Ladies, if you knew that you had a 1 in 71 chance of developing a potentially life threatening illness, would you go in for an evaluation? Most of us probably would–after all, better safe than sorry. The problem is that most women do not seem to know that this is exactly the chance that they will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetimes. Over 21,000 women have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States alone this year. We are going to take some time to tell you a little about the disease so that you can be armed with information.
As you probably have guessed, ovarian cancer develops in the ovaries. Your ovaries are just one part of your reproductive tract, but they are responsible for producing most of the hormones that help to regulate your body. Like other cancers, ovarian cancer is defined by the growth of too many cells. Sometimes the cellular growth is benign, which means that it is limited to the ovaries and other times the growth is malignant and unfortunately can spread to other parts of the body. Your ovaries have three types of cells where cancer can develop:
- Epithelial Cells cover the outside of the ovaries and are where most ovarian cancer develops.
- Germ Cells produce the eggs that can eventually form embryos in the reproductive process.
- Stromal Cells hold the ovaries together and produce female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
While a woman should never diagnose her own condition, there are some symptoms that you can watch for. These symptoms are associated with other medical conditions, but if they persist for more than two weeks seek an evaluation by a gynecologist.
- Bloating
- Abdominal Pain
- Urination issues including frequent or sudden need to urinate
- Inability to eat regular amounts because you feel unusually full
Your physician may use a few different methods to screen for ovarian cancer. There is not one single method that is universally accepted so follow the lead of your preferred medical professional if you go in for an ovarian cancer screening. You may be familiar with some of the screening methods from past medical examinations. Some screenings you may undergo include:
- Pelvic Exam- In this procedure the doctor will examine your reproductive tract physically and visually. The doctor will be able to see or feel any abnormal growth.
- Transvaginal Ultrasound- This screening method utilizes sound waves to develop a “picture” of your reproductive tract. The doctor can examine the pictures to identify any potential issues.
- CA 125 Assay- This is a blood test. CA 125 is a substance that will be present in the bloodstream of individuals who have certain types of cancer including ovarian.
Keep in mind that screening for ovarian cancer is not an exact science. While you should always trust the judgment of medical professionals, regular screenings and honest communication with your doctor is the best recipe for identifying ovarian cancer. The chances of beating the disease are greatly increased if it is diagnosed early. Talk to your gynecologist about the best screening schedule for you. For more information call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362 for answers to your questions and free physician referrals.
SOURCES
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Thump-thump, thump-thump. You know that familiar sound. It’s your heartbeat, and you probably hear it whenever you break a sweat. But what you do really know about your heart rate?
For instance, did you know that the average number of beats per minute is 50 to 100? And did you know that thousands of people suffer from arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat?
If you’re one of those people, your doctor may refer you to a cardiologist, who may in turn send you to a cardiac electrophysiologist. This specialist could suggest that you undergo an electrophysiology study (EPS). And if that’s the case, the Electrophysiology Lab at Westside Regional Medical Center offers everything you need.
What Causes Arrhythmia?
There could be many reasons that you have an irregular heartbeat. Some factors include an electrolyte imbalance, recovery from heart surgery, a heart attack, or a weak heart muscle. You might have symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, fainting, or general fatigue.
How Does an EPS Help?
This test assesses the heart’s electrical function via wire electrodes that are placed into the heart via the groin. The purpose of the test is to attempt to induce and determine the mechanism of an arrhythmia and determine the need for a pacemaker or defibrillator.
What Happens at the Electrophysiology Lab?
The staff members at the EP lab have one goal in mind: to keep your heart healthy. So they are committed to making your EP study as comfortable and as accurate an experience as possible.
During the test:
- Several electrocardiogram (ECG) and other patches will be placed on your legs, arms, chest, and back.
- You’ll wear a blood pressure cuff and other monitoring devices during the procedure.
- An anesthesiologist will sedate you. Usually, this involves a local anesthetic and an intravenous sedative.
- A catheter or multiple catheters will be inserted into one of your blood vessels and it will be guided toward your heart.
- You will likely be asleep and will not feel anything at this point.
- Once the information about your heart has been gathered, an ablation or the implantation of a device may occur.
- After the procedure, the catheter(s) will be removed.
- A nurse will apply pressure to stop any bleeding at the groin area, usually before you leave the procedure room.
After the test:
- Your doctor will talk to you and your family about the results and future treatment.
