For a change, both the calendar and the weather outside seem to agree: spring has fully arrived!
But the arrival of the nice weather might also signal a trip to a hospital emergency department or doctor’s office because of the increase in outdoor activity.
“With the nice weather, we are now seeing patients in the Emergency Department (E.D.) with a lot more orthopedic injuries, sprains, strains, fractures, and lacerations,” noted Jeffrey Pay, D.O., head of The Bellevue Hospital’s (TBH) E.D. medical staff.
“More kids are playing outside. More adults are working in the yard. More people are playing sports. It’s that time of year to watch out for sports injuries, back injuries, and foot and ankle pain.”
Dr. Pay noted that physicians also refer to this time of year as “trauma season”. “Especially this year with the early arrival of the awesome weather, we will expect to see more injuries from bicycle, automobile, and motorcycle accidents,” continued Dr. Pay. “If I could give just one piece of advice about those types of situations, it would be ‘use helmets!’ Whether riding a bicycle on a nice family ride, or traveling 60 mph on a motorcycle, people need to use helmets!”
Other seasonal accidents can involve camping and campfires (burns and cooking injuries), and working around trees and power tools. “We tend to see a lot of eye injuries this time of year from people working with and around trees. Again, safety goggles or eye protection is a must in these situations.”
So when should someone seek treatment at an E.D. or doctor’s office? “If they experience any dizziness, if they are lightheaded, having cramping, chest pains, or shortness of breath,” added Dr. Pay. “Any of those symptoms should be taken very seriously. Also be aware of heat exhaustion and heat stroke when playing/working outside. Everyone – especially the elderly and those without air conditioning– needs to stay hydrated in the warmer weather, drinking at least eight glasses of water each day, and parents should always be supervising their children while they play outside.”
Continued Dr. Pay, “And, a word of advice to those ‘Weekend Warriors” tackling those backyard softball or volleyball games…it is always a good idea to stretch for 15 minutes prior to any strenuous exercise or activity.”
Finally, some tips from Dr. Pay for those in the farming community and/or those with allergies or hay fever: “With more farmers out in the fields, it is important to carry a cell phone or walkie talkie in order to communicate in case of an emergency, and, protective eyewear is also a good idea when working in the fields or around machinery.
“As far as the allergy and hay fever season, those affected can seek relief through over-the-counter medications such as Claratin, Zyrtec, or other antihistamines. Look for symptoms of itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, or congestion.”
The Bellevue Hospital Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The hospital E.D. can be reached through the main hospital phone number of 419.483.4040, Ext. 0 for the hospital operator.