College is out and summer time is right here! Summer season brings busier schedules and we change into extra adventurous, getting outdoors and interesting in actions like climbing, biking, and swimming. In case you’re like me, these enjoyable pastimes additionally carry on muscle aches and bruises in locations I didn’t even know existed.
Along with the enjoyable, being outdoor extra places us at greater threat for damaged bones, sunburn/poison, insect bites, accidents, and the problems related to them.
A sudden improve in vigorous bodily exercise may also contribute to a extra critical well being drawback, like a coronary heart assault or stroke. Similar to once we encourage people to not be “weekend warriors” and shock their our bodies with sudden, overly difficult bodily exercise — like when individuals rush out within the winter to shovel huge quantities of heavy snow — we must also take it simple once we begin being extra energetic within the hotter months. It’s at all times good to progressively work as much as the next price of exercise depth. In different phrases, it’s higher to start out out strolling and progressively progress to a brief run, and so forth, so you may keep away from being that 1 in 6 people who suffers a coronary heart assault.
A significant concern on this stunning land of lakes and waterfalls is water security. Though I can get spooked fascinated about the slithery creatures lurking beneath the water’s floor, they’re not what trigger probably the most harm and dying. It’s swimming, which poses a 1 in 1,024 probability of dying. Drowning and one thing referred to as “dry drowning,” a critical situation the place an individual experiences a lung harm and muscle spasms as a result of water aspiration, current critical dangers to swimmers. Dry drowning doesn’t appear like what we consider as drowning, as a result of it will probably occur very quick and solely requires a small quantity of water to do its hurt.
Keep in mind to observe good water security methods once you resolve to enterprise into any physique of water. This implies having swimming mastered and sporting a life jacket if you happen to’re canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, or boating.
And it doesn’t matter what enjoyable summer time exercise you take part in — even when it’s laying in a chaise by the pool and studying — by no means underestimate the facility of the solar. It’s necessary to maintain your self properly hydrated with an ever-present water bottle and to make use of UV-blocking solar safety within the type of a sunscreen that has a energy of not less than SPF 30. It’s safer to restrict your direct publicity to the solar and search shade throughout the “prime” solar depth hours of between 10am and 4pm.
Outside lovers even have a 1 in 6,368 threat of dying from sunstroke, or heatstroke, a critical situation brought on by sustained solar publicity in excessive temperatures and lack of hydration. Signs of heatstroke embody a temperature of 104 levels or greater (a real medical emergency that requires quick care), headache, dizziness, pink, scorching pores and skin, and a scarcity of perspiring. You may additionally expertise nausea or vomiting, speedy coronary heart price and respiration, and muscle cramping. I can’t emphasize sufficient that in case you have any of those signs, it’s essential to get to an Emergency Division as quickly as potential.
In case you’re doing yard work, biking, or climbing, insect bites and stings will be greater than a nuisance, particularly in case you have an allergy. These allergic to bee stings ought to at all times be geared up with an epinephrine pen, which prevents you from going into anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening situation.
Mountain biking and climbing in our stunning mountains are additionally related to numerous dangers. Attempt to go climbing with a buddy, keep in mind your mobile phone because it’s geared up with GPS capabilities, and don’t neglect water, snacks, and a jacket. Keep up-do-date on climate situations, so that you don’t end up within the path of a storm, and take care to keep away from an ankle sprain by steering away from slippery surfaces like moist, moss-covered rocks. Lastly, be aware of waterfall security by studying posted warning indicators properly and following their tips. Waterfall accidents trigger plenty of deaths every year in western North Carolina.
The excellent news is that these summer-related well being points are preventable, just by following security tips, being accustomed to every situation’s signs, and figuring out what to do if you happen to or somebody you’re with experiences them. In brief, keep in mind to drink water, slather on the sunscreen, put on your protecting gear like sun shades, bike helmets, and life jackets, and keep conscious of your environment.
In case you run into bother or want medical consideration this summer time, don’t delay looking for it. A name to 911 initiates a series of care that’s extra profitable the sooner it begins. It has the facility to enhance the continuity of environment friendly, efficient care you get when you attain Angel Medical Heart (AMC), and so does offering your caregivers with an correct medicine checklist and medical historical past data.
In June, we additionally acknowledge Males’s Well being Month, Nationwide Nursing Assistants Week (June 16-22), Well being Care Danger Administration Week (June 20-24), and Nationwide Security Consciousness month, all good issues to have a good time.
I hope you get pleasure from getting out this yr, keep in mind to remain protected, and if you happen to want us, know that AMC is your middle for each neighborhood emergency care and complete well being care.
Clint Kendall, FACHE, MBA, MSN, BSN, RN, is Chief Government Officer/Chief Nursing Officer of Angel Medical Heart. He began his profession as a nurse, and that perspective nonetheless informs his work and keenness for the affected person expertise. Clint holds a Grasp’s Diploma in Enterprise Administration, Nursing, and Well being Care Administration from the College of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina College. He involves Angel Medical Heart from Andalusia, Alabama, the place he served as Chief Government Officer of Andalusia Well being, a part of LifePoint Well being. Clint has additionally earned the Licensed Skilled in Affected person Security (CPPS) certification, and is a member of the American School of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the American Group of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the American Nurses Affiliation (ANA).
