Drug and alcohol screening is vital in safety-sensitive jobs in every industry due to the fact that employees who are under the influence may endanger the safety of the public and fellow employees. Urgent care centers like ER 24-7 Plus offer a comprehensive array of drug and alcohol testing.

 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all employees holding safety-sensitive positions in the transportation industry to be subjected to a drug and alcohol screening. This includes operators, employees, and employers performing safety-sensitive duties in mass transit, railroad, trucking, pipeline, aviation, and maritime industries. The DOT requires that every company have in place a Drug Free Workplace Policy. Many non-DOT companies choose to have in place a Drug Free Workplace Policy to help reduce accidents and absenteeism and increase productivity.

 

Performing a drug and alcohol screening at an urgent care center like ER 24-7 Plus is done for the following reasons:

 

Pre-employment: Prior to hiring someone for a safety-sensitive job, a DOT drug test is necessary. This includes transferring an employee to a safety-sensitive job from a non-safety-sensitive job. Not hiring or not transferring an employee in the first place is easier than terminating them.

 

Post-accident: A drug and alcohol screening should be performed when an employee has been involved in an accident. The screening must be performed within two to four hours for alcohol and 32 hours for drugs.

 

Reasonable suspicion: Suspicion of an employee’s drug and/or alcohol use must be based upon the actual observance of their appearance, behavior, speech, and smell which are typically affiliated with intoxication. A drug and alcohol screening should be performed if an employee is suspected of being intoxicated and causing performance and safety issues.

 

Return-to-duty: An employee who fails or refuses to take a drug and alcohol test must go to a substance abuse professional that is DOT approved for evaluation and treatment. Once treatment is completed, the employee will only be allowed to return to safety-sensitive functions after they pass a drug and alcohol screening.

 

Follow-up: After an employee has completed treatment and passed a return-to-duty screening, they will be subjected to a series of follow-up tests. The series usually consists of six random tests given within one year and may last for up to five years. The screening frequency and length will be prescribed by the substance abuse professional. The tests are given randomly without the employee knowing when they will be tested.

 

ER 24-7 Plus is qualified to perform both DOT and non-DOT testing.

 

Diabetes is a major health concern affecting approximately 26 million American people.  Approximately 57 million American people are in the pre-diabetes stage.  Many times the symptoms of diabetes go unnoticed and are often regarded as side effects of an active lifestyle.  It may be necessary for you to visit an urgent care center such as ER 24-7 Plus if you consistently experience the following symptoms:

 

-  Frequent urination

-  Extreme thirst

-  Extreme hunger

-  Extreme tiredness

-  Irritability

-  Blurred vision

-  Unexplained weight loss

 

A test called A1C measures your average glucose concentration during the previous two to three months.  You can greatly reduce your risk of complications by maintaining a number of 7% or less.  Your cholesterol should also be measured and kept within healthy levels.  The three parts of your cholesterol that should be measured are LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides.  Doctors such as those at ER 24-7 Plus recommend the following cholesterol goals for people with diabetes:

 

-  LDL: less than 100 mg/dL

-  HDL: greater than 40 mg/dL for men and greater than 50 mg/dL for women

-  Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dL

 

It is also important for people with diabetes to keep their blood pressure under 130/80. 

 

Whether a patient has been diagnosed with diabetes or is in the pre-diabetes stage, it is never too late to make healthy changes.  Maintaining a diet that is low in sugar and fat along with regular exercise will help you combat this disease.  While the doctors at ER 24-7 Plus state that certain other factors such as family history and a patient’s age can contribute to the disease, taking control of your health through diet and exercise is a step in the right direction. 

ER 24/7 Plus is proud to celebrate Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, which is celebrated in September of every year. But what is atrial fibrillation, and why is there a month devoted to it?

Atrial fibrillation, or afib, is an irregular heartbeat which can result in serious complications like heart failure, dementia, stroke, and possibly even death. Many people who have atrial fibrillation do not know that they even have it, and those who are aware of it often do not understand how serious it is. And healthcare providers will often erroneously minimize this condition's potential risks.

