Treating Common Summer Injuries (Video)

Summer is synonymous with fun in the sun – kids playing outside, time at the beach or pool and vacations. And with the increased physical activity, the chance of injuries can also rise. So what are some of the most common injuries during the summer that cause minor emergencies and require urgent care?

(Video: The Baptist Health South Florida News Team hears from Sara Ahmed, an ARNP at Bethesda Health Urgent Care, about treatment for common summer injuries and conditions. Video by Steve Pipho).

“We see a wide variety of injuries during the summer, ranging from dehydration and sunburn to cuts and sprains and even upper respiratory infections,” said Sara Ahmed, an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP), at Bethesda Health Urgent Care in Wellington.

Ms. Ahmed and the other nurse practitioners at Bethesda Health Urgent Care say they definitely see an uptick in certain conditions related to the summer heat and increased physical activity. Some of the most common minor emergencies they treat this time of year are:

Heat-related Illnesses 

• Dehydration and sunburn – symptoms can include extreme thirst, nausea and fever.

Cuts, Sprains and Fractures

• Lacerations that need stitches, sprains that can be treated with slings or crutches and broken bones diagnosed by x-ray.

Immunizations and Vaccinations

• When summertime travel calls, it’s important to be up-to-date with immunizations and vaccinations, especially if traveling abroad.

Children’s Health in the Summer

Summertime for kids means a break from school and more time outdoors. Unfortunately, the increased activity  can also mean more injuries.

Bicycle-related injuries are one of the most common, according to a study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. It found that more than 2.2 million children were treated in U.S. emergency departments for bicycle-related injuries between 2006 and 2015. Boys ages 10 to 14 are the most likely to be injured, the study says, and the majority of the injuries are bruises, scrapes and cuts.

Heading to summer camp? Many camps require documentation from a medical provider about the child’s health. Summer camp physicals at Bethesda Urgent Care include a review of immunizations and administering any vaccines that are needed to keep the child up-to-date, as well as a review of medications that include any needed to prevent severe allergic reactions.

Asthma in kids is another condition that requires attention this time of year. Heat and humidity and seasonal allergies to summertime blooms can activate asthma. If a child is having a non-severe asthma attack, Ms. Ahmed says parents can bring him or her to the Urgent Care to be checked and prescribed inhalers, if needed.

And when they’re getting ready to return to school in the fall, many kids need back-to-school physicals. Thorough physical exams and updates of immunizations are also available at the Bethesda Health Urgent Care.

The Baptist Health South Florida News Team visited the Bethesda Health Urgent Care team to learn more. Watch the video now!