Taking the Sting out of Summer Fun -Make it a season for 'wow' instead of 'ow'

Scrapes and abrasions: Rinse the area with water to remove debris and wash well with soap and warm water. Most abrasions will scab over naturally. However, large ones may require a sterile dressing. In that case, apply an antibiotic cream to the area to prevent the dressing from sticking to the abrasion; check and change the dressing each day. Call for help if: you have trouble cleaning a wound; notice pus or drainage, increasing tenderness or redness around the site; or a fever develops, which can be a sign of infection.

Insect bites: Scrape a stinger out with a blunt object, such as a credit card. Wash the area several times a day with soap and water to avoid infection. Mix a paste of baking soda and water and apply for 20 minutes along with an ice pack to reduce swelling. Call for help if: there is a large area of swelling, hives, fainting, nausea, abnormal breathing, tightness in the chest or throat, dizziness or constant pain or swelling for more than 72 hours. Also, any sting around the mouth area warrants immediate medical attention because this can cause severe swelling and block airways.