The purpose of  Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month is to educate healthcare workers and patients about this complicated condition. This knowledge is vital because, as well as preventing strokes, understanding atrial fibrillation help make the quality of life better for afib sufferers. Many people who have atrial fibrillation have a quality of life than is lower than a heart attack sufferer. Some healthcare providers might not be aware of certain options for treatment that can essentially stop the condition altogether.

Atrial fibrillation is an extremely common, yet very unknown condition that frequently goes undiagnosed for years, with suffers often having gone through several strokes before their condition is finally recognized and treatment is started. The longer afib is left untreated the higher the risk becomes for it to turn into a constant condition instead of an intermittent one, which is much harder to treat. People who are treated within 2-3 years of their diagnosis are much likelier to have success in treating their condition and living a more normal life. Therefore, understanding treatment options and attempting to stop it early on is vital for the person's well being. 

This is why StopAfib.org and other similar organizations requested for September to be recognized as  Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, and to raise the priority of atrial fibrillation in current education and research funding. ER 24/7 Plus encourages everyone to take some time this month to learn more about atrial fibrillation, and to share the information with your friends. The more that people know about this condition, the more effective diagnosis and treatment will be. You can talk to an ER 24/7 Plus technician about atrial fibrillation.

Migraines affect many people every day, and are a frequent cause of emergency room visits. A migraine is a serious, agonizing headache that is frequently preceded or combined with sensory indicators like flashes of light, blind spots, tingling throughout the legs and arms, nausea or vomiting, and increased sensitivity to sound and light. This agonizing pain which migraines bring may last for several hours or even days.

Migraine headaches are a result of a combination of blood vessel enlargement and also the release of chemicals coming from nerve fibers that spiral around these types of blood vessels. During the migraine, an artery enlarges that is located on the exterior of the skull just below the skin of the temple (temporal artery). This leads to the release of chemical substances that induce swelling, pain, as well as further enlargement of the artery.

A migraine makes the sympathetic nervous system react with feelings of nausea, diarrhea, as well as vomiting. This response also delays the emptying of the stomach in to the small intestine (affecting food absorption), reduces blood circulation (bringing about cold hands and feet), as well as increased sensitivity to light and sound.

More than twenty-eight million Americans are afflicted by migraine headaches, and females tend to be more prone to get them than men.

 

What can cause migraine headaches?

Some people that suffer from migraine headaches can distinctly identify triggers or variables that cause the headaches, but many cannot. Potential migraine triggers include:

 

Bright lights, loud noises, and particular smells or fragrances

Allergic reactions and allergies

Alcoholic beverages

Physical or emotional stress

Smoking or exposure to smoke

Changes in sleep habits or irregular sleep

Menstruation cycle variations, contraception pills, hormone fluctuations throughout menopause onset

Skipping meals or fasting

Tension headaches

Food items that contain tyramine (red wine, smoked fish, aged cheese, chicken livers, some beans, and figs), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or nitrates (such as bacon, hot dogs, and salami)

Other foods like chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, avocado, citrus, banana, onions,  fermented or pickled foods, and dairy products.

Triggers do not always cause migraines, and avoiding triggers does not always prevent migraine headaches. If you have symptoms of a migraine, you may need an emergency room visit. An emergency room technician can help treat the migraine and its symptoms.

Characteristics of a rash are changes of the skin affecting its color, texture, and overall appearance.  A rash can either affect your whole body or be limited to a small area.  If you notice the development of a rash, you should visit ER 24-7 Plus for proper treatment.  

Sometimes rashes are caused by oily skin, fatigue, or stress.  Other times they can be caused by serious medical conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, or certain other illnesses.

Eczema

People with allergies or asthma may develop eczema which is also known as atopic dermatitis.  It is a rash that is red, scaly, and itchy.  It occurs when the skin overreacts to certain substances and can worsen due to stress or illness.

