Thank you, PhysicianOne Urgent Care, for sponsoring this post.

Chances are, by now your children’s school lunches consist of tortilla chips wrapped in tin foil (because you ran out of snack baggies), leftover nuggets from last night’s dinner, and a random applesauce you scavenged for in the back of the cabinet. (Applesauce doesn’t really expire, right?) It is June, after all, and we’ve been at this up-at-dawn-and-out-of-the-house-before-7 a.m. business for the last 10 months. By this time of year, it starts to wear on us all.

Good news! Summer vacation is so close we can almost smell the sunscreen, and by week two of vacation you’ll be ready for school to start again. Mom life is funny like that…

To help make your transition to vacay as seamless as possible, check out the Summer Safety List below. If you run into trouble with any of the illnesses or injuries listed below, PhysicianOne Urgent Care is NOT on summer vacation and can help you and your family feel better, faster — seven days a week.

1. Bike injuries

Wearing a helmet is the most effective way to prevent brain injury when riding on anything with wheels. That covers bikes, scooters, roller skates, trikes, etc. Check your child’s helmet each year to make sure there aren’t any cracks or broken pieces. Scuffs and scrapes on the helmet are fine, but a crack could compromise the effectiveness of the helmet. Set a good example by wearing a helmet when you ride, too. Helmet hair is in, and much cooler than the alternative. If your child falls off his or her bike and gets a cut or potential fracture or broken bone, PhysicianOne Urgent Care can help. If your child hits his or her head and is showing signs of head trauma, it is important to go to the emergency room for evaluation.

2. Broken bones and dislocated joints

Trampolines are a great way for kids to exercise in the summer, but they also result in an estimated 90,000 emergency room visits a year. Keep the number of kids jumping at one time to a minimum, and encourage the big kids to sit down and relax when the little guys and gals are bouncing. Speaking of little guys and gals, it is recommended that children under six years old avoid trampolines, as their bones are still developing and are not ready to withstand the repetitive pressure from jumping. If someone falls a little funky on the trampoline or takes a tumble off the monkey bars at the playground and you’re not sure if it’s broken, PhysicianOne Urgent Care has X-ray available every day. 

3. Rashes

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, oh my. Avoid areas of overgrowth and stay on the trail if you’re hiking on your local path or through the Blue Hills. Teach kids the same, and show them pictures of poison ivy so they can stay away from the notorious three shiny leaves. It can be challenging to determine the difference between poison ivy and poison oak; throw in heat rash and hand-foot-and-mouth, and it’s anyone’s guess where the itch your kid has is coming from. The medical team at PhysicianOne Urgent Care can assess the rash and help your child get relief faster. 

4. Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses

Wear insect repellent and long pants with high socks when you’re in wooded areas to help deter deer ticks — which carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease — from catching a ride on you or your kids. Make sure to perform daily tick checks whenever you’ve been outside, even in your backyard. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are on the rise. Should you find a tick on your child, PhysicianOne Urgent Care can remove the tick, assess the area of the bite, and provide preventative treatment as needed. 

5. Dehydration

Many times, children forget to drink water when playing or exercising. This can be especially problematic in hot temperatures, which can promote unexpected heat stroke. If your child is participating in outdoor play or athletics, encourage him or her to take hydration breaks even if the child doesn’t feel especially thirsty. 

6. Food poisoning

Between barbecues, trips to the beach, and weekend camping trips, food is a necessary part of our summer fun. Foodborne illnesses are at an all-time high during the summer months, with young children and anyone with a weakened immune system being more susceptible to food poisoning. Don’t skimp on preparation at the July 4th BBQ, and don’t be afraid to ask the grill master to put your kid’s burger back on if it looks pink. Symptoms of food poisoning are very similar to the stomach flu. Your child may experience diarrhea and/or vomiting, fever, joint aches, stomach cramping, and fatigue. Hydration is the only treatment needed for most foodborne illnesses. This includes replacing lost fluids and electrolytes. However, if symptoms continue after 24 hours, visit PhysicianOne Urgent Care to evaluate symptoms.

For more information on any of the above conditions or to find a location near you, please visit www.p1uc.com. Now you’re ready to get your (SAFE) summer on!

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1 COMMENT

  1. This is a great one to make note of. Summer is always a fun-filled season, but with kids out of school and more time outside, injuries can definitely spring up. Fun for no one. Great read.

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