With the arrival of summer, everyone is ready to go outside, head to the beach or swimming pool, embark on road trips, and enjoy the beautiful weather. Although summer is a great time to be active and enjoy the outdoors, there are many opportunities to suffer injuries. From watersport and swimming pool injuries to dehydration and sunburns, there are many reasons why many people end up in the hospital during the summer months.
The following are the most common summer injuries:
- Swimming injuries – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second most common cause of death by unintentional injury among children ages one through four. There are approximately 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States every year, which is an average of ten fatalities per day. About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 years old or younger. Children should be supervised at all times when they’re in or around swimming pools, while adults should avoid distractions and drinking alcohol.
- Boating injuries – Many watersport injuries happen due to boating activity, including waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing. The most common boating injuries include head and neck injuries, as well as fractures. If you’re on a boat or decide to participate in watersports, always wear a life vest and always have someone watching the person in the water.
- Bike injuries – Whether you’re riding a motorcycle or a manual bicycle, bike accidents can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. Adults and children alike should always wear a helmet when riding bikes or motorcycles.
- Car accident injuries – Since school is out, teens will spend more time during the week driving than during the school year. This means more inexperienced drivers are on the road for longer periods of time, increasing the risk of crashes. Furthermore, the summer heat can increase the chances of vehicle equipment failure, so make sure you conduct maintenance on your car before going on a road trip.
- Burn injuries – Whether it’s playing with fireworks or making burgers on the grill, thousands of home fires and burn injuries involve these fire hazards. Leave the fireworks up to the professionals and exercise caution when lighting the grill, opening the cover, and using gasoline on the grill.
- Heat-related illness – From mild dehydration to severe heatstroke, people often visit the hospital due to heat-related conditions. Fewer than 1,000 Americans die each year to heat-related illness, while plenty more experience more mild symptoms of too much exposure to the sun, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and disorientation. Always be mindful of the temperature outside and stay hydrated. When the temperature is high, avoid being outside for prolonged periods of time.
If you have suffered an injury caused by negligence in Nassau County, contact Foley Griffin and request a free consultation with our experienced legal team today.