The long-awaited summertime is here.

We hope you are getting plenty of chances to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures. Yet this wish comes with a word of caution. Because we’re often more active and out and about during the summer, we face the risk of seasonal injuries and illnesses.

June is National Safety Month, a time to remind ourselves of the importance of taking extra measures to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

Our local emergency department is open 24/7 to handle unexpected health conditions. While emergency care is always available, it’s also the most expensive type of care and reserved for needs that must be addressed right away to protect someone’s life, future health and quality of life.

If you can wait until Acute Care or your local clinic is open, that’s best. However if someone is in danger or serious discomfort and it can’t wait, it’s time to head to the emergency room.

Here are a few common reasons for summertime emergency visits:

Orthopedic injuries, including fractures

Injuries to a leg, arm, wrist, ankle, collar bone or back can be the result of trips and falls while hiking, jogging, skateboarding, rollerblading or biking. Trampolines and monkey bars call for extra vigilance.

Sturdy and supportive footwear, helmets and close supervision of children to ensure they are using play equipment safely can all help prevent injuries. Ensure children walk safely rather than run in a pool area.

Burns

Grills, fireworks or fire pits can be the cause of burns. If you light fireworks on the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, ensure that only responsible adults are lighting the fuse. Keep children at a safe distance. Sparklers are a common source of burns to little hands and eyes. Keep an eye on weather conditions such as wind that can blow sparks or fireworks “shrapnel” in an unexpected direction. Better yet, attend your community fireworks display. Don’t forget sunburn: use sunscreen and wear hats and protective clothing.

Extreme heat and dehydration

Extreme heat can especially affect the elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses. Children and adults alike can be susceptible to dehydration. Select healthy options like water, sports drinks (for electrolyte replenishment), and fruits and vegetables high in water content.

If you or a loved one experiences symptoms like headache, nausea, fatigue, fainting, lethargy, dizziness or confusion while working or playing in the heat, seek out a cool spot immediately and slowly drink water or a sports drink to replace lost fluids. Heat-related illness can be dangerous, so seek immediate help if symptoms seem severe or aren’t getting better.

Food-borne illness

If that package of raw ground beef or chicken wings seems questionable after sitting out a little too long, don’t chance it. Camping, picnics and cookouts are fun but they can end in uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Warm temperatures provide an environment for harmful bacteria to grow faster on food. Ensure that meats are cooked up to recommended temperature. Avoid cross contamination of other foods, plates and utensils, and wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.

Accidents

Unfortunately, opportunities for accidents abound in the summer. Children are out playing and might get too close to the street or road. In addition to cars and trucks, accidents can occur when using ATVs, boats, motorcycles, dirt bikes and most recently, e-bikes and e-scooters. If you are driving, look twice, slow down and wait until you are parked to look at your phone. Supervise children closely around traffic, moving vehicles and water. Never mix alcohol with driving any type of vehicle, including your boat or watercraft.

Summer should be a time for you and your family to enjoy – not a time of recovery from a painful injury. While we can’t head off every hazard that may come at us in life, a little prevention is often the best cure.

— Debbie Streier is regional President/CEO of Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center