Contact Dermatitis

Direct contact with irritants such as latex, detergents, soaps, dyes, rubber products, cosmetics, poison sumac, poison oak, or poison ivy can cause an inflammation of the skin known as contact dermatitis.  

Psoriasis

Red, scaly, and itchy areas of skin over joints, fingernails, or the scalp is a condition known as psoriasis.  It can be caused by sunburn, dry air, consumption of alcohol, or bacterial infections.

Illnesses

There are several different illnesses that can cause rashes which can be treated at ER 24-7 Plus.  Shingles is a condition mostly diagnosed in adults that is caused by the same virus as chickenpox.  Shingles and chickenpox both produce blisters on the skin that are painful and itchy.  Other childhood diseases that cause rashes on the skin are hand-foot-and-mouth disease, scarlet fever, and rubella.  

There are treatments that can be tried at home which may help relieve some of the symptoms of a rash or may help prevent the rash from spreading.  However, rashes that have not gone away after several days of treatment or rashes that have worsened should be evaluated and treated by a physician.  More importantly, any rash that is accompanied by fever, sore throat, swelling, or joint pain must receive immediate medical treatment at a medical facility like ER 24-7 Plus.

Hold the polish!  Take a good look at your nails before you polish them.  Your nails are like tiny mirrors that can reflect the state of your overall health.  Small imperfections may not seem important to you, but to physicians, like those at ER 24-7 Plus, small imperfections can provide invaluable clues as to what’s going on inside your body.  Your nails may provide warning signs for many different conditions from heart disease to hepatitis.  Changes in your nails can be as simple as a fungal infection or as serious as a systemic disease such as lupus or anemia.  

Ten possible signs that you may have a serious medical condition and should be seen by a physician at ER 24-7 Plus are:

 -  White nails may be an indication of liver disease, such as hepatitis.

-  Nails that are thickened, yellowed, and slow growing may be an indication of lung disease, such as emphysema.

-  Half pink, half white nails may be an indication of kidney disease.

-  Nail beds that appear pale or white may indicate anemia.

-  Nail beds that appear red may be a sign of heart disease.

-  If the nail surface appears rippled or pitted, it may be a sign of inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis.

-  An increase of tissue around the ends of the fingers called clubbing may signal lung diseases.

-  Yellowing nails that appear to have a slight blush at the base may be a sign of possible diabetes.

-  Irregular red lines that appear at the base of the nail may indicate connective tissue disease or lupus.

-  Dark lines under the nail may signal Melanoma.

While there is a connection between the condition of your nails and certain diseases, nail changes are not necessarily the first clue of serious illnesses.  Other signs and symptoms will most likely become evident first.  

Imperfections such as cracking, peeling, and changes in color and texture of nails are commonly due to fungal infections and can be treated with antifungal medications.  If your symptoms persist, nails become dislodged, or you have swelling and pain, you should seek medical treatment.

If you notice irregular growth, dark lines under your nail and cuticle, pitting or holes in your nails, or warts on the nail bed that won’t go away, you should be seen by a physician like those at ER 24-7 Plus in order to determine if you require further testing.

A basic biological need is sleep which is vital to your health, quality of life, safety, and performance.  The physicians at ER 24-7 Plus recommend a balanced diet and exercise plan along with healthy
sleeping habits.  

Ways to improve sleep habits are:

-  Consistently wake up and go to bed at exactly the same time every day including weekends.

-  Do not consume heavy meals within three hours of bedtime.

-  Do not exercise close to bedtime.  It is referable to exercise in the morning which will also increase your metabolism.

-  Avoid nicotine and caffeine after 2:00 p.m.

-  Do not watch television in bed.

It has been reported that sleep disorders affect approximately one-third of all Americans.  The physicians at ER 24-7 Plus can evaluate and diagnose sleep disorders which include narcolepsy, sleep-related seizures, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea.   

Deprivation of sleep may lead to certain serious health risks such as:

Hypertension:  You are more likely to develop hypertension if you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.  

