Summer is full of fun adventures. Many of these activities, however, can be dangerous and lead to serious injury. Have you ever heard the term “100 deadly days?” That term refers to the time between memorial day and labor day when people are out and about, on the roads, in the water, on the trails, etc. These fun times can create lots of memories for good, but unfortunately sometimes the memory lasts because it is painful.
Just one way to stay safe during the summer is to make sure you are in peak physical condition before attempting to participate in things your body can’t handle. Don’t try to be a weekend warrior. Remember it is okay to decline an invitation or just be along for the ride so as not to overexert and potentially injure yourself.
Physical Screening
A physical therapist can give you an exam and help strengthen any areas that may not be ready for the kind of summer play you want to enjoy. The Pick PT team is a group of Rexburg physical therapists whose mission is to help you live life moving and elevate your life. And then, if an injury does occur, you will know exactly where to go to get your body back on track.
Wear Proper Gear
This could be as simple as wearing your seatbelt when traveling in the car. For whatever activity you are participating in there is associated safety equipment. For example, if you go swimming or boating, wear a lifejacket. If you go hiking, wear the proper shoes and make sure you have plenty of water. If you ride any kind of all-terrain vehicle, wear a helmet. Many accidents and injuries can be avoided simply by being prepared and using common sense.
Make a Plan
It is amazing the amount of things that can be avoided by simply having a solid plan in place.
Here are a few examples of when to make a plan:
● Group Outings
● Dangerous Excursions
● Unfamiliar Territory
● Out of Cell Service
It is so important to make sure that someone that is not part of the outing knows where you are going and when to expect you back. When you plan an adventure, this is the time to make a list of all of the important things that need to be done, purchased or packed beforehand. Shopping lists, gear checklists, routes to take, schedule for the day, etc.
Know or Learn Basic First Aid
There are many options these days for learning and developing new skills. The chances of you not having access to the internet during some of these fun summer activities is pretty high, so it is best to have a basic knowledge in your memory to pull from if needed. Along with the knowledge of how to respond, it would be wise to carry even a basic first aid kit when traveling outside of city limits.
Safety First
Safety has a reputation for being boring. But, the lifelong repercussions of an injury can change the course of someone’s life very quickly. Even if an accident or injury occurs, if you have prepared well you will have peace of mind knowing you did everything you could to be prepared. And as mentioned above, if you are injured during the summer fun, be sure to get into your local physical therapist as soon as possible to properly rehabilitate the injury.