Health Tips & Information

An average of 10 people drown each day in the U.S., according to the American Red Cross. Eighty percent are adults. Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children younger than 5.

If your family plans to spend much time in the water this summer, take advantage of the many free or inexpensive water-safety aids.

Print out the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safety Pledge at poolsafely.gov/pledge. Children pledge to never swim alone, to ask for swimming lessons, to stay away from pool and spa drains and to be safe. Adults pledge to designate “water watchers,” make sure their children can swim, learn CPR and make their pools safe.

Search the Internet for “water watcher card” for a downloadable tag you wear, then pass to another adult when you delegate responsibility of watching others in the pool or at the beach, instead of casually telling them you are leaving.

Make Water Safety Your Priority

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
• Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Establish rules for your family and enforce them without fail. For example, set limits based on each person’s ability, do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings, and do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under water or have breath-holding contests.
• Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.
• If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.
• Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.

Prevent Unsupervised Access to the Water

• Install and use barriers around your home pool or hot tub. Safety covers and pool alarms should be added as additional layers of protection.
• Ensure that pool barriers enclose the entire pool area, are at least 4-feet high with gates that are self-closing, self-latching and open outward, and away from the pool. The latch should be high enough to be out of a small child’s reach.
• If you have an above-ground or inflatable pool, remove access ladders and secure the safety cover whenever the pool is not in use.
• Remove any structures that provide access to the pool, such as outdoor furniture, climbable trees, decorative walls and playground equipment.
• Keep toys that are not in use away from the pool and out of sight. Toys can attract young children to the pool.

Maintain Constant Supervision

• Actively supervise kids whenever around the water—even if lifeguards are present. Do not just drop your kids off at the public pool or leave them at the beach—designate a responsible adult to supervise.
• Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

Know What to Do in an Emergency

• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• If you own a home pool or hot tub, have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.

For more information, visit Newport Urgent Care in Newport Urgent Care, CA or call 949-752-6300.

Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages – and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. But many injuries can be prevented when people practice safe behaviors.

Make a difference: Spread the word about strategies for reducing the risk of injuries. Encourage communities, workplaces, families, and individuals to identify and report safety hazards.

How can National Safety Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about important safety issues like:

• Prescription drug abuse
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Being aware of your surroundings
• Distracted driving
• Staying safe in the summer heat

Everyone can get involved in reducing the risk of injuries. Together, we can share information about steps people can take to protect themselves and others.

For more information visit Newport Urgent Care in Newport Beach, CA or call 949-752-6300.

Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, Newport Urgent Care encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.

In California alone, 28% of all traffic deaths involved alcohol, and that is a 3% increase from the previous year. (Source: MADD) To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse in our community, Newport Urgent Care is joining other organizations across the country to honor Alcohol Awareness Month.

If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting.

Here are some strategies to help you cut back or stop drinking:

• Limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.
• Keep track of how much you drink.
• Don’t drink when you are upset.
• Avoid places where people drink a lot.
• Make a list of reasons not to drink.

If you are concerned about someone else’s drinking, offer to help.

For more information visit Newport Urgent Care in Newport Beach, CA or call 949-752-6300.

 

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and a leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older. The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened.

To increase awareness about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, Newport Urgent Care is proudly participating in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

People over age 50 have the highest risk of colorectal cancer. You may also be at higher risk if you are African American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer.

Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:

• Get screened starting at age 50.

• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.

• Get active and eat healthy.

For more information, visit Newport Urgent Care in Newport Beach, CA or call us at 949-752-6300.