Common Summer Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Posted on June 7, 2022

Summer is here, the warm weather beaconing the whole family to get out and get active. It is a great time to go exploring and participate in sports. Summer brings with it the spirit of togetherness, with families joining together for activities or to travel.

Many activities are available for everyone, though this mood also comes with some risks of injury. Here are some common injuries you might sustain during your summer and how to best avoid them.

Sunburn

One of the most common ailments of the summer is sunburn. They can become pretty serious when in places surrounded by water or highly elevated areas. Severe sunburns come with headaches, blisters, fatigue, and nausea. In addition to your skin getting sunburnt, your eyes may also get sunburn if you do not have proper eye protection.

Sunscreen is the best way to avoid sunburn in the summer. You should also wear a wide-brimmed hat when you are going outside. When outside and it is hot, ensure that you cover your skin. For your eyes, get some UV-blocking glasses. 

Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion

One of the biggest dangers of the summer is overheating. Heatstroke and heat exhaustion occurs when your body loses too much water due to the high temperatures. It causes dehydration, muscle cramps, headaches, rapid pulse, nausea, and dizziness. Heat exhaustion is a severe condition that eventually turns into a deadly heatstroke.

To prevent these two from occurring, avoid going out when the temperatures are too high. It would help if you kept yourself well hydrated with water and other healthy drinks. Also, you should wear loose-fitting clothes that will allow you to sweat freely.

Boating-related Injuries

The summer is the perfect time to go out on a boat or watercraft. Unfortunately, boating accidents are some of the most common injuries during the summer. It could be hitting the wave from other boats, colliding with other boats, or slipping and falling on the boat because it is wet. 

The ways you can prevent boat injuries are by:

• Ensuring everyone on the boat has a lifejacket

• Avoiding drugs and alcohol when operating a boat

• Having a fire extinguisher and stocked first aid kit

• Always maintaining safe speeds

• Not going far out if there is a chance of a storm

• Avoiding running on the deck of a boat

Water-related Injuries

After car accidents, drowning is the second most common cause of death by accident for children aged one to four. Children should always have an adult assigned to them when around water. Even with adults everywhere, a child can drown in just a few seconds when they fall into the water unnoticed.

To prevent drowning accidents, adults should take time to supervise the children in the water. At all times, there should be an adult watching them. Life jackets should also be worn by people who are not strong swimmers.

For more on common summer injuries and how to avoid them, call Accident and Injury Chiropractic at (253) 215-8350 to reach our office in Tacoma, Washington.