Summertime accidents, injuries can be reduced

As another glorious Maine summer continues, our thoughts are focused on the many outdoor activities and recreational pastimes to be found in our state. In our enjoyment of outdoor pleasures, however, we sometimes put ourselves at unnecessary risk of accident and injury.

A recent study conducted by Eastern Maine Healthcare looked at northern, central and eastern Maine’s health status and found that unintended injuries were responsible for a majority of the hospitalizations and deaths in Maine.

The study also found that men between ages 18 to 44 had the lowest rates of seat belt use. According to the study, motor vehicle crashes account for approximately half of all unintentional injury deaths. Falls, poisonings, suffocations and drownings account for a substantial portion of the remainder.

Dr. Erik Steele, EMMC family practice physician and administrator of the emergency department at EMMC, said, “Trauma and injuries are the most common cause of death in Americans between the ages of 2 and 45.” The EMH study confirms that deaths from injuries are particularly common among the most vulnerable sectors of a community – its children and elderly.

“The most important thing to remember is that injuries are almost always preventable,” Steele said. “There are two things to think about when it comes to injury prevention.”

. Be prepared. There is simple safety equipment that can prevent many injuries: the helmet for those riding a bicycle and the motorcycle; the life jacket for those out on the water; and the seat belt for those traveling in a car on a family vacation.

. Drink nonalcoholic beverages during summer activity. Summer fun doesn’t mix with alcohol when you are driving, motorcycling, boating or taking part in other activities. Alcohol is the causative factor in more that half of all injuries.

While the anticipated bee sting or sunburn is almost a certainty for children, accidents can take on a much more serious tone during school vacation months.

According to statistics gathered by the National Safe Kids Campaign, children will be rushed to emergency rooms around the country nearly 3 million times this summer. The number of bike accidents increases dramatically, and swimming-related health concerns ranging from swimmer’s ear to accidental drowning also increase exponentially.

The majority of these injuries can be avoided, however, simply by following a common-sense approach to summer fun:

“Helmets, kneepads and other protective gear are a must for cyclists, skateboarders, and roller bladers,” said Steele. Although the gear won’t necessarily prevent bumps, scrapes, bruises or broken bones, it will help protect children from life-threatening injuries and brain damage. Properly worn helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and brain injury by 88 percent.

One of the most tragic statistics involving children during the summer months is heatstroke from being left inside a hot vehicle. Too often, parents who leave a child in an unattended vehicle to do errands “for a few minutes” return to catastrophic results.

The days of summer are precious ones for Mainers. With a little common sense and preparation, we all can fully enjoy the beauty of the season and the uniqueness of our state.

Dr. Linda Austin hosts “What’s On Your Mind?” at 1 p.m. Thursdays on Maine Public Radio, and EMMC’s “HealthTalk” throughout the week.