- You will rest for 2 to 6 hours, during which time a nurse will monitor you.
- You will probably be discharged later that day or the next day.
What Does Radiofrequency Ablation Do?
Immediately after the EPS your doctor may opt to perform a radiofrequency ablation. This procedure can cure a number of arrhythmias. It works by delivering radiofrequency energy to a small area of your heart via a catheter in order to destroy a short circuit.
What Can the Lab Do for You?
“The EP lab at Westside is probably the most state-of-the-art facility in Broward County. In terms of number of procedures and complex procedures, it’s the fastest-growing lab in the area,” says cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. David N. Kenigsberg. “The lab is a cutting-edge provider of EP services, and it’s housed in a large and welcoming physical space. This allows for great access to equipment, and it assures safe and effective treatment for all our patients.”
To learn more about our Electrophysiology Lab and how it can serve you, contact Westside Regional Medical Center. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362.
Helio Castroneves; celebrity, race car driver, winner of Dancing With the Stars, and now spokesperson for HCA East Florida. Helio is lending his voice to let the people of south Florida know about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Castroneves was born in Brazil. His interest in motor sports began at age eleven when he raced go karts for fun with his friends. His taste for racing grew and has developed into a professional career that began at age 23. He has an impressive three Indianapolis 500 wins in 2001, 2002 and 2009. He has 17 career Indy Car first place finishes and a series of other accolades. Currently, he is sponsored by Team Penske Racing. His career has taken him through several divisions of motor sports and across multiple continents.
Helio has found ways to stay active off the race track as well. He has experience as both an author and a reality television star. He not only competed on, but won, the fifth season of ABC’s hit reality show Dancing With the Stars. Showing true dedication to learning a new craft, Helio and his partner Julianne Hough, scored a flawless thirty points in their final dance to win the season long competition. Further delving into diversity, Helio published an autobiographical book in 2010. Writing the book gave Helio the opportunity to share his life story. The book deals with overcoming adversity and paints fans a more vivid picture of his life; from humble beginnings in Brazil to international celebrity.
Recently, Helio has partnered with HCA East Florida. He has appeared in some television commercials, telling people about the family of medical care centers and highlighting the exemplary emergency care they offer. Catroneves, along with other celebrities such as Don Shula, will be helping promote the facilities managed by HCA East in Florida. Castroneves himself makes his home in South Florida, so he has more than just a celebrity stake in spreading the word about the best medical care available for himself and fellow Floridians. Be on the lookout for more from Helio Catroneves and HCA East Florida. In the near future, they will be working together to inform the citizens of South Florida on medical advancements as well as Helio’s flourishing career.
Because a stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is slowed or stopped by a rupture or blockage of an artery, restoring that flow quickly is essential to saving a stroke victim’s life.
If the right treatment is started fast enough, it can not only prevent death, but minimize complications such as paralysis, memory loss and slurred speech.
Types of stroke
There are three kinds of stroke, as defined by the American Stroke Association:
· Ischemic Stroke: Caused by a clot in a blood vessel to the brain. Accounts for 87% of strokes.
· Hemorrhaging Stroke: Caused by a ruptured blood vessel to the brain.
· Transient Ischemic Attack: Also referred to as a “warning” stroke, the clot is temporary and causes no permanent damage. However, it increases the risk of an ischemic stroke.
Aventura at the forefront
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center was the first hospital in Miami-Dade County to receive the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association “Get With The Guidelines” Gold Plus Achievement Award for excellence in stroke care.
This award, bestowed upon AHMC in 2009, recognized the hospital for consistently following the program’s achievement benchmarks for two or more 12-month periods, and sustaining a 75% or higher compliance level with six of the 10 program guidelines.
To do this, AHMC has aggressively used medications and techniques to improve stroke outcomes for patients. These include:
· tPA: A clot-busting drug that must be used immediately after a stroke to be effective.
· Antithrombotics: A medication which inhibits the formation of clots.
· Anticoagulation therapy: A treatment program to prevent the formation of clots in the blood.
· Cholesterol-reducing drugs: Statin medications reduce the buildup of plaque in the arteries and help prevent the existing plaque from rupturing.
· Smoking cessation: Quitting reduces the risk of stroke because it reduces the risk of circulatory disease.
· DVT (deep vein thrombosis) treatment: DVT occurs when the blood flow in the legs is slowed and clots form. Treatment includes compression therapy and anti-inflammatory medications.
