For many people, summertime is the best time of the year. It’s a time when families have a new routine, kids are out of school, and long days are spent outdoors. With all the summer fun, it’s important to keep some safety tips in mind so you can continue to enjoy your summer with your friends and family without accidents or injuries:
- Don’t be a distracted driver. With summer comes an increased amount of traveling. Make sure you’re paying attention to the road when you’re driving to keep those around you safe. Always buckle up and pull over if tired.
- Your body produces perspiration to help cool you down, but if it’s really hot outside, perspiration may not do the job. As temperatures increase, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and limit your time outside to prevent heat stress or heat stroke.
- If you enjoy cycling, skateboarding, or rollerblading, make sure you’re wearing the proper protective gear. Head injuries are common with cyclists, so be sure to take the proper precautions.
- If you’re hitting the trails this summer, enjoy hiking with a partner. If you experience an injury while hiking alone, it can be difficult to get the help that you may need. Make sure to hike with plenty of water and food if necessary.
- If you’re starting into a sport or physical activity, make sure to start slow. A large majority of injuries from sports are preventable. Overtraining injuries are caused by not easing into physical activity properly. Make sure you’re stretching before and after physical exercise and listening to your body if you’re experiencing any pain.
Heat emergencies are health crises caused by exposure to hot weather and the sun. Heat emergencies have three stages: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. All three stages of heat emergencies are serious. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms related to a heat emergency, move to a cooler or shaded area if possible, drink cool water or some form of sports drink, and apply wet towels to the forehead and/or chest. Symptoms may include:
- muscle cramps
- dizziness
- mild confusion
- fast heart rate or breathing
- headache
- irritability
- extreme thirst
- pale skin
- heavy sweating
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if heat illness is causing vomiting, seizures, or unconsciousness.
If you find you or one of your loved ones has experienced an injury this summer, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Hicken for expert orthopaedic care. Summer should be an enjoyable and active time in your life, don’t let injuries slow you down. Dr. Hicken has years of experience in getting his patients back on the road to recovery and is currently accepting new patients. To schedule your appointment with him, give us a call at 435-787-2000.
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