Primary Care Providers are on Front Line of Safety
When we consider National Safety Month in June, our minds often jump to occupational hazards or emergencies. However, primary care providers are also on the front lines of safety, helping patients through preventative interventions and sharing guidance to reduce the risk of accidents before they happen. And, of course, they're there to help address injuries if they happen.
This is the 30th anniversary of National Safety Month, and the National Safety Council is focusing on certain safety topics, including road safety, preventing slips, trips and falls and holistic health - which means total well-being that includes mental, physical and emotional health. Summit Medical Group offers comprehensive primary care with services across a continuum of care from birth through adulthood, and a big part of that is ensuring that all patients stay safe.
Keeping Children and Older Adults Safe
Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury among older individuals. Primary care providers have several risk assessment tools for older adults, such as mobility evaluations and blood pressure checks and can help educate patients on some simple changes that could greatly reduce the chance of injury. See the list below for ways to help prevent slips, trips and falls.
At the other end of the age scale, children and adolescents
are also prone to injuries from safety issues, and pediatricians and providers
can counsel parents on upcoming developmental milestones and the hazards that
may accompany them. Education on appropriate car seats, safe sleeping, water
safety and more can help keep youngsters safe. Summit Medical Group offers pediatric services
across our network, and many are accepting new patients. Click here to find a
provider near you.
Safety is no Accident: How to Avoid Common Safety Infractions
At home
- Clear walkways: keep hallways, stairs and main pathways free of clutter, loose cords and throw rugs.
- Have good lighting, especially in bathrooms, hallways and bedrooms, and adequate night lighting as well.
- Install non-slip mats inside showers and tubs and grab bars for older adults or those with limited mobility.
- Maintain alarm systems such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Add reminder to your calendar to change batteries every year.
- Make and share a plan for everyone in your home to shelter in place or get out safely in an emergency.
- Keep medicine, cleaners and other toxic substances away from children and pets.
In the car
- Eliminate mobile distractions; do not use your phone while operating a vehicle and only use hands-free features for essential navigation.
- Make sure all passengers are buckled in properly and in right place and seat for their age.
- Don't drive when sleepy.
Outside, sports and water
- Wear appropriate safety gear for cycling, skateboarding or other sports.
- Enclose residential swimming pools and wear Coast Guard approved life jackets on the open water.
- Prevent severe sunburns, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Wear sunscreen and protective clothes, stay hydrated and try to schedule outside labor in morning or evening.
- Beware of creepy crawlies, especially with ticks being particularly bad in East Tennessee this year. Wear light clothes, tuck pants into socks or shoes and do a thorough tick check often, especially in warm areas of the body and scalp.
Safety Could Have Prevented That
Primary care providers see a rotation of common issues that could have been avoided by practicing proper safety habits such as overuse or improper lifting injuries. Be careful when landscaping or moving large items. Keep loads close to the body and do not twist when lifting.
Pediatricians often treat toddlers for accidental poisonings
from swallowing household cleaners, or minor concussions from tipping over
unsecured furniture. Keep cleaners locked away - not readily accessible under
the sink! - and anchor heavy furniture to the wall.
Power tools are fun, but providers often remove metal shards and wood from patient's eyes. If you're weed eating, sanding or using those fun power tools, wear glasses that wrap around your eyes. Summit Medical Group also offers eye care, including optometry and ophthalmology services, in Knoxville, Lenior City, Morristown, Powell and Harriman.
Prepare and Prevent
Having an accident and treating an injury is much worse than
preventing it. When primary care providers or pediatricians ask about your home
environment or hobbies during a checkup, they are trying to flag these exact
scenarios before they cause physical harm. Stay on top of your mental,
emotional and physical well-being, and practice safety all the time.