BMI over 30:  You will be considered obese if your Body Mass Index is over 30.

Gasping forvair/snoring:  At night, your airwayvcan become partially blocked or can collapse due to extra tissue that you mayvhave at the back of your airway.  If this happens, blood oxygen levels mayvdrop repetitively.  

Excessive sleepiness during the daytime:  If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, your sleep patterns will be disrupted causing excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue.

Cardiovascular disease:  Obstructive sleep apnea is prevalent in heart failure patients.

If you are not getting the proper amount of sleep that your body needs, you are at risk of developing some serious health issues.  It is quite important for people experiencing inadequate sleep consistently to seek treatment at ER 24-7 Plus.

While it is said that a dog is man’s best friend, occasionally your best friend will bite you.  It has been reported that more than 4 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year.  Approximately one in five bites require medical treatment at an emergency room like ER 24-7 Plus.  Children are typically bitten more frequently than adults.  Although you can be bitten by a stray dog or an unfamiliar dog, it is usually reported that the family pet or a neighbor’s pet has caused the injury.  

A dog bite will result in one of two types of wounds.  The first type is a puncture wound which occurs when the dog’s teeth penetrate your skin.  These types of wounds are prone to infection and may need to be treated with antibiotics.  In most cases, these wounds will not leave any visible scars.  The second type is a laceration which happens when the teeth penetrate and then tear your skin.  These types of wounds usually require stitches which may result in scarring.  



If the bite seems deep, the bleeding won’t stop, the dog is unfamiliar to you, and/or there are noticeable signs of infection, you should be examined by a physician at ER 24-7 Plus.  A physician will examine your injury to determine if the bite is deep and if it has damaged any
tendons, nerves, muscles, and/or bones.  The wound will be thoroughly cleaned in order to eliminate any bacteria or dirt.  It may be necessary to remove any dead tissue from the area.  Sometimes plastic surgery may be needed.  If the dog has rabies or if its health status is not known, you will be given a rabies vaccine.  You may also be given a tetanus shot if
your last shot was administered over five years ago.  Antibiotics may be prescribed in order to treat or prevent infection.  The physicians at ER 24-7 Plus will treat your wound and may recommend that you have the wound examined again in a few days.  

Even the kindest dog is capable of biting.  Everyone should keep themselves safe when they are around dogs, and dog owners should handle their dogs responsibly.

Well, the time has come to start winding down as we approach the end of summer and prepare for yet another school year. Can you believe it?! Throughout the days of school shopping, registering the kids for their upcoming extracurricular activities, and getting your house back in order it’s important to remember that the peak months of hurricane season are upon us and we need to be prepared. Though Mother Nature does not work off of a calendar, August-October  are considered the most active months and are responsible for 78% of tropical storm days, 87% of “minor” hurricane days, and 96% of “major” hurricane days. Within peak hurricane season, early to mid-September is the pinnacle.

Here are some easy tips you can follow to help prepare you should a crisis arise:

-Expect the unexpected. Storms do not always fall as forecasted being there are multiple variables involved. Have a plan, but always be prepared to change it.

 

-If you are in a non-evacuation zone prepare your home to ride out the winds. Board all windows or make use of your shutters if available. Also, always make sure your garage door is up to code.

-If you evacuate, do not travel a long distance away. Network with people you know and make plans to stay with those that live in a non-evacuation zone if at all possible.

-Check the weather several times daily for updates during hurricane season. Things can change in the blink of an eye. 

-ALWAYS keep ample amounts of water and non-perishable foods stored at your home.

Chances are you will not encounter a life-altering hurricane this year. However, I am sure many of the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Ike would tell you to prepare regardless. The devastation cannot be predicted, but the measures you take to cope can.

