Your guide to surviving summer trauma season

Summertime means warmer days, sunshine and spending time outdoors. But for health care professionals, summer is known as trauma season. Burns, dehydration and heat illnesses are just a few common conditions needing emergency care. Follow our guide for a fun and healthy summer.

Drink more water

During the hottest months of the year, staying hydrated is the one of the easiest ways to stay on top of your health. Dehydration is one of the top summer illnesses and can impact your overall health. And remember, alcoholic beverages are dehydrating. So, if you’re drinking, just follow the 1 for 1 rule: for every standard beverage you have, you should drink one eight-ounce glass of water.

Burns and fire safety

For many, summer means barbeques, bonfires and fireworks. However, more fires bring more burns and fire-related injuries. Here are some tips to prevent burns this summer:

• Use long-handled barbecue tools when grilling
• Keep a 3-foot safety zone around grills, campfires and fire pits
• Remain safely distanced from firework launch sites
  • Stand 35 feet away from ground-based fireworks
  • Stand 150 feet away from aerial fireworks
• Keep all open flames contained and controlled
• Check surface heat before touching any metal

If you do experience a burn, anything larger than your palm should be treated by a provider at either an urgent care or emergency care location.

Water safety

Whether you’re out at the lake or splashing in a pool, here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe while swimming.

• Don’t go in the water unless you know how to swim.
• Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
• Keep a watchful eye on young children, toddlers and babies at all times.
• Avoid drinking alcohol before and while swimming.
• Bring a buddy! Even strong swimmers should bring someone along in case something were to happen.
• Learn CPR. One of the best things you can do to help protect your family is to become CPR-certified. Find a CPR training class.

Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke

As the days grow hotter, visits to the emergency departments become more frequent. Heat-related injuries and illnesses are preventable.

Two common heat-illnesses are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. While heat exhaustion leads to heat stroke, they need to be treated very differently.

Know where to go

Accidents happen. But how do you know the best place to get care? Learn the difference between urgent care and emergency care.