What's in Your First Aid Kit? Tips for Treating Summer Health Threats

July 8, 2010 — -- Summer means fun in the sun, but danger also lurks in the great outdoors and you need to be prepared.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, author, physician and TV host, appeared on "Good Morning America" today to discuss first aid and common summer health threats.

There are certain items that every household should always have in its first aid kit, he said.

The items are:

The kit will come in handy if you face one of the following common summer health threats:

Ticks

Tick bites can transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Not all ticks spread Lyme disease. In the U.S., deer ticks -- or blacklegged ticks -- are the main carriers, Oz said.

When a tick first sticks to you, you won't necessarily contract the disease right away, Oz said. If you find a tick on your body, you should pull it off with tweezers – but don't squeeze it, or infected blood from the tick could enter your body, he added.

You should also try to save the tick. Doctors can test it to determine whether it has Lyme disease. And check your body a few hours later to see if you have developed a bulls-eye rash – a telltale sign of the disease.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish are non-aggressive marine animals with tentacles. The tentacles are covered with poison-filled sacs that can cause a painful and possibly life-threatening sting.

If you are stung by a jellyfish, soak or rinse the area in vinegar (acetic acid) for 15 to 30 minutes. This will prevent the sacs from releasing toxins. If you don't have vinegar available, rinse the affected area in sea water or rubbing alcohol. Do not use fresh water, as that will not prevent the release of toxins. For the same reason, you shouldn't use ice or hot water, or rub the area.