Summer Safety Tips from Rivers Family Medicine

During the summer months here in Florida, numerous people are looking forward to finally getting together with small groups of friends and family for beach outings, relaxing poolside, and enjoying BBQs, but with all of this activity, it’s important to stay safe during these long, hot, sun-filled days.

Heat Precautions
Our bodies self-regulate heat by sweating and also through radiating heat back into the atmosphere. When we sweat, we perspire potassium and sodium. Both of these minerals help to control nerve function, water balance, and heart rhythm. When our bodies are hot, the skin radiates heat into the air to normalize our body temperature. However, when the air is sweltering, our bodies can no longer reduce its high temperature this way, as it has nowhere to radiate the heat into or to take in cooler air from, as the temperature is higher than your bodies.

Warm weather makes the heart pump faster, which requires more oxygen. When it’s hot, and we can’t cool down, or breathe efficiently, we complicate the heart’s normal functioning, by putting undue stress on its muscle contractions.

Each year during the summer months, more than 8,000 children and teens and over 10,000 adults are admitted to the emergency room due to dehydration.

Tips to Stay Hydrated
• Drink extra water!!!
• Be cautious when exercising or enjoying time outdoors
• DO NOT exercise in the heat
• Avoid the hottest times of the day (10:00 am to 4:00 pm)
• Don’t get sunburned (protect your skin, scalp, and eyes)
• Stay in air-conditioned areas
• Avoid caffeinated and sugary drinks

BBQ Safety
Food safety is key. Don’t leave meat or dairy products out in the heat; even onions can cause food poisoning if left out too long. The grill can be dangerous if the propane pressure is touchy, the flames are too high or too hot, and many people are unaware of the hidden dangers of wire grill brushes.

When you clean the grill with wire brushes, tiny fragments, and small bristles are left behind and commonly get embedded into the burgers, chicken, corn, potatoes, etc. When these bristles are ingested, people don’t normally even notice until it’s too late because they are difficult to feel in the mouth. The wires can lacerate the esophagus, stomach, intestinal tract, and rectum. It’s a much better choice to clean your grill with a nylon bristle brush. Nylon bristles are much less damaging than wire and easier for the body to get rid of if they are accidentally eaten.

The best advice is to enjoy your time with family, relax, but be cautious and proactive about your health during this time of year.

Rivers Family Medicine
Welcomes a New Provider
Rivers Family Medicine welcomes Dr. Anthony Desmarais. Dr Desmarais completed his final year of residency at Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He completed his Medical Degree at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s home campus in Philadelphia. Prior to this, Dr. Desmarais served in the United States Army for 8 years. He went to the highly prestigious West Point Military Academy in New York right after high school, earning his BA in Information Systems Engineering as well as his commission to the ranks of a military officer where he continued his military service, including a year-long deployment to Iraq in 2009. Dr. Desmarais and his wife Kelly have 2 children. Dr Desmarais is committed to providing thorough, compassionate, mindful care for his patients. Dr. Desmarais is accepting patients starting July 15, 2020. If you’re looking for a new Primary Care Physician call now to schedule an appointment.

Rivers Family Medicine continues to provide their patients with the highest quality of care; they are continually looking for innovative methods of working together with their patients to ensure that they are not only aware of but also involved in the management and improvement of their patient’s health.

Rivers Family Medicine Services:
They offer a variety of onsite services for your convenience and to help assists in your care:

• In house laboratory
• Ultrasound
• Echocardiograms
• Electrocardiograms
• Nuclear stress testing
• Pulmonary function testing
• Joint injections
• Skin biopsies and minor skin procedures
• Immunizations

To schedule an appointment with Rivers Family Medicine, please call (352) 205-4302.

Rivers Family Medicine
352-205-4302
www.riversfamilymedicine.com

1503 Buenos Aires Boulevard, Building 110
The Villages, FL 32159