Florida’s weather makes year-round outdoor fun a way of life for residents and visitors alike. Some cross the state in RVs, cars and motorcycles, while others take advantage of local beaches, parks and playing fields.

You might not associate sports injuries with the following activities, but they do indeed exist. Here are some examples, causes and preventative measures you can take.

• Shoulder and wrist strain can occur while playing badminton. What’s more, knee and ankle injuries may result if the player twists and turns suddenly. To reduce the chance of upper-body injury, a player should practice the correct swing and hold the racquet in a firm grip. To minimize lower-body injury, he or she should reach out for the birdie where possible, and not take so many steps.

• A brisk stroll is pretty safe, but even this simple activity can cause pain to the unaware, cautions The Walking Site. One common injury is plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the tissue that runs from the bottom of the foot to the toes. Causes of plantar fasciitis include weight gain, ill-fitting shoes, and the start of a walking regimen – or an increase in an existing walking regimen. This tissue can become irritated, and can eventually lead to bone spurs. Treatment for plantar fasciitis can range from rest and stretching, to surgery.

• Children can develop “Little League elbow”, which is marked by tenderness and pain from repeated ball throwing, reports KidsHealth.org. Pain is normally experienced after the follow-through of the throw. Pitchers may develop a decreased ability to extend their arm, and lose power when they throw. These injuries are more of a concern in children because of the possible effects on growing bones. The child must rest to allow healing – and warm up properly when returning to play.

As further protection for yourself or your children, consider getting In Case of Emergency (ICE) Cards. These cards can provide vital details such as whom to contact and any pre-existing conditions, when you or your child cannot speak for yourself. Get one here, or call us at 1-877-442-2362.

To learn more about recreational injuries, visit Blake Medical Center online, or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-877-4-HCA-DOCS.

Sources:

http://www.commonsportsinjuries.com/bysport/badminton/

http://www.thewalkingsite.com/feet.html

http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/sports_safety.html#

A potentially deadly accident, heart attack or stroke can happen in a matter of moments.  And when you or a loved one makes that desperate call to 911, you want a fast response in order to save a life.

The call for help during such an event that is so significant, it can become a defining moment in a person’s life.

“Breaking my neck was the most frightening moment of my life. I am eternally grateful to the Medics who came to help me as well as the team at Blake Medical Center’s Emergency Department,” Pat Jablonski said.

The 42-year-old suffered his neck injury while surfing.  He’s one of 13 patients who are sharing their stories in Blake Medical Center’s 2010 ER Calendar.  Their stories are all different, but they all share a similar experience.

The men, women and children featured in the calendar consider themselves lucky enough to be cared for by the best EMS crews in their field— the paramedics and EMTs of Manatee County’s EMS along with Blake’s ER staff.

James Allen, 18, suffered a neck injury while playing football.

“Everything from the EMS ride to the time I spent in the Emergency Room allowed me to finish out my senior football season. Thanks to everyone who cared for me,” Allen said.

ER patients Vernon Wallingford, 66, and Norma Collins, 65, both suffered heart attacks.

“Having a heart attack is very scary. The Medics that arrived to take care of me were absolutely wonderful and the team at Blake’s Emergency Department was terrific,” Collins said.

In Wallingford’s case, he suffered a potentially deadly type of heart attack known as a STEMI.  A patient’s STEMI time is the time it takes to reestablish blood flow to the heart.

Blake is proud to provide these highly critical heart attack patients with treatment times well below the national average of 90 minutes.  Wallingford’s STEMI time was 34 minutes.

“Everything was great. Thanks to everyone doing their jobs so efficiently, I’m still here to have fun,” he said.

You can check out the ER calendar on our website at www.blakemedicalcenter.com, or call our Consult-A-Nurse hotline at 1-888-359-3552 to order one free.

When you have to make an unexpected trip to the emergency room, you want to be treated right away so waiting to see a physician can be stressful.  And the dangers of your condition could worsen the longer it takes you to get treated. 

For heart attack and stroke patients, a few minutes of delay in treatment can mean the difference between life and death.

Did you know the national average wait time in the emergency room is an hour?  At Blake Medical Center we know every minute matters to you.  We are continually striving to beat the national average, and we’ve taken the guess work out of the time it takes to be seen by a physician with innovative technologies.

When a patient arrives at the ER, a system records the amount of time it takes for him or her to see a qualified medical practitioner.  Wait times are then updated electronically approximately every 30 minutes, using an average of the previous four hours.

And you don’t have to wait until you’re sitting in the ER to know how long the wait will be.  Patients can access the current wait times through a number of technologies.  Here’s how!

• Blake Medical Center website 

Current ER wait times are always posted on our hospital website at www.blakemedicalcenter.com

• Texting

From your cell phone the ER wait time is right at your fingertips by texting ER to 23000. 

For more information about any of the information provided, call (941) 782-7585.