Aventura was also the first hospital in Miami-Dade to be designated a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission.
Risk factors for stroke
Some people have a family history of stroke. That can’t be changed, but you can modify your lifestyle to reduce your chances of having a stroke.
- Smoking: The chemicals in cigarettes cause damage to the cardiovascular system.
- High blood pressure: This is the No. 1 cause of stroke.
- High cholesterol: It contributes to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries.
- Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise and obesity add to the risk of stroke.
Know the signs of stroke
Stroke happens very fast. It also happens without warning. Signs that someone may be having a stroke include sudden weakness, numbness, blurry vision, intense headache, dizziness and confusion.
Remember, time is critical in treating a person whose brain is not receiving an adequate supply of blood. If you see someone exhibiting symptoms of stroke, call 911 right away.
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center has the staff and the experience to provide everyone in our community with the best possible stroke care.
For more information about stroke care ,or if you would like a neurologist referral, contact Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-256-7692, visit Aventura Hospital and Medical Center online, or visit HCA East Florida online.
By Alfredo Arango
Medical Editor
Innovative, less invasive strategies than the open surgery are being developed by medical science to treat aneurysms and fistulas that can cause cerebral hemorrhages.
Cerebral hemorrhages may result from, among other reasons, the rupture of an aneurysm, which is like a balloon that is formed in an artery,
weakening its walls; or because of arterio-venous malformations, explains Dr. Edgard Pereira, Director of Interventional Neuroradiology at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, in Palm Beach, Florida.
The congenital arteriovenous malformations are fistulas in which the arteries are connected directly to the veins, without the capillaries which naturally should exist between them. The arteries, but not the veins, are designed to withstand great blood pressure. One of the functions of the capillaries or tiny blood vessels is to lower to almost zero the pressure of the blood flowing in the arteries, so that when the blood passes to the veins the pressure is minimal. When there are fistulas instead of capillaries in a particular connection, the vein receives all the pressure that the blood carries in the artery; the result is that the vein can rupture itself.
About 30 percent of persons suffering a cerebral hemorrhage because of the rupture of an artery or a vein die before reaching the hospital.
With the development of the surgical microscopes in the 1970’s, very effective craniotomies began to be performed to treat these conditions; however, this resource was still very invasive.
Later on, another less invasive technique was developed, which consisted in filling up the defect with a type of cord that is introduced by means of a catheter or flexible tube that is inserted through the groin to the femoral artery and is taken to the defect in the brain. This little cord is rolled up inside the defect like a coil that serves as a type of plug, as it stimulates the growth of clots that end up sealing the defect. The risk of death or severe disability with this treatment dropped significantly.
These coils are used in about 60,000 procedures world-wide. These devices are used in practically all the endovascular treatments to occlude aneurysms and some types of arterio-venous malformations.
Despite the advance, some studies showed that there is a high rate of recurrence of the problem when the coils are used to occlude large aneurysms (from 10 to 25 milliliters) or giant ones (greater than 25 milliliters).
For this reason it was necessary to continue the research and come up with something better.
Now, the latest development to resolve these problems of the cerebral blood vessels and avoid recurrence of the same is filling up the defects with special liquid substances, also by means of catheters. These substances are sufficiently injected inside the defect so that, with a small balloon, the flow of blood to the artery is momentarily interrupted. When the liquid solidifies in a couple of minutes, the balloon is deflated so that the blood flow can resume and oxygenated blood can continue feeding the cerebral tissues. In the end, the balloon and the catheters are removed.
One of the liquid embolic agents is called Onyx.
“Liquid embolic products are used to treat both aneurysms and arterio-venous malformations. The embolic material is injected in a liquid form through a small micro-catheter into the affected area of the brain, where it begins to solidify, reducing the pressure and likelihood of rupture.
Unlike other liquid embolics on the market, Onyx® material is non-adhesive and provides a more controlled delivery and set up,” explains EV3, the company which makes this technology.
These liquid substances are particularly useful for occluding aneurysms that present with certain neck types which are not amenable to treatment with surgical clipping, including closing some which, because of their large size, cannot be resolved with coils.
A study performed in Europe showed that the occlusion of these vascular defects is much more effective and with less recurrence when using a liquid embolic agent than when using the coils.
