MedExpress Gears Up For Increase In Preventable Injuries This Summer

MORGANTOWN, W. Va., June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With summer in full swing, MedExpress, a leading provider of neighborhood medical care with 146 centers in 12 states, is preparing for a predicted annual increase in injury visits for fractures, sprains, strains, abrasions and various other types of wounds.

Summer is often described as "trauma season" for emergency rooms across the country due to increases in both outdoor and physical activities. Urgent care centers such as MedExpress also see an upward trend in visits for non-traumatic, non-emergent injury care. From May through September, MedExpress traditionally sees a 20 percent increase in wounds, a 17 percent increase in abrasions and a higher number of patient sprains and strains than during other seasons.

"Kids are on break and ideally are outside playing. Parents also have more daylight in the evening to complete outdoor projects. This means we'll see more patients needing care for what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) would label as an unintentional injury. These are injuries considered predictable and preventable when proper safety precautions are taken," said Dena Nader, MD, Regional Medical Director for MedExpress. "The CDC distinguishes these injuries from 'accidents'."

"From fire pits to lawn mowers and fireworks on the fourth of July, a little mindfulness and preparation can go a long way in preventing injuries this summer while still enjoying all the season has to offer," said Nader.

MedExpress physicians offer some specific tips to avoid unintentional injuries this summer:

• Wear a helmet with a chin strap. Whenever you ride a bike or a horse, skate or engage in other sporting activities that could cause a fall, a helmet should be worn. A chin strap can help avoid stitches.
  
• Scout the landscape before going for a ride or run. Potholes and cracks result when the summer sun heats the water that seeps into our roads and sidewalks over the winter months. Look out ahead before embarking on a trail. Even paths you know well could have changed over the winter.
  
• Consider gloves, even in the summer. Fish hooks are sharp. Poison ivy is often where you least expect it. If working with your hands this summer in the garden or at the pond, work gloves can help avoid rashes, cuts, bites and blisters.
  
• Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Fireworks can reach temperatures above 1,000 degrees F. Children should never play with fireworks and adults should be extra cautious.
  
• Use good judgment at the playground. The playground should have safety-tested mats or loose-fill materials installed at least six-feet from the equipment to cushion falls. Avoid loose-fitting clothing that can get caught on protruding "S" hooks. And, if the monkey bars look too high for your child, they probably are.
  

About MedExpress
MedExpress is a national leader in delivering high-quality, convenient and affordable walk-in care. It provides a broad scope of services including urgent care, employer health services and basic wellness and prevention services. MedExpress' full-service neighborhood medical centers accept most insurance and are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week and always have a fully staffed medical team. MedExpress has administrative offices in Morgantown, W.Va., and Canonsburg, Pa.

SOURCE MedExpress

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