More summer survival tips

Ward off swimmer's ear (and get the right treatment)
When water's trapped in the ear canal, bacteria can grow (ouch!). What to do:
• Have your child wear ear plugs if he's susceptible to ear infections.
• Put two or three drops of rubbing alcohol or a fifty-fifty mix of alcohol and white vinegar in each ear after a long swim, to help excess water evaporate.
• If there is an infection, the doctor should prescribe antibiotic eardrops (not pills) and painkillers. Have your child lie on his side, use a dropper, and keep him that way for three minutes.

Ride out thunderstorms
What to do wherever you are, from Jeannine Trezvant, education associate at Boston's Museum of Science:
Out and about?
• Stop swimming. Bodies of water are good conductors of electricity.
• Seek shelter. Your car's the best spot. Or take cover as far as possible from tall trees or poles.
At home?
• Stay off the phone and out of the bathtub. Lightning bolts can travel down any wire, down metal pipes, and even through flowing water itself.
To make it less scary for kids...
• Count the seconds between the flash and the crash. (Five seconds means it's a mile away.) As the count goes up, it means the storm is passing.

Stock up
You've got bandages and antiseptic, but don't forget these first-aid-kit essentials:
• Tweezers, to remove ticks, splinters, and bee stings.
• Aspirin, which you can wet and rub onto skin to reduce itching and swelling after a bug bite or a bee sting.

Keep everyone hydrated
• Plan ahead. If you know you'll be hitting the beach or it's predicted to be especially hot, inscrease fluids the day before.
• Push drinks, even if she doesn't ask for 'em. Kids don't know when to stop playing when they need a drink, so you'll have to be their thirst-o-meter. "They should be drinking at least four ounces every two hours, and more if they're really active," says Ellen Schumann, M.D., a Weston, Wisconsin, pediatrician.
• Infants also need more fluids when it's hot outside -- but not water, which can mess up their electrolyte balance. Instead, breastfeed or offer more bottles than usual.

UV-protective swimwear and clothing provided by Tuga, Shark Suit, and Cabana Life.

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