Kern County

Summer fun, summer safety

Get the most out of your summer fun by enjoying yourself with safety in mind.

In the water
Swimming is a good summertime activity. Just pay attention to safety rules as most childhood drownings occur in swimming pools.  

Make sure you and your family always practice water safety with adult supervision. Many Kaiser Permanente facilities offer CPR and lifesaving skills classes. For information and any fees, call Health Education or view the classes available through your local Kaiser Permanente facility.

When you’re active
If you’re exercising in hot weather, watch for signs of heat exhaustion:

• nausea
• dizziness
• cramps
• headache

When you notice any of these signs, stop your activity right away, cool off, and drink fluids. Call your doctor if symptoms don’t improve. Learn more healthy exercise tips.

Under the sun
It’s great to have fun in the sun, but be sure to limit your exposure. Sun exposure is a major cause of skin cancer. It can also contribute to sunburn, acne, and premature aging of the skin.

Use plenty of sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Keep babies younger than 6 months of age out of the sun. A sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be used on sensitive skin—including toddlers’ and children’s. Read more tips on playing it safe in the sun.

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Building awareness about end-of-life care

While Jennifer Black, MD, attended the University of Southern California’s School of Medicine, her mother was fighting breast cancer.

Eventually, her mother died from the condition. And Dr. Black can still recall the challenges she faced helping her mom through those final days.

“No one at that community hospital told our family what was happening to her,” she says. “She died without her pain and other symptoms being managed, and without any options offered to us.”

During her residency in Kern County, she volunteered to be medical director at a local hospice. This position grew to include community talks about palliative care and involvement in a variety of community groups related to end-of-life care.

Dr. Black, physician-in-charge of hospice and palliative care for Kaiser Permanente in Kern County, works with members and the community to help them address end-of-life needs for themselves or their loved ones.

And she was awarded Kaiser Permanente’s 2009 David Lawrence Community Service Award, recognizing her leadership in the field of hospice and palliative care.

“Kaiser Permanente is supportive of providing quality end-of-life care and giving choices. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Learn more about end-of-life care and get an advance directives form.

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