Be prepared: First aid products for summer's mishaps

Key Points

Summertime, and the living is ... well, fraught with opportunity for scratches, scrapes, bruises, stings, bites, cuts, strains, sprains, and broken bones. People are far more frequently exposed to accident and injury during the summer months; for one thing, it's the season for many risky activities, and for another, when we're on vacation we tend to let safety concerns slide.

Whether the cause is a vacation sports accident or a summer home-repair job gone wrong, your patients will be looking for first aid help, from antiseptics to bandages to pain relief. Fortunately, several companies are offering new ways to relieve the stress of summertime mishaps.

Health Enterprises

Here's how it works: The patient wraps the vinyl cast cooler around the cast and attaches the nozzle to a standard vacuum cleaner hose. Turning on the vacuum allows air to flow between the skin and cast, removing moisture and cooling the skin. Since nothing touches the skin, the cast stays fresh and bacteria, itch, and odor are significantly reduced.

The product is not tested on animals and it contains no animal ingredients.