Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels
With summer now in full swing, you have undoubtedly seen at least one daredevil stunt pulled, by a child or someone with that maturity level. What is it about going outside that makes people want to jump off things, climb things, and generally put themselves in harm’s way?
The sun must just motivate us to be our best. There are lots of fun things to do outside, including the riskier ones. Simple precautions can go a long way in the prevention of such injuries. That being said, it is important to understand some of the more common injuries you might face this summer.
Breaks
One of the most common injuries you will see at any time of year, but especially summertime is a broken bone. With the warm weather encouraging you to get out and be active, it makes sense that many people would be injured in this way. Running, biking, sports, and just about any summer activity can lead to a break.
If you do break a bone, get medical attention immediately. Many times breaks can be serious and require lots of treatment. Other times, all that is required is to set the bone and put a cast on it for protection.
I would definitely encourage you to ask your doctor about avoiding surgery if possible. Eastern Idaho Spine, Sports, and Rehab says on its website, eastidspine.com, that rehabilitative medicine “aims to improve and restore function to improve quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.” So there are methods that might be able to help you without you going under the knife.
Sprain/Strain
Quick lesson: a sprain is an injury that impacts the ligaments, or tissue, that connect your bones. A strain is an injury that impacts a tendon, still tissue, that connects muscle to bone.
The two injuries are similar and many times grouped together. They generally occur when you are active, and they typically happen as a result of a wrong movement, lack of stretching, or bad posture/technique.
Burns
We are looking at two varieties of burns here. The first type is a sunburn. Just about anyone who goes out in the sun for a long period of time will end up getting burned if unprotected. There are those people who just soak up every ray and seem unaffected, and we all wish we could be them. Most of us need to use sunscreen and dress smartly to avoid being burned.
The second type of common summer burn can occur from using a grill. We all love to eat home-grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, but when the person running the grill isn’t careful they can end up seriously hurt. Most backyard grills heat up to about 500 degrees to do their work. It only takes a second of distraction to be severely burned.
Bites
Whether it be a bug, snake, or another animal, being bitten by anything is never fun. Being outside more means being exposed to encounters with wildlife. Make sure that regardless of what you are doing, you are aware of your surroundings. Simple awareness can prevent you from being bitten or stung.
If you are going camping, hiking, or anything else that will take you away from easy medical access, make sure you have a first aid kit and knowledge of how to use it. Many bites and stings aren’t serious, but some can be very harmful or venomous.
Conclusion
This summer make sure you take good care of yourself. Be wise, and take proper precautions to avoid injury and discomfort. No one wants to spend their summer in a cast, so make sure you do what is necessary so you can have fun all summer long.