Do you or someone you know have children in daycare? Chances are your answer is yes! It’s not a shocker for most to learn that children in early daycare or preschool are more susceptible to respiratory and intestinal infections. Don’t worry, there are a multitude of things you, as well as your childs daycare, can do to help keep your kiddos from getting ill frequently. First, feed them their fruits and veggies!!! To be more specific, try immune boosting foods such as blueberries, broccoli, pink grapefruit, mangos, tomatoes, and papaya. It is also important to avoid excess sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup) as they can greatly reduce a childs immunity. Another very simple tip is to keep their little noses clean and boogie free. Try steam baths at night and encourage them to breathe deeply to help clear nasal passages. Also, check with your childs daycare to make sure that they enforce a hygiene policy that includes, but is not limited to:

 

• Hand washing policies
• Careful disposal method of diapers
• Regular washing and sanitation of toys
• Non-admittance of potentially contagious children
• Regular maintenance and cleaning of ventilation system

 

You will be surprised with how following these few simple tips can have such a wonderful impact on your childrens health and well-being. Remember, healthy kids equal healthy families!

Summer is here, and the last thing anyone wants is to spend time in the emergency room or in a doctor’s office. But given the hot weather and people’s desire to look nice and tan, skin cancer is a very real threat. So to help you avoid an emergency room trip this summer, here are ER 24/7 Plus’s tips to keep your skin melanoma free!  


1. Protect your skin. Regardless of the weather, use sunscreen to protect your skin. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you’re out on a hot day directly in the sun, you should use a sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays, and you should reapply it every few hours. If you’re in the water, you should reapply even more frequently. Even on cloudy days, the sun’s UV rays can harm your skin and cause skin cancer.


2. Use a fake tanner. Rather than exposing your skin to UV rays to get darker skin, use a self tanner. You can buy lotions, creams, and sprays that will give you the tan color you desire without risking more damage to your skin. And tanning beds aren't much better. So in this case, the faker the tan, the healthier it is for your skin.


3. Get screened regularly. You should get checked by your dermatologist annually and follow any advice she gives you. If she thinks you should come in for another visit, or photograph any suspicious moles, it’s
safer to follow the instructions.



4. Check your skin. Look at your skin and moles every couple months to see if everything looks the same. If any moles have changed in color, shape or size, then you should see your dermatologist right away. It may
not require a trip to the emergency room, but skin cancer is still not something to be taken lightly.

Unfortunately, drowning is the 3^rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide and the 2^nd leading cause of death in the US in children 12 and younger (after motor vehicle accidents). It is known as the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/ immersion in liquid.  Contrary to popular belief, when someone is drowning it looks nothing like what you see in the movies. The victim is not able to shout, call for help, or reach for a rescue flotation device.Here are some common signs and symptoms that someone may be, or in danger of, drowning:

• Head low in the water, mouth at water level
• Head tilted back with mouth open
• Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
• Eyes open, with fear evident on the face
• Hyperventilation or gasping
• Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making any headway
• Trying to rollover on the back to float
• Uncontrollable movement of arms and legs, rarely out of the water

You may think after reading the above signs you may be able to recognize someone in danger of drowning without question, but unaccompanied by the screaming and flailing arms we have been trained to look for it may be harder to recognize than you anticipate. All it takes is one minute for what seems like a fun day at the lake, community pool, beach, or even an evening bath to go terribly wrong. In the event a drowning takes place it is important to place the victim on stable ground to begin CPR and call 911 immediately.  Remember, have fun this summer but please keep a watchful eye out for your loved ones at all times!

 

The most common chief complaint of patients in emergency rooms like ER 24-7 Plus is abdominal pain.  Most patients with abdominal pain have a minor problem such as an upset stomach or indigestion.  However, abdominal pain may be caused by a more serious problem such as a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm or appendicitis.   The location of the pain is a helpful starting point in diagnosing the cause of the pain and guiding further evaluation and testing.  An example of this is that right lower quadrant pain is a strong indicator of appendicitis.  History taking and physical exam are also useful starting points.  An example of this is that a physical exam may discover constipation and abdominal distension which are strong indicators of bowel obstruction.  