These new cerebral embolization systems can be used to prevent hemorrhages as well as resolve emergency hemorrhages which have already occurred. In the latter case, the reason the liquid does not leak from the rupture of the aneurysm is that, a few hours after the hemorrhage has occurred, the blood itself naturally tends to clot and partly close the rupture, which keeps the injected liquid from leaking from the ruptured sac of the aneurysm and instead, it solidifies inside, in this way helping to close completely the rupture and all of the aneurysm.
In the future, another strategy will be available to resolve aneurysms by means of stents, such as is currently being done with some aneurysms of the aorta. For the time being, it has not been possible to apply these stents to the cerebral aneurysms because of the minute size they would have to be, and because many times, such cerebral aneurysms present themselves in places where the artery bifurcates, which would necessitate the stents to be irregularly shaped, almost strangely so, to the arterial ramifications of the anatomy of each patient.
For further information, write to INTL@hcahealthcare.com; call 305-222-6750; or visit hcainternationalhealth.com.
A congenital heart defect is a heart abnormality that is present at birth. Though the thought of your infant or young child having a heart defect might be scary, close to nine of every 1,000 kids in the U.S. is born with one, according to the American Heart Association.
Approximately 36,000 babies are born each year with some kind of heart defect. It happens most often very early in the mother’s pregnancy, and the cause is usually unknown. Most birth defects of the heart are minor; some are not even discovered until the child is a teenager or an adult.
Other heart defects, however, are potentially life-threatening and require treatment. Fortunately, they are usually detected during the mother’s pregnancy or shortly after their child’s birth. Current medical technology enables physicians to treat a number of heart conditions with medication and non-invasive techniques in addition to surgery, allowing many children with heart problems to live normal or near-normal lives.
The beat goes on
The human heart is a pump that moves blood throughout the body. In children, it beats 100,000 times a day. Fresh blood goes out via arteries, carrying oxygen with it to the tissues and organs. After the oxygen is absorbed, the oxygen-free blood returns through the veins and is moved by the heart into the lungs, where it receives oxygen and is pumped out to tissues and organs yet again.
Any heart conditions that interfere with or prevent this process from happening, are considered serious. Possible signs of a heart defect include:
- Bluish coloring. Oxygenated blood is red, and oxygen-free blood is blue. This indicates not enough oxygen is getting to tissues and organs.
- Lack of appetite. This may accompany the change in coloring.
- Weak pulse
- Problems breathing or breathing heavily
- Fatigue
Healing the heart
If an infant or child’s heart condition is severe enough, it can be treated in one of the following ways:
- Catheterization. A thin plastic tube inserted into a vein or an artery and threaded into the heart. This non-surgical technique is chosen to repair simple heart defects such as atrial septal defect and pulmonary valve stenosis.
- Surgery. An operation may be required to fix more complex heart problems. Examples include holes in the heart, valve defects and defects with blood vessels near the heart.
- Transplant. When there are too many problems to fix via surgery, a young patient may need an entirely new heart. However, this is rare.
We can help
Five of the hospitals of HCA East Florida can diagnose and treat a variety of cardiac health issues.
If you would like a physician referral, please contact Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362, or visit HCA East Florida online.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in American men. It is estimated that one in five men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. The good news is that the vast majority of patients recover from prostate cancer. The better news is that it is possible to take steps to reduce your likelihood of ever developing the disease in the first place.
Risks for Prostate Cancer
Lifestyle factors are often the biggest contributor to developing prostate cancer. First and foremost, staying active and maintaining an exercise regimen, while helpful overall, also helps you avoid prostate cancer. Regular exercise, especially cardiovascular routines, can increase blood flow and the amount of oxygen that is distributed to muscle tissue. These factors aid in controlling glucosamine levels in the body. High levels of glucosamine have been shown to increase your chances of developing cancers including prostate cancer.
Diet also plays an important role. If you tend to eat a lot of fatty meats and dairy products while skipping out on fiber, you are far more likely to develop prostate cancer. We could lecture on about how your diet needs to contain significant levels of selenium and licopene to help skirt prostate cancer, and we would be right, but let’s just talk food. You already know about a lot of the foods on our list because they are healthy. It will be beneficial to incorporate many of these food sources into your diet:
· Tomatoes
· Pomegranates
· Whole Wheat Breads
· Kelp
· Proteins (eggs, chicken and fresh fish are some of the better choices and try nuts as a snack
Keeping in tune with the healthy aspect of a cancer reducing diet, avoid refined sugars and flour. The refining process adds elements to your food that your body does not need.
