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3 Summer Safety Emergencies
Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time for plenty of fun in the sun! Though the season ahead has plenty of exciting activities to offer, it’s also a time where there is an increase in visits to the emergency room.
Keep reading to learn more about the most common medical emergencies we see during summer so you and your family can have a safer season:
1. Heat Stroke
With the sweltering summer temperatures here in Dallas, falling victim to heat stroke and heat exhaustion is fairly common. When the heat index is over 91, try to stay in cool areas and out of the sun.
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat stroke. If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit our center for treatment:
- Little or no sweating
- Hot, dry skin
- Flushed cheeks
- Irritability
- Headache
- Fever (over 104° F)
- Racing heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- Nausea & vomiting
- No urine output
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness, fainting
2. Dehydration
When it’s a nice hot and dry Dallas day, you’re not likely to stop working, playing your favorite sport, working on the house, fixing the car or exercising, to grab some water. However, if you haven’t been drinking enough to keep up with the heat index, you may be putting yourself at risk for dehydration.
Children and infants, as well as older adults, are especially susceptible to dehydration and could result in the need for a medical emergency.
Dehydration becomes an emergency concern when the following symptoms are present:
- A fever of 103 F or more.
- Severe headache.
- Seizures.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Pain in the chest or stomach.
- Fainting.
- No urination in the past 12 hours.
- Confusion and dizziness.
To avoid a trip to the ER, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day — whether you’re outdoors or not. If you’re dehydrated and can’t rehydrate yourself quickly enough, or if your condition has deteriorated, you should seek medical help immediately.
3. Swimming Accidents
3,536 fatal unintentional drownings every year, many occuring during the warm summer months. While splashing around in the pool is fun for every member of the family, it can also turn dangerous quickly.
From sprains, concussions and broken bones to accidental drownings, it’s important to stay safe while enjoying the pool this summer. Here are some tips to ensure you keep having fun in the sun:
- Never leave your children unattended.
- Make sure everyone in the pool knows how to swim.
- Enter the pool feet first, not head first.
- Don’t mix swimming and drinking alcohol.
- Be mindful of the weather and stay on land if there’s a storm.
Summer Emergency Care in Dallas
Though we hope you have a fun and safe summer, our team at Advance ER
is prepared to take care of your family should an accident occur. We have two Dallas-area locations to serve you in your time of need. Familiarize yourself with our locations here so that when the time comes that you need emergency services, you can get here quickly and we can serve you well!
