"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
      Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
      Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
      Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer"
                                                  ~  Nat King Cole
 

Everyone should enjoy those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer and sing a song of good cheer. Summertime is the time to get out to see and to be seen. Sure, you have to be careful when doing activities in the summertime and as with most things, too much of something, in this case direct exposure to the sun, is not a good idea. But the feeling of the wind and sun is great for your mental health as well as a great way to get some much needed vitamin D.   The way this works is that the ultraviolet B rays or UV-B rays from the sun hit your skin, a reaction then takes place that enables skin cells to manufacture vitamin D. Going outside for 10 minutes in the midday sun - in shorts and a tank top with no sunscreen - will give you enough radiation to produce about 10,000 international units of the vitamin, which is more than the advocated 2,000 IU's per day. The "sunshine vitamin" may protect against a host of diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon. What's more, sunlight has other hidden benefits; protecting against depression, insomnia, and an overactive immune system.

Also don't forget that getting outside sometimes is just plain fun, and really, who couldn't use a little more fun?

Keeping that in mind, let's look at some summertime products that will assist you in your enjoyment of the sun and fun this summer.

Adult Tricycles:     
This isn't the little red tricycle you weaved your way up and down the sidewalk with when you were a kid. These are heavy duty bikes made for adults that just happen to have three wheels. You can choose the classic designs of bikes from TrailMate, an adult 3-wheeler which is famous for its comfortable ride, responsive performance and terrific value. Or get a little more progressive with the Triton line of...

Three-Wheeled Cruiser Adult Trikes.   For the paraplegics and double amputee individuals there is the Force K Kneeler series. While the the Force K Kneeler is used by the most able athletes, the Force K Para Kneeler is for paraplegics who prefer the kneeling position instead of a reclining position and the Force K Double Amputee Kneeler is custom designed for the double above-the-knee amputee.

While these adult trikes are made for adults we also have...

Pediatric Bikes and Carts:
Get the kids away from the computer and video games and give them a good healthy dose of sunny vitamin D, too!   There is a wide selection of outdoor fun vehicles for both the child who is handicap-able and for their siblings as well. Kids will do things more readily if it is fun. Our great selection of Wagons, Push Trikes, Walking Bikes, Therapeutic Tricycles, Hand-cycles all the way up to the heavy duty tricycles and sport tricycles, will enable the whole family, from father and mother to the littlest to have fun riding together though the neighborhood! Also don't forget to check out the Special Needs Protective Helmets.

Childrens Helmets:    

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James

Playground Equipment:    

A great way to spend a summer afternoon is playing on a swing set or outdoor fort. The sense of flying through the air or climbing through tunnels and protecting the fort are wonderful memories for all children.

Have a choice of swing sets with one, two, four or six swing seats. We have swing sets made for the backyard and also the heavy-duty toughness needed for a playground or institutional facility.  Check out the many different and therapeutic swing seats available for all types of children. 

Remember when you wanted a tree-house but couldn't have one because there weren't any trees around your home? Now your kids can have a place of their own where their imagination can run with the wind and clouds, while their bodies can run up and down Forts and Slides which are also available for either the backyard or the schoolyard, for all kids, all the time.

Pool Lifts:    
Did you ever want to get into the pool but being in a wheelchair sometimes seems to be a problem? Well, get ready to get wet. With a wide range of pool lifts there seems to be no reason not to get wet and wild this summer! If you have a large pool or use a public pool then having a pool lift should be more common than not. With a choice of semi- to fully automatic, portable or stationary pool lifts, you don't have to worry about how to get in and out of the pool, now all you need to worry about is trying to decide what swimsuit you are going to wear.

Pediatric Aquatic Therapy:    
It was once said about swimming that, "looking from the outside looking in, you can't understand it but from the inside looking out, you can't explain it". The simplest way to explain swimming is that it is fun, or should be. Many children who are handicapped are fearful of the water, but with some assistance and some pretty cool water products for children, those fears should float away pretty quickly!

Products range from swimwear/wetsuits, UV protective wear, life/swim jackets to floating stabilizing bars/floatation devices and aquatic pool access wheelchairs. Now there are more ways to get into the water wonderland and enjoy life.

    "The summer wind, came blowin' in from across the sea.
      It lingered there, so warm and fair to walk with me"
                                                          ~ Frank Sinatra

TheraTogs:   
Why not walk in the summer wind that is so warm and fair? One way is with the help of TheraTogs. TheraTogs is therapy that you wear. TheraTogs are becoming a standard of care worldwide for addressing sensorimotor and orthopedic disorders - providing continuous wearable therapy that extends and accelerates the gains from therapy sessions. TheraTogs can assist your child in reaching the next step of his or her development at a quicker pace. I would think a common goal for many parents is to take a nice, peaceful summertime walk with their child and TheraTogs could be a means to this end. But remember, TheraTogs™ are Class I medical devices intended to be issued by, and applied under the supervision of a licensed healthcare practitioner. All TheraTogs products must be used by a therapist or directly under a therapist's instruction to prevent misuse or injury to the wearer.

