stage two,” he says.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache; lightheadedness; nausea and vomiting; cool, moist skin; and dark urine, all signs of increasing dehydration. At this stage, remove outer clothing and hats, get the person to lie or sit down, and apply more intensive cooling efforts, including ice.

 In the third stage, heat stroke, a person may show signs of extreme confusion; dry, hot skin; rapid, weak pulse; fever; and irrational behavior. This calls for aggressive cooling efforts and emergency care.

While it’s wise to restrict physical exertion when the external temperature hits 85 degrees and humidity nears 85 percent, heat illness isn’t just a hot summer affliction, Atkinson points out.

“Heat emergencies can occur in the cold weather and cold emergencies can occur in the hot weather,” she says. “You think about the adult shoveling snow, exerting [him- or herself], or the kid all bundled up and playing in the snow. They could have heat illness. On the flip side, a child swimming in the ocean in the heat of summer who turns blue is experiencing a cold emergency in 100 degree weather.”

Atkinson and Lo Presti suggest these websites for more information on safety and specific conditions:

For campers and adults suffering asthma and related breathing disorders, visit

For general information on summer camp safety, visit

See Critical Skills’ website for upcoming AHA HeartSaver First Aid and AHA CPR/AED classes: