Avoiding Injuries During Spring
Common Springtime Injuries & How To Prevent
Each season comes with its own unique beauty, as well as its own risks. Between the nice weather, swatches of green and pops of bright color, the outdoors beckon every spring. While spending time outdoors is important—for both physical and mental health—there are risks to prepare for.
Bug Bites & Bee Stings
In addition to butterflies, a lot of plants and flowers also attract insects that sting like bees, wasps and hornets. Be careful where you step. If you or someone you are with gets stung, the American Academy of Dermatology offers this advice:
- Remain calm: Leave the area where the sting occurred but do so in a calm fashion to avoid additional strikes.
- Don’t use tweezers to remove a stinger: Tweezers can squeeze more poison into the wound. Instead, scrap over it with a fingernail or product like gauze.
- Use soap and water to clean: Wash the area thoroughly with soap.
- Find an ice pack: A cold compress or ice can help reduce swelling.
Take pain medication: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help manage the pain from a sting and any tenderness that follows.
The most important part of assessing any sting, though, is looking for signs of a broader allergic reaction, and if one does occur, going to The Emergency Center immediately. Dangerous allergic reactions include swelling that moves beyond the immediate area that was stung into the throat or face and difficulty breathing. Other signs of a possible serious allergic reaction are nausea, hives and dizziness.
Preventing Spring Yard Work Injuries
Since it has probably been gathering dust in the garage for the last several months, it’s important to make sure that lawn equipment is in proper working order and to brush up on precautions before using it.
- Always wear closed-toe shoes when using any lawn or power tool.
- Wear pants to prevent injury from lawn debris a mower or edger may kick up.
- Use eye protection.
- Turn all equipment completely off before attempting to exam, fix or adjust.
If you are injured by a piece of lawn equipment or yard debris, apply pressure to the wound and go to The Emergency Center for immediate care.
Sport Injuries To Watch Out This Spring
From team sports like baseball or softball to hitting the links, outdoor sports leagues and activities start filling up in the spring. Some people also trade in their treadmill for an outdoor trail. Sports are great exercise, but also a leading cause of orthopedic injuries.
If you have not been active in a while, ease back into exercise or activity. Be sure to warm-up and cool down properly and take enough downtime to prevent overuse injuries.
Muscle soreness, strains and minor sprains are usually cured with rest, ice and pain medication. The Emergency Center can address more significant sprains as well as suspected fractures, and diagnose and begin treatment for ligament, tendon or muscle damage.
Spring Is a Hot Time For Sunburns
It’s not pool season yet, so many people think they can get by without using sunscreen. UV rays, though, can take their toll regardless of the outdoor temperature. Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, while people who spend lots of time outdoors should use SPF 60 or higher and reapply every two hours. Most sunburns can be addressed with a cooling gel, pain relievers and time.
When to seek sunburn care: If a sunburn causes a large blister to form or leads to nausea, dizziness, severe headache, fever or begins to ooze, get it treated at The Emergency Center.
Cuts, Scratches & Scrapes
Whether you’re gardening, playing or exercising, scratches and scrapes can happen just about anywhere outside. They might not seem like a big deal, but it’s important to thoroughly clean even minor wounds to prevent a potential infection.
When to seek care for superficial wounds: If the scab gets bigger not smaller, pus begins to form, swelling, reddening or it gets more painful, find relief at The Emergency Center.
Spring should be fun, and that starts with staying healthy.
Enjoy life. We’ll be here for the bumps along the way.
The Emergency Center
San Antonio
11320 Alamo Ranch Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78253
Phone: 210-485-3644
