Summer Safety Tips from 24/7 Emergency Care, a department of The Medical Center of Plano
Collin LIVING WELL Magazine
As summer brings sunshine and vacation plans, it also brings an increase in outdoor injuries. With this in mind, as you and your family prepare for vacations at the beach or long weekends by the pool, it’s important to remember a few safety tips to ensure your summer is spent staying cool and stress-free, and not in the emergency room.
In Texas, the most popular summer activities involve spending the day by a refreshing body of water. Whether you prefer the lake, the pool, or a sandy beach, it’s important parents review water safety rules with their kids––such as no diving in shallow water––and children should never swim alone. Parents should learn CPR, and everyone should know what to do in a water emergency. For swimming-related injuries––especially injuries to the head––seek care at a nearby emergency room. If a swimmer stops breathing, call 911 and begin CPR immediately.
Apart from water safety, it’s also important to stay cool while enjoying your sun-filled days. If you don’t stay properly hydrated during outdoor activity, you can be at-risk for other heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Always drink plenty of water, and if you experience stomach, arm, or leg cramps, followed by fatigue and weakness, you should take a break to let your body cool down. If you don’t feel better within 30 minutes, you should call your doctor or visit an emergency room.
While we hope everyone exercises caution with their summer activities, rest assured that 24/7 Emergency Care, a department of The Medical Center of Plano, has all the resources needed to get you back on your feet. 24/7 Emergency Care is a full-service emergency room offering board-certified emergency physicians and is located on the southeast corner of Coit Road and Highway 121 at 3670 Highway 121 in Plano, Texas. The new ER offers shorter wait times than a traditional hospital-based emergency room, but with the same expertise and technology that comes from being an extension of a local hospital. For more information, visit www.PlanoER.com or call 469-608-6100.
