Top 5 Things That Could Land You in the ER This Summer

Expert Offers Tips To Avoid Such Incidents. End Quote

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) June 11, 2015 - Want to stay out of the emergency room this summer? There are some practical steps you can take to avoid falling victim to some of the more common things that cause one to seek professional treatment.

According to Bardia Anvar, M.D., founder and medical director of Valley Urgent Care in Northridge, the following are his Top 5:
• INGESTING WIRE GRILL BRUSH BRISTLES - If you use a wire brush to clean your outdoor grill, you may be putting your family at risk as the bristles often scrape off and find their way into the food. This can lead to injuries ranging in severity from a puncture in the neck tissue causing pain, while swallowing can cause perforations in the gastrointestinal tract that require emergency surgery. Before cooking, examine the grill surface carefully for the presence of bristles that might have dislodged from the grill brush and could embed in cooked food. Consider replacing the steel brush with a stone alternative.

• CRASH WORKOUTS - Just like one might cram for a test, many folks start vigorously working out now to get their bods ready for swimsuit season. Unfortunately, crash workouts frequently cause injuries leading some to visit ERs and urgent care facilities. Lower back injuries, sprained wrists and ankles, muscle tears and other problems are common this time of year and could be avoided by using proper form, making sure to stretch before working out and not over exerting yourself, particularly if you are not used to regular exercise.

• FOODBORNE ILLNESS - The CDC reports 76 million cases each year, some resulting in hospitalization and even death. During grilling season, it's not uncommon to place chicken and other raw foods of animal origin on trays before placing them on the grill. Do not put the cooked food back on the same tray to avoid salmonella and other such diseases. Also, make sure fruits and veggies are fresh and washed to remove contaminants. And foods containing mayonnaise like potato salad should not be left in the sun.

• HEAT-RELATED CONDITIONS - Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are not uncommon especially among children as they perspire less than adults and require a higher body temperature to trigger sweating. Prevention includes drinking water/sports drinks (not energy drinks) regularly to stay hydrated (remember, if you are thirsty, you already are dehydrated); remain indoors on hot days; and limit your exposure to the sun especially between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• STINGS -- Bee, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet, fire ant and other insect stings can be painful, but generally do not require medical attention, unless you are one of the 2 million Americans who are allergic to the venom of stinging insects. A normal reaction will cause pain, swelling and redness around the sting while a more severe reaction will result in swelling beyond that area e.g., a finger sting leads to swelling of your entire hand. Neither of these scenarios generally requires medical attention. Those who are allergic, however, will experience face and throat swelling, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, rapid pulse and/or dizziness caused by a sharp drop in blood pressure. Those with an allergic reaction should seek immediate medical attention. Also, those who have an allergic reaction have a 60% chance of a worse reaction if they are stung again.

For more information about Valley Urgent Care, call (818) 349-9966 or visit sfvalleyurgentcare.com

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