Stay Safe This Season With Tips From Cedar City Hospital

With school starting and hunting season around the corner, Cedar City Hospital emergency staff are preparing for the uptick in outdoor-related injuries that comes with late summer and fall. On the Big Picture Morning Show on KSUB radio, Braxton Chase, RN Coordinator for the Cedar City Hospital Emergency Department, spoke about common injuries and prevention.

“You know, it's really not that bad,” Chase said about working around the hospital’s construction. “We're excited to get those new rooms. We’ve needed them for a while, and I think it'll help patients get through faster and get some good care.”

Chase, who runs the trauma program at the hospital, has seen clear seasonal trends. “Summer time, fall time we definitely see an uptick in ATV accidents, related injuries, bicycles, those sorts of things. You know, anything going outside, moving fast, having fun.”

Head Injuries Happen Easily

Those activities can lead to everything from broken bones to serious head injuries. “Lots of wrist fractures, shoulder dislocations, clavicle fractures, and starting to get in the more serious side, you know, closed head injuries where people are getting skull fractures or brain bleeds,” Chase explained. Even a seemingly slow accident can be dangerous: “It really takes a lot less energy than you would think, even going 5-10 miles an hour on an ATV or a bicycle, a fall or a crash can pretty easily result in a serious head injury.”

For Iron County’s older population, falls remain the leading cause of ER visits. “One of the main things is just stay active. Stay fit,” Chase said. He also advised removing trip hazards like loose rugs, exposed cords, and even being mindful of pets underfoot.

Read More: How About Spending Time With Area Mountain Goats?

Seat belts and helmets remain two of the most important lifesaving tools. “Not wearing a seat belt can increase your risk of death or serious injury by anywhere from like 2 to 4 times in a car accident,” Chase said. On helmets, he added, “I would absolutely recommend anytime you're on an ATV, bicycle, definitely a motorcycle on the roadways, to wear a helmet… The main tips for selecting the helmet, making sure it's the right fit… and making sure that they meet safety standards.”

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You can hear our entire visit with Braxton Chase in the podcast below.