Summer Safety 101

Are you spending a lot of time outdoors? Great! Protect yourself and your family from common mishaps that could land you in the Emergency Department. Read our smart tips to stay safe.

Contributed by: Anthony Zalewski, RN | Injury Prevention & Outreach Coordinator

Here’s how to have a safer, sweeter, more fun summer. That means one where you avoid having to go to the Emergency Department!), according to MetroHealth Injury Prevention & Outreach Coordinator Anthony Zalewski, RN.

Fireworks

Each year, more than 100 people land in MetroHealth’s Emergency Department for fireworks-related injury, often from lighting them on their own. Sitting too close to loud firework shows can also damage hearing.
Stay safer: Leave fireworks to the professionals, sit at a safe distance and protect your hearing with noise-reducing earplugs.

Bicycles

Bike accidents are common, but there’s also been a rise in injuries from electronic bikes and e-scooters. Because these can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, it’s easy to crash or go flying. “We’re seeing head and spine injuries when people riding e-scooters hit a pothole and go over the handlebars.”
Stay safer: Always wear a helmet, keep your speed slow and follow traffic rules.

Swimming

Drowning deaths and non-fatal drowning injuries are on the rise, and children are at greatest risk (drowning in a pool is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4). At beaches, rip currents can overwhelm even strong swimmers.
Stay safer: Never leave children alone in or near water, and secure home pools and hot tubs. Always swim with a buddy, check for beach conditions and red flags before lake or ocean swimming and swim in sight of a lifeguard.

Heat

If you’re out for long periods of time in high temperatures, at work or play, heatstroke can happen – and it’s very dangerous. If you stop sweating or become nauseous and dizzy, seek help immediately.
Stay safer: Avoid peak sun (between noon and 2 p.m.). But if you must be outside, seek shade and drink lots of water. At the first signs of overheating, get into air conditioning as soon as possible.

Sunburn

Each year, Emergency Departments see more than 33,000 sunburn cases. Long term, sunburns can increase your risk of skin cancer.
Stay safer: Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours and after going swimming or drying off.

Fire

We all love a good BBQ and s’mores around the firepit, but grills and outdoor fires can harm property and, of course, people.
Stay safer: Build campfires at least 25 feet away from tents, shrubs, trees or anything that can burn. Place outdoor fire pits and grills at least 10 feet from your deck, home or anything that can burn.

During a medical emergency, it’s important to go to the nearest Emergency Department. MetroHealth has locations in Brecksville, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland (Main Campus), and Parma.

In Case of Emergency, Take Me To MetroHealth

MetroHealth is Northeast Ohio’s leading Level I Adult and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center.

Call 911 for all emergencies. For more information about Trauma services, visit metrohealth.org/trauma-care