Photo by John Worthington | The Reporter.
If you do find yourself in need of emergency care, Jefferson Health is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year
Summer is in full swing. With soaring temperatures and more time outdoors, it’s important to ensure that health and safety does not take a back seat. Dr. James Cirone, an Emergency Medicine physician at Jefferson Abington and Jefferson Lansdale hospitals, shares insight on common summer injuries and offers helpful tips for staying safe.
Heat Exposure: Prolonged exposure to the extreme heat can be dangerous for anyone. Seniors and children, especially, have a harder time regulating their body temperature which makes both groups at higher risk for heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include: clamminess, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps and headache.
“If somebody has a really high temperature, severe vomiting, they appear to have an altered mental state or they stop sweating completely, then you should seek emergency care immediately,” says Dr. Cirone.
Tip: Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol and caffeine as they can increase your risk of dehydration. Wear sunscreen, take frequent breaks in the shade or go indoors. Wear loose clothing and try to limit strenuous activity to cooler times of the day.
Parties/Family Gatherings: With barbecues, family gatherings and outdoor parties, foodborne illness can also be cause for concern.
“You can have food sitting outside for long periods of time in the heat which causes bacteria to grow and that can lead to illness,” warns Dr. Cirone.
Tip: Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot until serving time. Food should not sit out more than two hours (or one hour in weather 90°F or higher). Any food left out for longer should be discarded.
Sports/Outdoor Activities: Warm weather and sunshine means more people enjoying outdoor activities like bike riding, hiking, sports and more.
“With more people active outside, we generally see an increase in patients coming in with broken bones, sprains and lacerations as opposed to the winter where there tends to be more respiratory illnesses,” says Dr. Cirone.
Tip: Be mindful of your surroundings, take appropriate precautions and make sure to wear proper safety gear to prevent risk of serious injury.
Swimming/Water Activities: Whether it’s a pool, water park or the beach, swimming can be a great way to cool off during the warm summer months, however it’s important to keep water safety top of mind.
“It doesn't take a lot of water, especially for a young child, to drown. Children should always be supervised in and around the water,” says Dr. Cirone. “If there are a lot of people around, that can sometimes give a false sense of security. There should always be one designated adult who can watch children and any inexperienced swimmers.”
Tip: Have a safety fence around any backyard pools. Be sure to properly empty inflatable pools when not in use. Always have at least one adult designated to supervise children. Children and inexperienced swimmers should always wear life jackets that are properly fitted and U.S. Coast Guard approved. When boating or in open water, everyone should wear a life jacket.
If you do find yourself in need of emergency care, Jefferson Health is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Click here to find a location near you.
