Feature Channels: Summer

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NewYork-Presbyterian specialists offer advice on coping with allergies.

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NewYork-Presbyterian physician offers tips to prevent and treat swimmer's ear.

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Physicians at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center International Health Care Service have prepared information necessary to minimize the change that your vacation will be disrupted by illness.

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Backyard safety isn't just bike helmets and safe play structures, but protecting kids, pets and adults from diseases like West Nile Virus and EEE. The best and most proven effective method of reducing the backyard population of dangerous biting mosquitoes is by using a combination of CO2, heat, moisture, visual cues and scent. An innovative, propane-fueled insect control technology has been developed to reduce the annoyance of biting mosquitoes and the risk of dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses, providing long-term family protection and backyard comfort.

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It's a question bedeviling every parent with a kid who plays sports: Is there anything you can do to keep your young athlete on the field and off the disabled list? The answer is yes. Tony Breitbach, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of athletic training education at Saint Louis University, says there are five things parents can do to help kids stay healthy and injury-free while playing sports this summer.

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Simple Tips to Keep Skin Safe This Summer from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

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With the arrival of August, back-to-school shopping is replacing trips to the park or pool. But it's still important to replace those almost-empty sunscreen bottles, according to a University of Iowa dermatologist.

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As temperatures soar close to and above 100 degrees this week, the construction business is affected in more ways than the obvious toll of the heat on workers.

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Many people don't realize there's a difference between sunblock and sunscreen. True to its name, sunblock reflects the sun's rays, thereby blocking them from reaching your skin. Sunscreen absorbs rather than reflects ultraviolet (UV) radiation, explains a new edition of Skin Care and Repair, a Harvard Medical School report.

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The sizzle, the smoky flavor, the grill lines"¦barbequed meats are not only delicious, but healthy too, right? It's true"”those juicy burgers, especially the charred ones, can contain cancer-causing carcinogens.

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Mosquito bites seem to come with summer. It's best to think ahead and apply an insect repellent "“ some even are combined with sunscreen to give double protection from summer hazards "“ before going out. But if you forgot and get an itchy welt, Ken Haller, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University, suggests an unusual treatment.

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Summer is a challenging time for parents of teens and pre-teens. Nancy Diacon, director of the Menninger Adolescent Treatment Program, offers tips to make the rest of the summer safe and enjoyable for you both.

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For years, the official word on tanning has been "¦ don't. Health organizations have driven home the message that the sun exposure needed to get a tan increases your chances of getting skin cancer. Recently researchers at the Harvard-affiliated Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have conducted a series of experiments that put tanning in a different light.

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Thirteen high school students arrived at the University of Mississippi earlier this week for a weeklong Summer MathCamp and walked right into what appeared to be a murder scene. Soon, they were helping police officers solve the "crime" and learning how mathematics is used in everyday life in an exercise inspired by the hit CBS television series "Numb3rs."

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You've spent days packing, weeks planning and months dreaming of your ideal summer vacation. Now that it's finally here, make sure it's a healthy one with these tips.

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Summertime is time for sun, swimming and sports. Here are some tips from John Marcucci, M.D., medical director of emergency medicine on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, on how to safely enjoy the season.

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The Fourth of July, Labor Day, New Year's Eve, and Memorial Day. Other than time off from work and a reason to get together with friends and family, what do these holidays often have in common? The oohs and awe of fireworks. From spectacular communal displays to backyard sparklers twirled in the summer night by enchanted children, Americans love an excuse to enjoy the familiar ritual of gunpowder and pyro.

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The levels of potentially harmful waterborne microorganisms in rivers, lakes and other recreational waterways may be highest when the water is most crowded with swimmers. Researchers recommend that water-quality testing be conducted during busiest times for swimmers.

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It's every kid's summer dream to climb trees, go fishing, play outdoors, take boat rides, and have slumber parties with friends. While those dreams may seem impossible for children with disabilities, a very special camp called Trail's Edge Camp has been them a reality for more than 25 years.

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As the summer weather heats up, there are many ways to get burned. To help you stay safe this summer, a U-M expert offers tips avoid some of the more common summer burns, including those from the sun and fireworks.

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Red is a color you will see a lot this Fourth of July, but it is not a color you want to see on your skin. Dr. Ara DerMarderosian, professor of biological science at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia strongly advises using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) higher than 15. He also says to reapply the sunscreen frequently.

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Summer is the official season for grilling, and there's no time like the present to get your game on. Check out the endless array of flavorful dressings, sauces and marinades in the grocery and formulate your own grilling plan. With no shortage of tasty and flavorful condiment sauces available, it's the perfect time of year to experiment with your inner flavor-meister.

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"July is National Horseradish Month and there's no better time to "˜root' around for some sizzling recipes," says The Horseradish Information Council. The Atlanta-based trade association of horseradish processors embraces this sultry month known for picnics and grilling as an optimal time to tempt the palate.

