The 4^th of July or Independence Day is one of the most popularly celebrated national holidays in the United States. At the time of reading this blog, you or a close friend is likely planning a get-together. Before the plans get too developed, though, you should start thinking about everyone’s safety. From our team at Advance ER, we would like to share some must-know 4^th of July safety tips for every celebrant.

Firework Safety

Fireworks are synonymous with the 4^th of July. But they are also directly related to severe danger when mishandled. Everyone at your 4^th of July party must prioritize safety whenever fireworks are in use or near.

Five firework safety tips to follow include:

1. Only buy fireworks from a legal source. Illegal fireworks can get you in legal trouble, and there is no way to tell how they were manufactured, which could increase the risk of an unpredictable result when lit.
2. Never allow children to use fireworks unattended. Children should only be allowed to use small fireworks, too, like sparklers.
3. Keep an ample water source on hand when using fireworks of any kind. A garden hose, fire extinguisher, or a bucket of water can do nicely.
4. Douse all used fireworks thoroughly to ensure they are extinguished. Even a little bit of smoldering ash can relight a firework.
5. Never hold a firework or place it on your body if it is designed to explode. Typically, the only firework that is safe to hold is a sparkler.

COVID Safety

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is likely to see another large surge this summer, as it has in past years. The omicron strain of the virus is highly contagious, albeit, generally less likely to cause a dangerous infection. Even social gatherings outside and among vaccinated people could become an omicron “spreader” event. You should practice social distancing and mask use at any gathering with people outside of your household.

Hydration Safety

For many parts of the country, the 4^th of July is marked by a hot summer day. Make sure that everyone who celebrates at your home has plenty of water to drink if they are going to be out in the sun. Dehydration from sun exposure can happen within an hour or less, so frequent drinks of cool water are a must. If someone starts complaining of fatigue or headaches, then bring them into an air-conditioned room, give them water, and monitor them closely. Call 911 if they show any signs of a heat stroke like fainting or vomiting.

Food Safety

Watch where you keep and present food for your 4^th of July party. Leaving delicious meals out in the sun for too long can make them unsafe to eat. Raw meat needs to be cooked thoroughly and kept away from other types of food, too. When in doubt, toss it out! Better to throw away a plate of potentially spoiled food than to risk giving someone a bad case of food poisoning.

Driving Safety

Every major holiday in America sees an increase in drunk driving accidents and injuries, including the 4^th of July. Everyone who attends your party and plans on drinking must also plan on going home with a designated driver. As the 4^th of July party host, you can also consider setting up a room in your house as a guest room for the night, allowing one or a few people to sleep there, so they can drive home in the morning when they are sober.

From all of us at Advance ER in Dallas, Texas, we wish you and your family a fun and safe 4^th of July. Keep these tips in mind, and we know that your holiday weekend will be the best that it can be!

Stay Healthy in the Summer Sun

Summertime is here! Soon, the kids will be out of school and the whole family is ready for a couple months of fun spent outdoors playing, swimming, and exploring. As the temps warm up and you pull out the bathing suits, it is important to keep in mind all the summertime changes and how they can affect your health.

Let us help keep your family safe this season! Read on to discover some of our tips to making the fun last while keeping everyone healthy and happy.

Hydration

It is extremely common for children and adults alike to experience hydration during a hot Texas summer. As your schedule grows busier and you spend more time outdoors in the heat, possibly doing strenuous activities, be sure to stay hydrated.

Warning signs of dehydration include:

• Dry mouth
• Dizziness or fatigue
• Headache
• Infrequent or no urination
• Dry skin
• Thirst
• Rapid breathing or heartbeat

Protect the whole family from these side effects by increasing your water intake while outside and incorporating water-based foods, like watermelon and cucumbers, into your diet.

If you or a family member is suffering from symptoms of dehydration, visit our team at Advance ER for emergency treatment.

Heat Stroke Prevention

When your body becomes too hot due to weather conditions or intense activity in the heat, heatstroke may occur. Different from a stroke, heatstroke symptoms appear in the form of confusion, heavy sweating, high body temperature, and hallucinations.

Hydrating, staying in the shade, and avoiding strenuous activity while in the summer heat will help reduce your risk of heatstroke. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek emergency care immediately as lack of treatment can be fatal.

