What did you guys do last summer? Stay home in your bubble? Same. Same. Same. We missed out on a lot, and now, we are anxious to get back to “normal”. We are living in a time where peoples comfort levels on interaction are a continuum of “business as usual”, and BAU means different strokes for different folks.
If I am being honest, my little fam bam is still airing on the side of caution. Even though we are fully vaccinated (Except CJ), and Lily is gaining antibodies through breastmilk, we still do not want to get sick and want to be as socially responsible as possible. We are traveling a little bit to see family this month, which means extra precautions and thoughts surrounding staying healthy.
Thankfully, here in Florida, much of our time is spent outside and since there is so much to do here in South Florida, we are able to venture out in a manner that suites our lifestyle. With that said, we went to Disney World a few weeks ago and it was our first experience being around unmasked people. So, what do you think happened? Of course, we picked up a little cold. It took all my energy to chase a toddler around and ask him NOT to put his fingers up his dang nose. I failed on multiple occasions.
Was I worried it was COVID-19? Heck yes! Upon return, CJ had a runny nose, but no other symptoms and Cory and I both had a tickle in our throat. We immediately went to get tested and thankfully, everyone came back negative, but it got us thinking that staying healthy should really still be at the forefront of mind and if it means continuing to take precautions like social distancing, mask wearing and sanitizing, then we are here for it all.
For any and all of our family medical needs here we turn to Baptist Health South Florida.
Their Urgent Care Express locations offer Rapid Antigen and PCR tests needed for summer travel or school. Although they no longer offer vaccines, the article says that you can find vaccine resources a vaccines.gov or schedule an appointment at your local Publix, CVS or Walgreens and highly recommends getting vaccinated if you plan on a summer cruise or airplane.
If you are in need of a school physical
Baptist Health Urgent Care Express is offering sports, camp and school physical exams for just $25. Physical exams last an average of 30 minutes and include:
Vital signs, height, weight and vision, and a complete exam usually takes about 30 minutes.
@BaptistHealthSF
And of course, its summer and temps are at a HIGH! Which means more time spent outside this summer. One must exercise caution and try their best not to get caught up outside without proper attire, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Heat stroke can occur when the body reaches an internal temperature above 104. “At that point, you can suffer permanent damage to your brain and other vital organs.” Wearing light, loose-fitting clothes, drinking plenty of fluids and not over-exerting – particularly during the hottest part of the day – can help prevent heat stroke, says Katie Acquino, D.O., medical director for Baptist Health Urgent Care Express in Palm Beach County.
To my fellow people of color, you are included in the risk of summer sun and fun exposure this summer! Here are 5 things you should know about your risk of skin cancer.
You should practice self-exams: Dr. Braghiroli says that 75 percent of skin cancers diagnosed in people of color are in areas that are not exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands, nail beds, soles of the feet, inside the mouth and/or the genitalia area. Due to the locations of these skin cancers, there is a higher mortality rate for people of color as diagnosis is often delayed. As such, self-exams are extremely important.
Always Use Sunscreen: I understand that certain mineral sunscreens may leave a chalky residue that shows on dark skin, but formulations have evolved! Don’t omit, do your research and find one that works for your tone and creates a barrier! Make sure it is Benzene Free.
Understand the Signs of Melanoma: A surprising stat according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “the estimated five-year melanoma survival rate for blacks is 67 percent versus 92 percent for Whites.”
Know Your Family History: Naiara Abreu Fraga Braghiroli, M.D., dermatologist and skin cancer specialist at Miami Cancer InstituteAdditional risk factors to be mindful of are having a lot of moles (more than 50), scars from a previous trauma, and chronic/open wounds. “People who have HPV, smokers, has an autoimmune disease or who are immunosuppressed are also at greater risk for developing skin cancer,” she says.
Be Sun Smart: Wear protective clothing, stay out of the sun during peak hours of 10-2 PM and always use sunscreen.
I wanted to share more on this topic, right from the experts. Have fun this summer, but make sure you proceed with caution. Minor precautions can keep you safe and healthy long term!