Decatur, Texas — As temperatures rise and children spend more time outdoors, Medical City Decatur emergency department is encouraging families to prioritize safety during summer activities. From poolside accidents and heat-related illnesses to bicycle injuries and dehydration, many summer emergency visits can be prevented with simple precautions.
Medical City Decatur sees an increase in emergency visits related to water activities, bicycle accidents, sports injuries and heat-related illnesses during the summer months.
“Many summer injuries happen in a matter of seconds and are often preventable,” says Michael Hong, MD, medical director of the emergency department at Medical City Decatur. “While not every accident can be prevented, safety habits such as staying hydrated, wearing helmets, using proper supervision around water and avoiding unnecessary risks can significantly reduce the chance of a serious injury.”
One local family experienced this firsthand when 10-year-old Caroline Peters was enjoying a day in her backyard pool and attempted a spinning jump, striking her chin on the edge of the pool causing a significant laceration that required emergency care at Medical City Decatur. Fortunately, Caroline received prompt treatment and recovered well, but her experience serves as a reminder that even familiar summer activities can quickly become dangerous when children take risks or attempt stunts.
Dr. Hong added, “Even in familiar environments with attentive supervision, accidents can happen quickly. As children become more active during the summer, making safe choices and staying aware of their surroundings can help reduce the risk of injury.”
Medical City Decatur recommends the following summer safety tips:
- Stay hydrated by drinking water regularly, especially during outdoor activities.
- Never leave children unattended near pools or other bodies of water.
- Wear property fitted helmets when riding bicycles, scooters or skateboards.
- Apply sunscreen and limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day.
- Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle.
“Summer should be about making memories, not emergency room visits,” says Dr. Hong. “A few simple safety habits can help keep families safe all season long.”