Patients with abdominal pain showing symptoms that suggest surgical or emergent conditions such as fever, continuous vomiting, fainting or evidence of gastrointestinal tract blood loss should be taken to ER 24-7 Plus or the nearest emergency room immediately for evaluation and treatment.  Testing such as blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, CT scans, X-rays and ultrasounds may be performed to help diagnose the cause of the pain.  Immediate evaluation should focus on discerning cases that require surgical intervention from those that do not and which can be treated conservatively.  Occasionally, abdominal pain may be caused by a problem elsewhere in the body such as the chest or pelvic area.  Other conditions that may cause abdominal pain include heart attack, severe menstrual cramps, endometriosis, muscle strain, pneumonia and urinary tract infections.  A careful history, physical exam and a high index of suspicion are vital to prevent missed diagnoses.  

If you are experiencing any symptoms of abdominal pain that do not improve within 24 to 48 hours, become more severe or frequent and occur with nausea and vomiting, you should seek immediate medical attention at ER 24-7 Plus.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure that your child gets the best medical care.  It is you who knows your child best, can monitor how he is coping, and when he needs more help.  Being in an urgent care center can be a frightening and stressful experience for you and your child.  You may have questions and concerns, and sometimes it is not easy to get answers quickly.  In order for your child to get the best possible treatment, it is important for you to communicate well and often with the medical team.  Getting the answers to your questions will also help you play a more active role in your child’s care.
 
Some suggestions on how to work with the healthcare team in an urgent care center are:


-  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  If you don’t understand the answer, ask again.

-  Stay with your child.  Ask the medical team’s permission to stay with your child during tests and procedures.

-  Let the medical team know about any pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, and special needs or fears your
child may have.

-  Be an advocate for your child.  Ask how you can be involved in his care and when you should make decisions about treatment.  If your child is in pain, you should let the medical team know right away.

The best person to help your child is you.  Hold his hand, be calm, and be reassuring.  Sometimes it is helpful to distract him with a game or story.  


When your child is sick and in an urgent care center, it is very easy to forget to take care of yourself.  You need your strength and wits about you in order to continue to monitor your child’s condition.  You must remember to eat and get some sleep.  Ask family and friends for help if you need it.  

Because they are still developing physically, have
higher breathing rates than adults and have little or no control over their
indoor environments, children are especially susceptible to the effects of
secondhand smoke.  Children who are exposed to high doses of secondhand
smoke run the greatest risk of experiencing damaging health effects such as
asthma.  It is a chronic disease of the airways of the lungs and is the
leading cause of chronic illness in children.  Studies have shown that it
affects as many as 10% to 12% of children in the United States.  Most
children experience their first symptoms by age five.  While the presence
of allergies, family history, frequent respiratory infections and low birth
weight are all risk factors for developing this chronic disease, it has been
suggested that exposure to secondhand smoke before and/or after birth is a
major risk factor in children.  

Secondhand smoke exposure can cause new cases of
asthma in children who have not previously shown any symptoms.  It can trigger
attacks, increase the frequency of attacks and make symptoms more severe.
 Signs and symptoms to look for include frequent coughing, less energy
during play, rapid breathing, complaining of chest “hurting”, wheezing,
shortness of breath, weakness, tight neck and chest muscles, dark circles under
the eyes, headaches and loss of appetite.  

If a child has been diagnosed with this disease,
doctors will develop an action plan based on their medical history and the
severity of the disease.  The action plan describes when and how
medications should be used, what to do if symptoms get worse and when to seek
emergency care.  In addition to following an action plan, exposure to
triggers such as secondhand smoke should be limited and preferably completely
avoided.  

If a child is showing danger signs of an asthma attack
such as severe wheezing, severe coughing, trouble walking and/or talking, blue
lips and/or fingernails and especially increased shortness of breath with
decreased wheezing, bring the child immediately to ER 24-7 Plus or the nearest
emergency room.

Here is part two of ER 24/7 PLUS's tips on staying healthy and out of the emergency room this summer!