Incontinence Products:    
Walking outdoors in the sun can be a great way to get exercise, meet people and feel some self confidence. However, sometimes your body's urges seem to get in the way. For many people the fear of the unknown is more powerful than the enjoyment of freedom, simply because when nature calls, it waits for no-one. Adult Protective Underwear and adult incontinence products are becoming more comfortable, reliable, and invisible. Many might be surprised by the technology of protective underwear and other incontinence products. Gone are the fears of being noticed by either sounds of rustling, odor of urine, or the visibility of the undergarment itself.    The truth of the matter is that as the Baby Boomers become older there are more and more people wearing protective underwear and technology has caught up with the demand. So, now you are able to get up and go for a walk in the park without worry or discomfort.
 

     "I question not if thrushes sing,
      If roses load the air;
      Beyond my heart I need not reach
      When all is summer there."
                     ~John Vance Cheney
 
 
Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters:
Wheeling about under the sun and moon, enjoying the birds singing and smelling the roses can be both relaxing and comfortable. There are many different types of wheelchairs to choose from, pediatric to adult, lightweight to bariatric, basic models to custom fit. Technology and style has merged together and we now offer dozens of interesting and fun wheelchairs. There are so many different wheelchairs that it will be easier for you to view them yourself at the following links:
Standard Wheelchairs
and don't forget about the wheelchair accessories,wheelchair ramps  and wheelchair cushions  

 

When people go for a nice, long summertime walk they make sure they have comfortable shoes. Doesn't it make sense for the nice long summertime ride that it would also be a good idea to have a comfortable wheelchair cushion? As it is with wheelchairs, there are many different types of wheelchair cushions from which you can find one that is just right for you. There are choices from foam to gel, flat to formed, and many other styles to choose from. The most important thing about wheelchair cushions, as well as with walking shoes, is that comfort and fit are paramount.

Pediatric Special Needs Car Seats:   
As parents, we often need to drive our special needs child from home to the park or to a family or community outing. Many times a regular car seat for the little one isn't safe or comfortable enough for a special needs child. Visit our Pediatric Special Needs Car Seats department to see if your child needs some additional assistance to make him or her feel more comfortable and excited about the family outing. Remember an ounce of prevention can save a pound of worry. Making your family trip safe and comfortable is a great way to start the outdoor activity.

Summer Cautionary Advice:
Going outside is enjoyable and fun but please remember not to overdo it. Many people who spend considerable amounts of time indoors are not used to the dangers of being in the heat and searing summer sun. Here is a quick list of things to be aware of when outside in the summer.

Don't over do it when traveling and wandering under the summer sun. A light skinned person who hasn't had much sun will  become sunburned very quickly. Wear a hat and sunscreen made to block both UVA and UVB waves as much as possible and also try to stay in the shade much of the time. Once again, if you are going to be out in the sun for more than 10 minutes, it is recommended that you use effective sunscreen.
Drink plenty of water. Let me repeat this again...Drink plenty of water. At times you may not feel thirsty but your body uses up much more body fluids while outside in the heat and sun. Don't think that the soda pop or sweet tea is enough. Continue to sip a water bottle the entire time you are outside in the hot summer sun.
 
Wear loose and comfortable lightweight clothing that is light in color. Heavy clothing or tight-fitting clothing does not let your body breathe the cool air it needs and you will sweat more than needed. Also lighter colored clothes will reflect the sun and heat better than dark clothes.
Don't over exert yourself. Take things slowly. Each day you go outside you can extend the time and exertion a little but listen to your body and know your limits. 
 
When possible, go into air conditioned buildings, such as libraries, restaurants, stores/shops, when you are outside in the summer sun for a period of time. It's great to be able to cool down if you are feeling too hot.
 
If you notice someone suddenly experiencing any of the following symptoms, you can bet that heat prostration (or heat exhaustion) has made an unwelcome visit.

The Symptoms of heat exhaustion are:
* Sudden high temperature (but less than 104 degrees)
* Hot and flushed skin that might be clammy to the touch
* Muscle or stomach cramps
* Nausea and/or vomiting
* Headache
* Profuse sweating
* Rapid pulse
* Dizziness

To treat Heat Exhaustion, do the following:
* Get the ill person out of the sun.
* Replace the body's lost fluids and salt by having the person drink lots of water,   Gatorade,    decaffeinated iced tea, or juice.
* Cool the person's body with fans, cool towels, or sprays.
* Keep the sufferer out of the sun for the next 12-24 hours.
* Also did I mention about drinking a lot of water?

    "Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
      Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
      Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."
                                                       ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Be safe this summer and get outside and have some fun in the summer sun!

Bill Stock,
Associate library editor for Rehabmart
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO