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Stay Safe WhilebrSwimming
By Dr. Josh Prickett – Medical Director, North Tarrant E-CarebrEmergency Center
With hot weather descending on North Texas, there's no doubtbrthat Southlake-area residents will be heading to rivers, lakes, beaches andbrpools to get cool. Whether it's to escape the heat, exercise, or just to relax,brswimming is a great way to spend time with family and friends, but it can alsobrbe dangerous if you don't proceed with caution. According to the Centersbrfor Disease Control, more than 1,000 people drown in non-boating accidentsbreach year, and many of these deaths could have been prevented.
Among the top reasons for drowning incidents are:
· brInexperience
· brDangerousbrConditions
· brUse ofbrAlcohol/Drugs
· brImproperbrSafety Equipment
· brLack ofbrLifeguards
Take SafetybrPrecautions
In order to prevent drowning, follow some simple water safetybrprecautions before making a splash. First, you should never swim alone. Even ifbryou bring along someone who isn't swimming, that person can act in the event ofbran emergency. Second, you need to keenly evaluate the water conditions beforebrgetting in. This is especially important if you plan to swim in a lake or abrriver, as these bodies of water can have rough currents during windy orbrinclement weather.
There are always hazards underwater, as well, such asbrbranches, glass and metal shards. Always inspect your feet for cuts andbrabrasions, clean wounds completely, disinfect cuts, and seek medical care forbrdeep cuts or for any signs of infection. In some cases, a doctor may recommendbra tetanus shot.
Finally, remember that experience counts. If you're not abrstrong swimmer, always remain in shallow water and consider wearing a flotationbrdevice. Only use safety gear such as U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests.brYou should also have a strong swimmer nearby who will be able to help if youbrexperience trouble.
CPR Saves Lives
Everyone can benefit from learning cardiopulmonarybrresuscitation, or CPR. CPR will give you the chance to potentially savebrsomeone's life. Even if a drowning individual is pulled from the water, liquidbrin the lungs can still cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, ultimately leadingbrto severe damage or death. By receiving CPR quickly, the AmericanbrHeart Association states that a victim triples their chance of survival.
Regardless of the circumstances, anyone who has experiencedbrnear-drowning needs to seek medical attention. If the affected individualbrreceives CPR or medical treatment on site, he or she should still be taken tobran emergency care center to be checked out. A drowning incident that does notbrresult in death can lead to a variety of other health problems including heart,brlung, and brain damage. By diagnosing early, you have a better chance forbrrecovery and health.
In and around the Southlake area, residents who have beenbrinvolved in a drowning or swimming accident can turn to E-Care Emergency CarebrCenters. An E-Care Emergency Care Center provides urgent care and ER care forbrindividuals who have experienced any type of serious health emergency, and eachbrfacility is staffed by medical professionals using advanced technology andbrhealth care techniques.
To learn more aboutbryour local E-Care Emergency Care clinic, check in online or call (817) 281-7277.
Josh Prickett, MD, is currently medical director for North Tarrant location of E-Care Emergency Center in North Richland Hills. Dr. Prickett graduated from the University of Oklahoma Medical School and has been practicing emergency care in Oklahoma, Minnesota and Texas since 1989. He has been married to his wife Carin for 29 years. They have a son Jonathan, a daughter Whitney, and a son-in-law John. Dr. Prickett and his family are active at Gateway Church in Southlake and love being a part of the Southlake community.