Watch Out for Your Eyes!

When you are doing activities that could damage your eyes, such as mowing the lawn or certain sports, cover up your eyes. If you're not sure what eye protection gear to wear for certain activities, ask your eye doctor about it. Better to protect them now than to end up in the emergency room with a serious eye injury. And sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement; ultraviolet A and B rays can cause cataracts and wrinkles around your eyes, so get sunglasses that block 99% of these harmful rays and wear them when you're outside.

De-stress on Vacation.

Vacations are important because it gives your body and mind the chance to rest and recover from the past year's stresses. You can lower your blood pressure and heart rate (which can help prevent a future visit to the emergency room with heart problems), and even help lose weight by lessening the weight and heart disease inducing inducing stress hormone cortisol.

Get Enough Sleep!

Summer plans can make it easy to throw your sleep schedule out the window and stay up really late. Try to keep to a regular sleep routine, and avoid irregular daytime naps. Whatever you choose for your personal sleep hygiene, try to make it the same for every day, as irregular sleep patterns can cause stress and make you feel more tired. 

Exercise Outside!

Is there an outdoor activity that you like to do, or would like to try? Pick one- walking, outdoor games with the kids or friends, swimming, cycling, nature walks or hiking, rollerblading, etc. You will feel so much better when you ditch that cooped up feeling that comes from working out in a gym. And the fresh air and sunshine is so good for you too!

And playing outdoor games and sports together as a family will help everyone stay fit and healthy while having fun at the same time. It's a great bonding experience, too. Stay fit and healthy and out of the emergency room this summer by exercising outdoors!

Summer is here, and for many people it means a more laid back lifestyle. Vacations, weekend get-togethers, gardening, sports, and so much more can make us have the same “schools out” attitude that the kids have now that they are free from the confines of school. This is the perfect time to improve your health in a laid back, fun way. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy this summer, and hopefully prevent an emergency room trip somewhere in the future.

Relieve Stress By Getting Dirty!

People who love to garden have been citing it's stress relieving benefits for years, and now science is backing them up. To reduce your stress levels this summer, start a garden or buy some potted flowers. Simply putting your hands in dirt to plant something is relaxing and helps to boost your mood. It mentally “grounds” you (no pun intended) and helps to slow your mind down from the fast paced life that most people live these days. Being mentally grounded can also help relive physical pain as well.

Floss Every Day!

It's common knowledge that this is good for your teeth, but most people don't know that it actually helps your entire body. Flossing helps remove oral bacteria. This helps your body because having less bacteria in your mouth means you have more bacteria fighting resources to fight infections elsewhere. 85% of people don't floss regularly; don't let yourself be included in that number.

Berry Me Healthy!

If you only do one thing to make your diet better this summer, do this: eat a cup of fresh mixed berried every day. Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries and packed with antioxidants that can help prevent age-related illnesses and tissue damage. Berries are also full of cholesterol fighting fiber, which has also been linked to cancer prevention. Simply eating berries daly may help keep you out of the emergency room someday!

See part two for more of ER 24/7 PLUS's tips on staying healthy and out of the emergency room this summer!

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the urethra, ureters, bladder or kidneys, all of which make up the urinary tract.  The most common cause of UTIs is E. coli bacteria although many other bacteria, fungi and parasites may also be a cause.  Females are at a higher risk of UTIs than males mostly due to their anatomy.  Other risk factors include conditions that hamper urine flow such as enlarged prostate, congenital urinary tract abnormalities, inflammation and patients with catheters.  UTIs are very common and are estimated to lead to between 7 and 10 million doctor visits per year.  Some infections go noticed, but UTIs can cause problems ranging from pain and/or burning when urinating to organ damage and death.  

