Spring into April with safety as your top priority

Spring is a time for renewal, getting outdoors again, and the less enthusiastically anticipated but necessary task of spring cleaning. As we enjoy the new season of longer days and warmer temperatures, it’s important to do a safety check in our homes and as we venture into nature — especially if we’re older than 50. Prioritizing safety can save us from a trip to the Emergency Room.

One of the most important, but quick and easy tasks you can tackle as you get ready for the season is checking your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. You should do this monthly, and April is no exception. 

While you’re in the midst of spring cleaning, take a look around your home for hazards. Make sure to corral lamp and appliance cords that could trip you up, and remove small throw rugs, since they slide around easily and present a fall hazard. Another important thing to do to ensure that your home is safe is to keep it well lit. Dark hallways and dim bulbs make it hard to see and easy to trip. Increasing the wattage in the bulbs of your existing lights and adding some to areas that need it are both good ideas.

Accidents can also happen when we’re in a hurry to get something done, so we may not take the best precautions. If you need to, for example, hang a picture or dust the top of your ceiling fan, don’t teeter on a chair. Instead, pull out the step ladder, put the supplies you need on top of the ladder (rather than having them in your hands as you climb it), and take your time. In the long run, you’ll save time doing the task and you won’t need to recover from any mishap.

When it comes to actual spring cleaning, potential hazards lurk in the cabinet where you keep your cleaning supplies. It’s important to know that combining certain strong cleaning ingredients, such as ammonia and bleach, form a toxic recipe. The fumes can cause throat burns and respiratory harm. Combining bleach and vinegar isn’t recommended either, since this mixture can cause chemical burns to the lungs and eyes. Mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar creates peracetic acid, which is corrosive to metal, but can also irritate your respiratory system, skin, and eyes.

Finally, in your home, don’t hesitate to install devices that reduce risks for falls, like grab bars in the shower or a shower seat, a lipless shower threshold, and non-slip flooring.

This month, our thoughts also turn to spending as much time outdoors as possible. If you’re a fan of hiking our beautiful mountains and marveling at the waterfalls, be sure to heed all the warnings on posted signs. Each year, tragic accidents occur because people get too close to a waterfall and slip on slick rocks, dive into the water near a waterfall, or swim in a waterfall pool — all are dangerous choices.

When you’re out and about enjoying nature, make sure to bring your smartphone with you, but also head out with a map, since remote areas don’t always have cell reception. Dress in layers, pack a small first aid kit in your backpack, and make sure you have a food and water reserve. If you’re allergic to bees, remember to always have your epinephrine autoinjector with you. Don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun’s powerful rays by using sunscreen liberally.

Getting back on the tennis, pickleball, or basketball court, or the soccer field also calls for caution. We know exercise is one of the pillars of good health, but when you play any sport, be sure to dress appropriately and wear proper footwear that’s specific to the activity you’re engaged in. This can help you avoid ending up in the ER with a broken bone or hip fracture, which will really slow you down.

The broad rule of thumb when it comes to indoor and outdoor safety this season is, remember you’re not 20 years old anymore, be smart about taking precautions, and take stock of your surroundings and consider what could happen — then take steps to make sure it doesn’t.

Since the best laid plans can still go wrong, I am pleased to share that we offer access to a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. David Jarrett, right here on the Plateau.  He sees patients in the Jane Woodruff Clinic at 209 Hospital Drive in Highlands, and performs surgery at HCH. To schedule an appointment, call (828) 526-4346.

While we offer comprehensive rehabilitation services that include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, I’d like to take a moment to recognize our occupational therapist, as April is Occupational Therapy Month.  Our occupational therapists (OTs) and Certified Occupation Therapy Assistants (COTAs) provide vital rehab to help patients overcome physical, mental, and social challenges so they can function better with their daily living skills. Some examples include everyday basic routines like getting dressed, bathing, cooking, organizing a backpack, holding a pencil, writing and copying notes, throwing and catching, etc. They also help patients function better in work and school settings.

We are grateful for the service of our OTs at HCH. They’re one of the committed teams that round out the advanced care we aim to provide to every patient in our community. 

Tom Neal, RN, MBA, MHA, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. Neal is a proven leader with more than 30 years of progressive healthcare experience. Prior to his role at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, he served as Chief Executive Officer of both Berwick Hospital Center in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and Greenbriar Valley Medical Center, Ronceverte, West Virginia, which are each part of Community Health Systems (CHS). Tom has an MBA from the University of Louisville, MHA from the California College of Health Sciences, BSN from Regents College of New York and an ADN from Jefferson Community College.