Labor Day Dangers
The top 4 injuries to prevent this holiday weekend
Labor Day weekend is upon us and for many, this means three days away from the office. You may be planning a trip out of town or a weekend on the water. No matter what you've got up your sleeve, there are a few things you may want to remember to keep your family safe.
"If it can accelerate your body, it can injure you," said Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of the Emergency Department at Cook Children's. "Vehicular accidents, including boats, ATVs, cars, scooters and bikes are all too common on holiday weekends during the summer."
Another danger Dr. Warmink is concerned about this weekend: broken bones. No one wants to spend Labor Day weekend in the hospital. But Dr. Warmink says many families do, thanks to trampolines and monkey bars.
One of the scariest threats we see all too often is drowning. And yes, it can happen to you. In August alone, 14 children were admitted to Cook Children's Medical Center for drowning-related injuries. Two of those children died.
"We've seen many cases where children took their life preservers off and jumped back into the water," said Magdalena Santillan, Trauma Injury Prevention specialist at Cook Children’s. "Often, parents are getting ready to leave the pool and don't realize their kids have jumped back in."
One of the best ways to protect your child around the pool or lake is to become a Water Watcher. This means adults take turns supervising the water with undistracted attention. You can find more information about the program here, including 5 seldom used tips that could save a child's life.
And Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but that does not mean an end to the heat. According to Dr. Warmink, heat-related illness also tops the list of Labor Day dangers. "Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hot cars and sunburns are among the common injuries we see over the Labor Day weekend," said Dr. Warmink. "Parents should make sure their kids drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen, and of course, never leave a child alone in a car."
With your help, we can cut the number of Emergency Department admissions this holiday weekend and ensure a safe celebration for everyone.