Lyme Disease Prevention

Those afternoon summer walks are something to look forward to. However, as tick season heightens, you must be wary of Lyme Disease. Tick bites can easily go unnoticed at first, however the symptoms of Lyme disease are hard to ignore and include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches or stiffness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• A rash at the site of the bite
• Shortness of breath
• Shooting pains
• Muscle weakness

Untreated, infection will spread throughout your body, worsening your health. If you are experiencing these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention.

Help keep your family free of tick bites by using appropriate bug spray, wearing long pants and sleeves while hiking, and staying out of tall, grassy areas. Once you arrive home after a hike, remove all your clothing and inspect yourself for ticks. If you see one on your body, remove it immediately using tweezers and monitor your symptoms.

Skin Protection

The Dallas weather can be ruthless. While a sunburn may seem like a temporary ailment, over time repeated exposure can lead to skin cancer and other health concerns. It is essential for every member of the household to wear sunscreen all summer long. By the pool, at a baseball game, running errands — everywhere!

Give yourself an added layer of protection with a hat and extra time sitting in the shade during peak sun hours.

Swimming

Taking a dip in the pool is one of the best parts of summer break, but it can also cause some accidents if you are not careful. Keep an eye on your children while they’re in the pool, never allowing them to swim alone, and encourage extra caution throughout the entire pool day. It’s also a good idea to teach little ones water safety early by signing them up for lessons or classes.

Summer Emergency Care in Dallas

Our Galleria and Park Cities locations are here to keep your family healthy 24/7, all summer long. For more information or to speak to a member of our expert staff, contact us today.

How Gratitude For Your Health Can Improve Your Health

It’s the season of giving — giving to our community and loved ones but also showing thanks for what we have. After almost two years living amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our patients have expressed that they’ve never been so thankful for their good health.

But, did you know that simply even showing thanks for your health can improve your health?

Gratitude & Physical Wellness

According to Harvard Health, positive psychology studies have shown that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. This feeling not only helps patients feel more joy but also improves areas of their lives such as their health. Practicing gratitude can also keep anxiety and depression at bay.

This improvement in your mental wellbeing has a direct effect on your physical wellbeing: limiting aches and pains and boosting your immune system due to the release of endorphins.

Working Gratitude into Your Health Regimen

In the spirit of the season, here are some ways you can add more gratitude into your day to support your mental and physical wellbeing:

?      Keeping a daily journal.

?      Make a gratitude jar.

?      Use positive, affirming cues.

?      Try meditating or yoga.

Improving Your Health

If you’re inspired to take better care of your health this season, here are a few places to start:

Stepping Up Your Hygiene

One of the best ways to prevent illness is to stay on top of your family’s personal hygiene. This means handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, and keeping your home germ-free.

Take Preventative Care of Yourself

Keeping up with your physical health can help prevent a medical emergency. Although there is a debate if one should visit their doctor annually for a routine checkup or physical, the choice will be informed by age, general health, and specific health risks.

Just like brushing your teeth and scheduling your next dental cleaning, taking care of your body and scheduling recommended screenings is a vital part of your health. As you grow older, your chance of developing certain cancers increases — making regular screening essential to early detection and treatment.

Many screening recommendations are broken down by age. The following guidelines from the American Cancer Society can help you know when to be tested:

Age 25-39

Cervical cancer screenings are the main exam recommended for patients of this age group. Beginning at 25 years old, women should be checked annually.

Age 40-49

?      The following exams are recommended for patients of this age group:

?      Breast cancer screening (recommended annually at 45, optional at 40.)

?      Cervical cancer screening.

?      Colorectal cancer screening (recommended at 45.)

?      Prostate cancer screening (for African Americans starting at age 45.)

Age 50+

At age 50, the following exams are recommended annually for patients of this age group:

?      Breast cancer screening.

?      Cervical cancer screening.

?      Colorectal cancer screening.

?      Lung cancer screening (for patients who smoke.)

?      Prostate cancer.

Whether you have symptoms or not — early screening is vital. In addition to these recommendations, it’s important to perform self-checks at home, go over your family history with your primary care doctor, and go for regular visits so they can help advise you on what screenings you should have.

Lifestyle Changes

As the saying goes: Out with the old, in with the new. If you’re working on your health this season, it’s the perfect time to say goodbye to old habits that are bad for your health such as smoking.