Prostate Cancer Treatments Offered By HCA East Facilities
If you do develop prostate cancer we have an array of treatment options available.
· The da Vinci System®- This procedure offers multiple benefits. It is far less invasive than traditional surgery, leading to less pain, less bleeding and a faster recovery time physically and sexually. The da Vinci System has also been shown through studies and comparison to be equal or better than traditional surgery in terms of the number of cancer cells left behind after the cancerous portion of the prostate is removed.
· Radiation Technology- whereby specifically concentrated radiation is applied to the cancerous area in an effort to kill the cancer cells themselves. Our radiologists are experienced and able to provide you with not only superior medical care but any information you may want.
· Radiofrequency Ablation- With this method we apply heat to the cancerous tissue to destroy it.
Patients are evaluated individually and our medical team will decipher which procedure is best for your situation. As we consider patients on a case by case basis we take a patient-centric approach to treating prostate cancer. Our commitment to incorporating technology like the da Vinci System as a means of continually improving medical care is evident in our addition of this technology to several of our facilities:
If you have questions about prostate health or robotic surgery options, please contact us. Call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362 for answers to your questions and free physician referrals.
Few things are more frightening to a parent than finding out their child has cancer. Unlike many other childhood traumas, it is something that they can’t make go away. Depending on the type of cancer, there are a variety of treatment options, and these may seem confusing – even scary – to moms and dads and their kids.
Kids and cancer
The American Cancer Society says that in 2010, about 10,700 kids under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer. Unless you have a son, daughter, or other young family member with cancer, you may not be aware that children are more likely to develop certain cancers than adults. According to KidsHealth.com, the most common childhood cancers are:
- Leukemia (a cancer of the bone marrow and blood)
- Lymphoma (affects the body’s immune system)
- Brain cancer (there are different types of tumors)
- Osteosarcoma (bone cancer; usually seen in teens)
Improving the odds
Each year, 12,500 children and teenagers are diagnosed each year with cancer, according to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and there is a 1 in 300 chance that a young person will develop cancer before they turn 20 years old. The good news is, the cancer cure rate for kids and teens is nearly 80%, up from 58% just two decades ago.
Did you know that Palms West Hospital offers the only hematology oncology program in Western Palm Beach County? If you live in this area and your child or teen has a blood disorder, a blood cancer, or any other type of cancer, he or she can be treated locally on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
How is cancer detected?
Signs of childhood cancer are often the same as a number of other conditions, including:
- Infection
- Swollen glands
- Fever
- Anemia (lack of iron in the blood)
Some of the less common symptoms are a sudden and unexplained weight loss, an unusual lump, and continuing pain in one area of the body.
How it’s treated
Children receive cancer treatment differently than adults, because their organs and bodies are still growing. Depending on the type of cancer they have, the child may receive chemotherapy and/or radiation, but not necessarily surgery.
For example, an operation is not usually indicated for treatment of leukemia or lymphoma, since these are found in the blood and the body’s immune network. But a child with brain cancer may have surgery to remove the tumor.
Living with cancer
How a child will handle a diagnosis of cancer depends on his or her age and personality. Kids should be told that they have an illness, but in a manner that they can understand. The explanation you provide to a two-year-old will be much simpler than the one you give an eight-year-old.
Finding out your child has cancer is devastating, but you do not have to cope with the diagnosis alone. The pediatric oncology team at Palms West Hospital can help during this difficult time. To learn more, contact Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-256-7723, or visit Palms West Hospital online.
Depending on the type of heart attack, the length of time it takes to get the victim to an emergency room may determine if he or she will live – and if they do, their quality of life afterward. The most deadly type of heart attack is a STEMI, or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
About STEMI
A STEMI is identified on an EKG. This is a type of heart attack in which the heart muscle is not getting the blood it needs to pump properly, due to blockages in arteries carrying blood to the heart.
A national concern
About 400,000 people have STEMI heart attacks in the U.S. each year, the AHA says. Because of the potential for disability and death, a quick and appropriate response is critical. Patients need specialized treatment in a cardiac catheterization lab. Often the medication tPA, which helps dissolve clots, is a part of the treatment.
