The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 19 COVID patients today, the same as yesterday. Other significant numbers:

• 11 with the active virus today, 10 Wednesday
• 2 in ICU, 2 Wednesday
• 0 on ventilator, 0 Wednesday
• 8 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 9 Wednesday

Key points from today’s guests:

Dr. Gary Doolittle, medical oncologist, The University of Kansas Health System

• 90% of skin damage comes from the sun
• Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk of melanoma
• Early detection of melanoma gives patients a 99% survival rate
• Sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher is recommended. Be prepared to re-apply every few hours.
• The most effective sunscreens contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide
• Seek the shade if possible between 10 am and 4 pm
• Cloudy days are just as big a risk for sunburn as sunny days

Dr. Shawn Sood, pediatrician, The University of Kansas Health System

• Being aware and vigilant of your kids when around water is key
• Swim lessons are vital for children at the earliest possible age
• Parents should be aware of a condition called “dry drowning,” in which a small amount of water is inhaled, and can lead to an upper airway muscle spasm hours later. Symptoms are coughing, breathing difficulty, chest pain or lethargy. Seek immediate medical help for this.
• Shallow water sources around the home such as a toilet, bathtub or a bucket are drowning risks
• Open water, such as a lake or river, can hide underwater rip currents, unlike a swimming pool

Dr. Steve Lauer, pediatrician, The University of Kansas Health System

• Another problem with open water is contamination, especially from E. coli, a bacteria common in lake water, especially after a lot of rain
• It’s very important that swimmers, especially children, have a swim buddy with them, especially if heading to unfamiliar beaches and open seas, unlike what we’re used to in the Midwest
• We are getting closer to approval for kids under 5 to receive the COVID vaccine
• It’s good that families will be able to get outside more this summer than in the last two years. Take precautions from COVID since it’s still there and protect from the sun

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System

• Seeing a trend of cases going down
• Not seeing the surge of delta and omicron variants
• Many counties around the country are considering reimposing mask mandates
• Three doses of the vaccine seems to be best for most people
• Insect repellent is also very important when outdoors to prevent tick-borne illnesses

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System

• Now that most people are testing for COVID at home, we don’t always have an accurate count of cases. Hospitalization rates have become the best way to gauge the spread of the disease.
• You can be safe from COVID with vaccination, or a combination of vaccination and immunity from the disease

Monday, June 6 at 8:00 a.m. is the next live Morning Medical Update. They are the wounds you cannot see. Many veterans live day-to-day struggling with mental health illnesses. On a day when we remember D-Day, we’ll show you the help available to veterans here in the metro. Plus, we’ll take a fascinating live tour inside the World War One Memorial Museum

ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:

Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628

Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628

TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI

Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital

YouTube.com/kuhospital

Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.