Exercise

Exercising frequently supports your health,  strengthens your body, prevents inflammation, and maintains a healthy weight. Here are some general tips to follow while working out:

?      Get at least two and a half hours of moderate aerobic physical activity each week.

?      Add strength training exercises into your exercise routine.

?      Change your routine every so often to avoid growing bored.

Nutrition

Your diet can have a significant impact on your health. Here are a few ways you can support a healthy diet:

?      Drink plenty of water.

?      Limit your sugar intake.

?      Avoid solid fats.

?      Eat limited amounts of red meat and processed meats.

?      Add plenty of fruits and vegetables to your plate.

?      Eat nutrient-dense foods and whole grains.

Non-Emergent & Emergency Medical Care in Dallas

Day or night, the staff at Advance ER is standing by to provide the highest quality medical care — from routine scans to emergency treatment. We have the same services found in hospital emergency rooms and meet or exceed all emergency room requirements.

Contact us today if you are experiencing a medical emergency or have questions about treatment.

Prevent Drowning: 11 Water Safety Tips for Kids

Everyone loves February with its abundance of hearts, candies and good feelings. But a growing number of people – beyond the medical field – are recognizing it as heart health month. Understanding the workings of the cardiovascular system could mean the difference between life and death.

“Heart attacks manifest in different ways for different people,” said Advance ER physician Dr. Brian King. “That’s why it’s important to know all the symptoms in case only one or two are present and the patient doesn’t show the classic symptom of crushing chest pain.”

To help you better understand heart attacks, or myocardial infarction, Advance ER has put together these tips to help you spot a problem and know what to do next.

Here are 6 warning signs of a heart attack you shouldn’t ignore:

1. Chest discomfort – any kind of pressure, pain, squeezing, fullness or discomfort felt in the chest that lasts or that comes and goes.
2. Discomfort in other areas – any pain or discomfort in one or both arms, neck, back, shoulders, stomach or jaw.
3. Shortness of breath – accompanying discomfort or by itself.
4. Nausea
5. Lightheadedness
6. Cold sweat

What should I do first if I suspect a heart episode is occurring?

Act fast. It’s better to find out later you were wrong than to wait too long, allowing damage to occur to the heart.

Call 911 immediately. An EMS responder can begin helping you right away. If you are close to Advance ER, go there immediately. Every minute counts.

What are the top tips for preventing a heart attack?

Exercise remains at the top of the list of preventative measures. “If you are at work all week, getting enough exercise can be a real challenge,” said Dr. King. “Try discussing with your boss possible ways that you and your coworkers can add exercise to the workday.” According to Forbes, a more active staff is a more productive staff.

• Walking meetings – have your committee walk and talk, rather than sit in a meeting room.
• Walking lunches – get a buddy or earbuds and take a brisk walk during lunch break. Don’t forget to switch into supportive shoes.
• Fitness campaigns – partner with your company medical provider for a great fitness campaign with personal goals and prizes for achievements.
• Gym memberships – research group memberships to the gym to be given as a benefit.
• Office exercises – have a personal trainer come in and demonstrate simple and fast stretches and resistance exercises that can be done inconspicuously in offices or cubicles.
• Timeless tricks – take the stairs rather than the elevator, park farther away, ride your bike to work – whatever you can do to add steps and exercise to your workday.

Other than exercise, eating a healthy diet is another key preventative step to take. Five fruits and vegetables a day and 6 glasses of water is the minimum goal. Visit your physician for a heart check-up, especially if you have a family history of heart problems or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity. If you are overweight, talk to your physician about a healthy weight loss plan. These are all positive ways to protect the health of your heart.

Where can I get fast help with no waiting?

Advance ER has pioneered No Wait service that puts the needs of our patients first. A board-certified physician is available to help you immediately and a cardiologist is available* for a consultation through our unique SPECIALIST NOW^TM program.

For more information, call Park Cities at (214) 915-0428 or Galleria Area at (214) 238-6270.

* Access to specialists through Advance ER’s SPECIALIST NOW^SM program is contingent on the specialist’s availability.

Meet Dr. Brian King:

Brian King, M.D., is board-certified in emergency medicine and has two decades of experience in treating acute and minor medical conditions. Dr. King received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.

With a focus on open communication, Dr. King believes in taking the time to listen to his patients to formulate a personalized treatment plan. Dr. King is an active member of the Dallas community and enjoys time spent outdoors and with his family.