During the summer months, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and kids are playing outside. Unfortunately, as parents, the calm serenity that summer brings is usually accompanied by some anxiety. From softball games to water parks to fireworks, summer injuries are lurking at every activity and event. To keep your children protected, it's important to know about common summertime injuries and how to prevent and treat them.
Be aware of common summertime injuries
"Kids are far more physically active in summer than at any other time of year, which increases the likelihood of injury," says Joseph Shanahan, MD, the medical director of the ED with Adventist GlenOaks Hospital. Dr. Shanahan breaks down some of the most common summertime injuries:
•Heat-related injuries -- Heat exhaustion, sunburn and dehydration are all dangerous conditions kids are at risk for during the summer. Parents: Watch out for headaches, nausea, shallow breathing, trouble concentrating and weakness.
•Bicycle-related injuries -- Bicycle falls can cause everything from a scraped knee to a head injury. Even if your child is only biking a short distance, make sure they wear a helmet.
•Sports-related injuries -- Sprains and fractures are very common on soccer and softball fields. Using the proper equipment, warming up before activity and supervising your child can help prevent them.
•Holiday-related injuries -- Fireworks are popular during summer holidays. Although they can be extremely dangerous for anyone, they are especially harmful to children who may not know how to use them properly. If you give your children permission to play with them, they need to be supervised at all times.
When is the ER appropriate?
Accidents happen, but sometimes it's difficult to know if they warrant a trip to the ER. "If parents are genuinely concerned for their child's well-being, that in itself is an appropriate time to visit the ER," says Dr. Shanahan. If you're unsure if your child needs emergency medical treatment, here are the signs to look out for:
•Your child isn't using their injured extremity
•Uncontrollable high fever
•Frequent vomiting or diarrhea
•Stomach pain
•An injury that looks infected or won't stop bleeding
Healthy kids all year long
To prevent summertime injuries and keep kids healthy all year long, Dr. Shanahan recommends annual check ups. "These are tremendously important because we can find problems that may go undetected without an examination, such as high blood pressure and heart murmurs," says Dr. Shanahan. Also, keeping your child up-to-date with immunizations is important to protect them against diseases when it's time to go back to school. Work with your pediatrician to find out which vaccines your child needs and when.
Expert emergency care
Unfortunately, no matter what the season is you can't always protect your children from getting injured. If you find yourself in a situation where emergency medical treatment is needed, quality care is near by. Adventist GlenOaks Hospital is the first hospital in Illinois with a "no waiting room" emergency department. That means quicker care for patients and less stress for families. "Treating the patient quickly comes first," says Dr. Shanahan.
Although being safe may be a no-brainer for adults, it's important to remember that children are still learning. "It's important for parents to lead by example," Dr. Shanahan says. "Practice the safety measures you want your children to practice. From looking both ways before crossing the street to teaching 911 protocol, it's important to educate children about safety measures to prevent injuries."
For more information or to find a physician, call us at 866-533-7968.
Loading...
2:29
Blood Pressure Medication Saves Baby's Lifeby VanderbiltHealthNews2,654 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)