Living on STEMI time
A patient’s STEMI time is how long it takes to reestablish blood flow from the time the patient arrives at the hospital’s Emergency Room. The American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Joint Commission say that this should occur in 90 minutes or less.
STEMI and HCA
We are proud that HCA East Florida hospitals all have average STEMI times under the 90 minute national benchmark. Combined with our low average ER wait times, all patients, including heart attack victims, will get the best possible care, and quickly.
Here, you can find the lifesaving treatments and physicians required to provide the quality of heart care you deserve, when you need it. Only about one-quarter of hospitals are equipped to treat STEMI heart attacks. Requirements include the availability of a catheterization lab, as well as specially-trained physicians and nurses.
The following HCA East Florida facilities have dedicated cardiovascular and STEMI teams:
- Aventura Hospital
- JFK Medical Center
- Kendall Regional Medical Center
- Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute
- Westside Regional Medical Center
When it comes to our heart, there is no time to waste. Don’t wonder what to do. Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS is available 24/7, or visit HCA East Florida online.
Sources:
Depending on the type of heart attack, the length of time it takes to get the victim to an emergency room may determine if he or she will live – and if they do, their quality of life afterward. The most deadly type of heart attack is a STEMI, or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
About STEMI
A STEMI is identified on an EKG. This is a type of heart attack in which the heart muscle is not getting the blood it needs to pump properly, due to blockages in arteries carrying blood to the heart.
A national concern
About 400,000 people have STEMI heart attacks in the U.S. each year, the AHA says. Because of the potential for disability and death, a quick and appropriate response is critical. Patients need specialized treatment in a cardiac catheterization lab. Often the medication tPA, which helps dissolve clots, is a part of the treatment.
Living on STEMI time
A patient’s STEMI time is how long it takes to reestablish blood flow from the time the patient arrives at the hospital’s Emergency Room. The American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Joint Commission say that this should occur in 90 minutes or less.
STEMI and HCA
We are proud that HCA East Florida hospitals all have average STEMI times under the 90 minute national benchmark. Combined with our low average ER wait times, all patients, including heart attack victims, will get the best possible care, and quickly.
Here, you can find the lifesaving treatments and physicians required to provide the quality of heart care you deserve, when you need it. Only about one-quarter of hospitals are equipped to treat STEMI heart attacks. Requirements include the availability of a catheterization lab, as well as specially-trained physicians and nurses.
The following HCA East Florida facilities have dedicated cardiovascular and STEMI teams:
- Aventura Hospital
- JFK Medical Center
- Kendall Regional Medical Center
- Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute
- Westside Regional Medical Center
When it comes to our heart, there is no time to waste. Don’t wonder what to do. Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS is available 24/7, or visit HCA East Florida online.
Sources:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3050213
http://www.hcaeastflorida.com/
School is out, and children are enjoying many different activities with their families, friends, and other kids.
Trauma season for kids
For most children, it’s a carefree time, but because of the potential for injury, it is also referred to as “the trauma season for kids”, according to Love Our Children USA, a nonprofit group seeking to protect children from all forms of violence and neglect.
Love Our Children says that during the summer, children ages 14 and under will be rushed to emergency rooms nearly 3 million times for serious injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes, drownings, bike crashes, pedestrian incidents, falls and other hazards.
Sadly, more than 2,500 children will die.
A watchful eye
Supervision is critical to keeping kids out of the ER, whether they are in your backyard, down the street at the community pool or away at camp, where they come into contact with lots of people and participate in physical activities such as canoeing and horseback riding.
For camp in particular, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents do the following:
- vaccinate children
- teach them to stay hydrated
- instruct them to avoid wild animals
- provide insect repellant and sunblock
- know the camp’s emergency procedures
On the homefront
To be sure, children can just as easily suffer injury in or near the house as they can somewhere else. Love Our Children offers these tips to keep kids safe at home:
- Inspect your swing set to ensure it is safe
- Know where kids are if doing yard work with dangerous equipment
- Allow only one child at a time on a trampoline
- Insist kids wear helmets while riding their bikes
- Make sure children take breaks from the heat
For specialized pediatric Emergency care, please visit any of the HCA East Florida hospitals below:
If you have questions about keeping kids safe or would like to inquire about safety classes or programs, contact Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS, or visit us online.
Sources:
http://www.loveourchildrenusa.org/summersafetyforchildren.php
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SummerCamp/
http://www.hcaeastflorida.com/