Loyola Univ. Health Sys. - Loyola Living May 2001 Issue

When tuning up the lawn mower and dragging out the kiddy pool this spring, it is a good time to refresh your memory and renew your commitment to summer safety. We all can take an active role in reducing injuries.

Injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans between ages one and 44. Injuries kill nearly 150,000 people and lead to more than 2 million hospitalizations and approximately 40 million emergency department visits annually. The cost to society in human and financial resources is more than $250 billion per year.

We tend to use the term “accident” when, in fact, injuries are predictable and preventable. What most of us call “accidents” are usually the result of carelessness, foolish behavior, poor engineering or a combination of all three. In any situation where someone was injured, something can be identified that could have been changed to better manage the existing risks.

Injury is an important issue at Loyola. Our medical center facilities include a level-one trauma center where the most severe injuries in our area are treated, a comprehensive burn center and a fully staffed medical transport service for critically ill or injured patients.

A natural outgrowth of Loyola’s commitment to trauma care is our injury prevention program, which assists communities and organizations to assess their own safety issues, gives them direction and links them with resources to tackle those problems. Community groups can call our injury prevention program at (708) 327-2455 for assistance.

Individuals can educate themselves about the risks we encounter every day and take every precaution to prevent themselves and family members from suffering injuries. On this page are just a few safety tips for summer activities.

To learn more about Loyola’s injury prevention program, visit www.lumc.edu/burnshock and click on “Prevention.” Fact sheets and articles on safety issues can be obtained by clicking on the “Toolshed” and “Attic” sections.

Summer Safety Tips

Heat

To avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion, drink plenty of liquids (without caffeine or alcohol), stay out of the sun and take a break from recreation during the hottest part of the day. Never leave a person or a pet in the car on a hot, sunny day, even for a quick trip into the store. Children can quickly overheat, even with the window open. Dozens of children die every year from heat stroke when left in the car or trapped in a parked car while playing

Biking

Each year, nearly 50,000 bicyclists suffer serious head injuries. The proper helmet can reduce head injuries by 85 percent. Select a helmet that meets safety standards and is labeled as such with ASAI, ASTM, SNELL, ANSI or CPSC designation. Make sure that the helmet fits snugly and is worn correctly.

Lawn Mowing

Thousands of people are injured by lawn mowers each year; many suffer amputations or injuries from thrown objects. Before mowing, check the area for sticks, rocks, toys and trash. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants to protect your legs from debris. Always push, never pull the mower, and be sure to shut it off before unclogging it or leaving it unattended.

Swimming

Never leave children alone near a pool, even for a moment. Be sure to keep rescue equipment such as a shepherd’s hook, life preservers and telephone by the pool. Water should be 9 feet deep to permit diving from the side and 12 feet deep to permit diving from a diving board. Diving is the biggest cause of recreational spinal cord injury.

Fireworks

Fireworks injure hundreds of Illinois residents each year. Most of them are under age 21, and almost a quarter of them are under age 6! This July, instead of risking injury, attend a community fireworks display run by professionals and let children use glow-in-the-dark wands and noisemakers as safe alternatives to sparklers and firecrackers.