Celebrate the reopening of Mission Pediatrics – McDowell
This month, I wanted to mention the importance of focusing on safety, because even though we associate summer with outdoor fun and relaxation, it presents unique health risks, including the dangers that the sun can pose, staying safe around the water, and more.
It’s easy to soak up too much sun, either when we’re participating in summer sports or when working outside. To avoid sunburn, always wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with a strength of 30 or above, protect your eyes with sunglasses, and opt for covering up as much as you can — think rash guards when you’re swimming and wide-brimmed hats.
Heat exhaustion occurs when you lose too much water and salt through perspiration, and your body is unable to keep up with cooling itself. You might be sweating profusely, feel dizzy and weak, headachy, and nauseous. Your skin may also feel clammy. You can turn heat exhaustion around by getting into an air-conditioned space and hydrating with water or electrolyte drinks. Sitting in a cool bath or placing wet washcloths that have been dipped in cool water on your forehead can also help.
With heatstroke, you develop a dangerously high temperature and actually stop sweating. Vomiting, confusion, and even loss of consciousness can occur. Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that warrants a visit to the Emergency Department (ED) for immediate treatment. Call 911.
Smart water safety measures are also critical to follow during the summer. Sadly, drowning is still the leading cause of death for children younger than four. That’s why it’s crucial to always supervise children swimming or playing in the water, whether it’s a pool, mountain creek, or at the beach. Enrolling children in swim classes early on is helpful, but all caregivers should also be CPR-trained in the event that an emergency occurs. Wearing swimsuits with bright colors allows adults to see them better if they’re underwater or swimming in murky water, or if conditions are crowded. And it’s important to follow North Carolina’s law that requires children younger than 13 to wear life jackets when kayaking, boating, or participating in other water activities.
Falls from running around pools and head injuries from diving are other dangers. Make sure to walk in areas that are wet and slippery and never dive into water with an unknown depth. Finally, if you’re hiking near a waterfall, heed the warning signs and don’t travel or explore further or closer than is posted, as the areas surrounding waterfalls are typically very slippery.
If you enjoy working on home projects that require using power tools or you do yardwork with mowers and weed eaters, make sure to follow all the safety instructions that come with each tool, and always wear protective gear, like safety glasses and gloves.
It’s also important to know where to go for care during the summer if you or a family member experiences an injury or illness. As a rule of thumb, your primary care provider, an urgent care center, or walk-in clinics like Mission My Care Now – McDowell are ideal for insect bites, mild sunburns, rashes, minor sprains, or suspected tick-related illness. The ER is where to go for a head injury, severe allergic reactions, significant burns, heatstroke, broken bones, or any other life-threatening situation.
I have some good news about healthcare in our community to share this month too. We had our grand reopening of Mission Pediatrics – McDowell on July 10th, after it was flooded and damaged from Hurricane Helene. At one point, it was filled with five feet of water, so it needed to be gutted and rebuilt on the inside, and all of our equipment — from computers to medical equipment — had to be replaced. It took some doing, but with the support of HCA Healthcare, our celebration showcased our beautiful new facility, and we sponsored a free family fun day. Now families can continue to depend on great care for their kids right here in our community.
As the start of the new school year approaches, it’s important for parents to check on whether their children’s vaccines are up to date. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and with this year’s measles outbreak — which has impacted North Carolina — it’s crucial to be even more aware of what vaccines your kids need. If everyone does their part, we can reverse the concerning trend of the return of diseases that had previously been eradicated, thanks to vaccines.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and continue to count on Mission Hospital McDowell for all your healthcare needs.
Lee Higginbotham is Chief Executive Officer of Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion. He is an accomplished healthcare leader with nearly three decades of diverse experience in healthcare. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Higginbotham earned his Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) from The Medical College of Virginia and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He resides in Marion. Lee is most proud to be a husband to his best friend and father of three remarkable children.