Summer is here and we’re all ready to have some fun, but remember — Safety First!
“Please enjoy the heat in moderation and with caution,” says Frank Sailors, MD, medical director of Cleveland Clinic’s Madison Medical Office Building. “Hot weather increases the chance of heart attacks for people with risk factors for heart disease. We also see more patients with heat-related disorders.”
Dr. Sailors offers more summer safety tips for kids and adults alike:- When riding bikes, scooters or skateboards, wear properly fitted helmets and other protective gear.
- Prevent sunburns by applying sunscreen before going outside to work or play.
- Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.
- Hydrate! Drink before you get thirsty — if you’re thirsty, you're dehydrated. Drink 12 to 20 ounces of cold fluids two to three hours before strenuous activity.
- Make sure everyone knows and follows the rules when it comes to grills, matches, campfires and fireworks.
- And last, but not least, if you or your child develops hives, rash, wheezing or swelling after a bug bite, seek medical attention immediately.
“Minor injuries and illnesses don’t require an emergency department visit. Our office has family practice physicians available for same-day and walk-in appointments — including evenings and weekends,” says Dr. Sailors. “We can handle most urgent medical needs for adults and children. Of course, for life-threatening injuries or medical conditions, you should call 911 or go to an emergency department immediately.”
Plan ahead for school sports and activities
Summer flies by, and school will be back in session before you know it. If your children participate in sports, band or other school activities, they may be required to have a pre-participation exam before practices begin.
Schools want to be sure that students are able to train and compete safely. Pre-participation exams are intended to determine if a student is healthy enough to participate in their chosen activity and to help minimize the risk of injuries.
Among the goals of the exam are to evaluate:
- The participant's general health
- The participant's current fitness level
- Any existing injuries
- Any condition that might increase the participant's risk of injury
- The participant’s level of physical maturity
Pre-participation exams should be performed at least six weeks before the activity begins. This provides an opportunity to rehabilitate existing injuries or improve conditioning prior to participation. Proper conditioning is important — it can help prevent future injuries.
If the exam takes place too near the start of the season, there might not be time to address a condition or injury, and the student may not be cleared to participate or might have to sit out part of the season.
Cleveland Clinic’s Madison Medical Office Building, located at 2999 McMackin Road (at Rt. 20), is open weekdays from 8 am. to 9 pm, Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm.
Convenient hours for pre-participation exams are available, including Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:30 am to 9 am. For an appointment or more information, call 440-428-1111.
Print this story