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Summer is the peak season for lightning-related injuries. During Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 24-30, NOAA and the National Weather Service are highlighting safety awareness for children.

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With summer officially here, and motorcyclists rolling their wheels out of winter storage and onto the roads, an Indiana State University driver safety expert offers tips for an accident-free riding season for the novice, as well as experienced rider. ISU has expertise in this area, being one of only three institutions contracted by the state of Indiana to offer Motorcycle Safety Program classes.

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Grandiose displays of fireworks, parades and concerts are hallmarks of celebrating the Fourth of July. According to James Heintze, American University librarian emeritus and author of the newly published "The Fourth of July Encyclopedia," not much has changed since 1776 in terms of how we celebrate America's birthday.

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From working late the night before you leave for the beach to dealing with fighting kids and tight finances"”vacations can often cause as much stress as they are supposed to relieve. Experts from The Menninger Clinic provide the following tips to help you relax and get the benefits from your much-deserved time off.

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School is out for the summer, but with parents' help, informal summer learning can be "in" with kids and help prevent the loss of what they've learned. Here are tips for introducing children to new ideas and interests that will keep their minds active and engaged.

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Maryland Assistant Professor of Education Jennifer Turner offers her annual list of great summer reading for kids of all ages.

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Ah, summer! Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie"”bugs, heat, accidents. Follow these tips to keep your family healthy this summer.

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Ruining a piece of meat isn't the only thing you need to worry about if you're cooking at high temperatures. High heat can also produce chemicals with cancer-causing properties, reports the June 2007 issue of the Harvard Health Letter.

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To help prevent the pain of kidney stones, a U-M urologist offers seven tips to help reduce your risk, and explains the techniques and medications available to treat those who develop kidney stones.

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This may be the first generation of kids who do not outlive their parents because of health problems related to childhood obesity. But parents can take action now to help prevent the early onset of these diseases. And, U-M experts say, summer is an excellent time to make some healthy lifestyle changes.

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To avoid "summer slide," parents should provide high-quality learning opportunities for children during the summer months. The Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University describes the problem and offers tips on what parents should look for.

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Pets need to be in a carrier whenever they are in a car or plane. A Purdue University veterinarian says there are tactics owners can try to make getting a pet into a carrier a bit easier.

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Summer has arrived and UCLA emergency physicians would like to remind parents how to prevent drownings and water-immersion injuries involving children.

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High school students from as far away as Hawaii and Egypt are planning trips to Rolla, Mo., next month to practice the art of blowing stuff up.

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Gardening requires a lot of bending, stretching, lifting, and moving in ways that we don't do everyday. It is important to think about good body mechanics and physical conditioning before you start getting that garden in shape says Dr. Paula Kramer, chair of Occupational Therapy at USP.

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High gas prices putting a crimp in your summer vacation plans? Head out the back door to experience a night with Mother Nature. You don't need to go to Yosemite to experience the great outdoors and the National Wildlife Federation can help. So put down the remote and mouse, grab the family, friends and neighbors and enjoy a nocturnal backyard adventure.

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From tried-and-true methods to the latest regimens, keep on top of the best and easiest ways to keep skin protected this summer.

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Death by housecat is the most preventable cause of songbird mortality, says a Michigan Tech professor.

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Jack Strauss, Ph.D., director of the Simon Center for Regional Economic Forecasting at Saint Louis University, says that although the dollar is expected to continue in a downward trend, there are still opportunities for some good deals.

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For National Stroke Awareness Month, the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute has several story ideas to offer, including research on microbubbles and ultrasound used to destroy clots in stroke patients, and a therapeutic stroke treatment that targets insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients.

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Tulane University experts are available to comment on a variety of summertime health and travel safety issues.

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Forget about roasting marshmallows and telling scary stories around the campfire. Campers at the University of Missouri-Rolla are blowing up that stereotype as they handle explosives, launch rockets, build their own robot and design the future's roller coaster.

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Working on a story about the summer heat rolling in? University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) experts share some very important pointers about staying healthy this season.

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Each summer, the waters off New England are the end point of a long mammalian migration. More than a million mammals will have visited the area between April and November with one purpose- the chance to see one of their biggest brethren, the whale.

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Millions of Adults Still Don't Use Sunscreen or Apply Properly When They Do, New Survey Shows; Recommendations to Avoid Sneaky Sun Damage

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This summer, San Antonio's "Cultural Experience Museum" provides an entertaining, educational, family-friendly exhibit addressing the origins and symbolism of dragons through stories, artifacts and depictions from Aztec, Chinese, Viking and other diverse cultures.

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According to the AANS, an estimated 309,000 sports-related head injuries were treated in US hospital emergency rooms in 2005 (the latest statistics available). The prospect of summer is especially appealing to those living in cold-weather climates, but there also tends to be an increase in the number of head injuries with the onset of warm weather. The AANS offers tips which can help prevent many head injuries.