Don't Short Sheet Your Summer Activities

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

Summertime in Florida means heading out to the beach at first light or getting in a quick nine holes before the sun starts to take its toll.  It means playing tennis under sodium arc lights and night sailing.  One of the things we Floridians know a thing or two about is how to beat the summer heat without short sheeting our summer activities. 

Unfortunately for some, overdoing it on the court, at the beach or on the golf course is one of the reasons that sports injuries abound during the summer months.  There are also inherent dangers posed by a number of traditional summer activities, such as barbecues, fireworks and swimming pools.   Before you or someone in your family winds up cutting their summer short due to an injury, there are a few things you need to be made aware:

      1.      A study commissioned by Michigan State University found the most common summer injuries involved wheeled devices such as cars, bikes, skateboards and rollerblades.  If you or anyone in your family rides after dark, make sure that they have and use lights.  Many injuries can be prevented by making sure that riders are visible.  Also make sure that adequate protection such as helmets are worn. 

      2.      Another magnet for injuries, particularly among children, is the swimming pool.  Be it a private or public 

      pool, the areas surrounding it are wet, slick and prone to causing falls.  Toddlers especially are drawn to pools and can fall easily fall in and drown.  Always make sure that pools are surrounded on all sides by a self-locking gate.  Never leave small children unattended in or near a swimming pool. 

     

      3.      Lawn mowers are also another source of danger to children and adults alike during the summer months.  Every year more than 80,000 Americans are treated at the ER for mishaps involving lawn mowers.  Aside from the obvious risks posed by rapidly spinning blades, many injuries are caused by rocks and other debris that is ejected at high speed.  Any time the lawn mower is being operated you need to wear protective clothing such as long pants, closed-toe shoes, goggles and hearing protection.  You should also make sure that everyone else in the family is out of range of flying projectiles.

      4.      Beware the barbecue.  While nothing beats barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, burns and fire hazards are something to consider every time you fire up the grill.  In the US, fire departments respond to an average of 8,200 house fires involving barbecues every year.  That doesn’t account for the amount of burns caused by both charcoal and gas grills. 

      5.      Fireworks are a magnet for people of all ages.  They are also a prevalent cause of burn injuries in the summer months.  Caution should be exercised with any kind of pyrotechnics. Even such seemingly innocuous things as sparklers have been known to cause severe injuries.  Sometimes even professional pyrotechnics displays can be hazardous to onlookers, such as an incident this year in California’s Simi Valley when a platform collapsed during a fireworks show, causing the pyrotechnics to arc into the stands and injuring 28 people. 

      6.      Overdoing fun in the sun can also be hazardous to your health, especially for those who are overweight or out of shape.  Many people are drawn to baseball diamonds, golf courses, basketball and tennis courts during the summer who haven’t played in years.  As a result their bodies are ill prepared for the shock of competition.  Strains, sprains and slipped discs can result, especially for those who don’t take the time to warm up and stretch beforehand.  Don’t make the mistake of simply stretching the parts of your body you will be using the most.  Athletics involve the entire body.  If you don’t have a set stretching routine, consult your local chiropractor. 

      

      You can’t beat the Florida heat.  All you can do is come to terms with it.  Anytime you or any family member ventures outdoors for the next couple of months, make sure that they take all due precautions, along with plenty of sunscreen and water.   The last thing you want is an injury to short sheet your summer activities.  

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/ who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.