Symptoms of urinary tract infections vary depending on gender, age and the location of the infection in the tract.  One of the most common symptoms is a frequent urge to urinate, accompanied by pain and/or burning on urination.  The urine will appear cloudy and/or dark.  There will also be an unpleasant odor.  Other symptoms include lower abdominal discomfort, feeling of bloating, sensation of bladder being full and vaginal discharge.  If the infection is in the kidneys or ureter, symptoms will include fever and flank pain.  If a UTI is suspected, a urine sample will be obtained.  The best sample is collected midstream and placed in a sterile cup which is called a “clean catch”.  The urine sample is then sent for urinalysis.  Results usually take between  24 and 48 hours to obtain.   

People experiencing UTI symptoms should schedule a doctor visit or go to an urgent care center.  Treatment for urinary tract infections is usually based on the patient’s underlying medical conditions and the pathogens that are causing the infection.  Physicians will usually prescribe oral antibiotics even before the urinalysis results are obtained.  Patients who are extremely sick may require intravenous antibiotics and possibly admission to a hospital.  You must complete the full course of antibiotics to prevent the infection from returning even if you begin to feel better.  

Drinking alcohol in moderation is always the best advice.  However, now that the summer is upon us and barbeques and parties are in full swing, the urge and opportunity to binge drink is everywhere.  Binge drinking is a main cause of alcohol poisoning.  It occurs when
a person has consumed a toxic amount of alcohol over a short period of time.  It has been estimated that approximately 50,000 cases are reported annually.  College students, chronic alcoholics, and young children are at a high risk.  It can be life threatening and usually requires urgent medical attention.

Symptoms include:


- Confusion

- Vomiting

- Seizures

- Slow or Irregular Breathing

- Blue-tinged or Pale Skin

- Hypothermia

- Unconsciousness


If alcohol poisoning is suspected, even without exhibiting the classic signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical care.  An unconscious person is at risk of dying and should never be left alone.  Alcohol is absorbed quickly in the body unlike food which can take hours
to digest.  Most alcohol is processed by the liver.  It takes approximately one hour for the liver to process the the alcohol in one drink.  The rate at which the liver can process alcohol varies greatly from  person to person.  A number of factors will increase the risk of poisoning
such as age, gender, size, weight, overall health, tolerance level and food  consumption.  

A doctor or medical professional will check for visible signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning and will most likely order blood and/or urine tests to confirm the diagnosis.   Once poisoning
has been confirmed, treatment involves supportive care while the body rids itself of the alcohol. Treatment usually includes monitoring the patient, preventing breathing and/or choking issues, oxygen therapy, administering fluids intravenously, administering thiamin and glucose, and pumping the
stomach.

Foreign body ingestion is the swallowing of an object other than food.  Foreign bodies may include coins or pieces of toys.  Children with foreign bodies in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract commonly visit ER 24-7 Plus for medical treatment.  Foreign bodies in the upper GI tract have usually been purposely or accidentally swallowed.  Most foreign body ingestion cases occur with children between the ages of six months and three years who tend to put things in their mouths.  Most foreign bodies pass through the GI tract without problems.  However, serious complications such as bowel perforation and obstruction may occur.  

Symptoms of foreign body ingestion include:
- pain in the neck, throat, chest or abdomen
- trouble swallowing or gagging
- vomiting
- coughing or wheezing
- blood in saliva

If ingestion of a foreign body is suspected, bring your child to ER 24-7 Plus or your nearest  emergency room.  For an accurate diagnosis, tests such as barium swallow, CT scan, endoscopy, or x-rays will need to be performed.  After ingestion of a foreign body is confirmed, treatment will depend on the type and size of the object and how long it has been in the body.  When a foreign body does not pass through the GI tract on its own, physical removal is necessary.  It can be removed with a variety of procedures including bougienage, endoscopy, foley catheter or surgery.  

Risks associated with the removal of a foreign body include:
- Scratching or injuring the esophagus
- Object may accidentally enter the airway
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Irritation
- Infection

The physicians at ER 24-7 Plus may administer medication such as antibiotics, pain medicine, sedatives, and/or glucagon which helps relax the esophagus.   

Foreign body ingestion is a potentially life-threatening problem and symptoms should not be ignored.