For Your Health!

Why Wear a Helmet?
A fall from as little as 2 feet can result in a traumatic brain injury. That is why wearing a helmet while riding on wheels is so important for people of all ages. A helmet acts as a second skull. When worn correctly, helmets can prevent up to 88% of brain injuries during an accident.
Getting the Right Fit

Position the helmet properly. Place the helmet so it sits evenly on your head. Put the front edge of the helmet no more than 1 to 2 finger-widths above your eyebrows. Forehead coverage is essential.

Use foam pads to fit the helmet snugly. If necessary, place foam pads inside the helmet so it feels comfortable and fits snugly.

Adjust straps so the helmet stays in place. Strapping systems and anchor point vary between manufacturers. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully to adjust straps. After the straps are adjusted shake your head “no” as hard as possible. The helmet should not move on your head.

Only buy a helmet that has a Snell, ASTM or CPSC approved label. Ski, snowboard, hockey, football or other sports helmets are NOT bike helmet substitutes.

A Good Fit Takes Time:

Allow at least half an hour for adjustments the first time you try a new helmet. If the strapping systems seem complicated, ask the retailer to help you adjust them for a good fit.

Test your helmet fit each time you put it on. Adjust as needed.

Inspect your helmet regularly for visible damage. If your helmet has been hit in an accident, it is best to replace it. Many manufacturers offer a buy-back program for damaged helmets.

Why Is a Good Fit Important?
It is estimated that 75% of fatal head injuries among children bicyclists could be prevented with a helmet. For optimal protection of the head, the bike helmet must fit properly.
Children whose helmets fit poorly are twice as likely to suffer a head injury in a crash compared with those whose helmet fit is correct. Children who wear their helmets tipped back on their heads have a 52% greater risk of head injury than those who wear their helmets centered on their heads.

Healthy Helmet Habit Tips

1. Start the helmet habit early
Young children should wear a helmet whenever they are on wheels, whether it’s a tricycle or riding down the street to a friend’s house. If children start a habit of wearing their helmets at a young age, that habit will hopefully last a lifetime. If your child is older, allow them to choose their own helmet so they’re more likely to wear it.

2. Wear a helmet yourself
Kids learn best by example. Set a safe, healthy example by putting your helmet on every time you ride. Children look to adults for guidance on how to act in certain situations. You can be a positive role model by wearing a helmet. Another benefit, it protects your head from serious brain injury!

3. Don’t let kids ride unless they wear their helmets
Be consistent. Remember a serious brain injury can happen in a fall of just two feet. So anytime your child is riding they’re at risk. Encourage your children’s friends to wear helmets too. Peer pressure can be used in a positive way when it comes to a healthy helmet habit!

Accidents happen--and in the summer, the risk jumps. Emergency rooms report 18% more traffic in May through August, when children are outside running, kicking, riding, and swimming. So America's top ER and pediatric doctors want to give you advice about what lands kids in the hospital--and how to avoid the trip.

Tune up their bikes: Young cyclists (along with inline skaters and skateboarders) should wear helmets, period. "But it's not just head injuries that send kids to our doorstep," says Barbara Gaines, MD, chief of emergency medicine at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. "We see a lot of abdominal injuries that occur when bikers stop short and fly into the handlebars. And if the protective foam covering has worn off the handles, exposed metal edges can cut into skin." At the beginning of each summer, give family bikes a good once-over. Make sure the brakes work, and look for worn parts.

Make them drink: "Kids will play until they drop, so adults need to be sure they stay hydrated in order to prevent heatstroke and exhaustion," says Gaines. Even thirsty children need nudging: They tend to relax and socialize during game breaks rather than refuel with water, found University of Connecticut researchers who studied the habits of kids at sports camp. If you're supervising an activity, call a time-out every 20 to 30 minutes, and encourage players to drink up at least 4 to 5 ounces each time. "If you're not there to enforce the rule, pack them a water bottle and remind them to sip and refill frequently," adds Gaines.

Designate a lifeguard: "One misconception I've seen is parents' belief that once their child is 6 to 8 years old, they can reduce their vigilance at the pool," says Michael Shannon, MD, emergency medicine chief at Children's Hospital Boston. "But even if they've been swimming for years, young children can tire suddenly--to the point where they can't make it to the pool's edge." And don't think it's okay to simply keep an ear on pool activity, warns Gaines. "People think that a child who falls into the water will splash and make a lot of noise, but the truth is that drowning tends to be silent."

Put them in the right shoes: If your child wears her cleats during team workouts or for extended runs, their stiff soles and poor support may cause kneecap pain or shin splits, says Rebecca Demorest, MD, director of the Sports Medicine Program at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Make sure kids do warm-up or cool-down laps in running shoes, which are much gentler on the body. And tell them to test the ground before a game; in late summer, it's often hard and dry enough that cleats aren't necessary.

Encourage them to cross-train: Even with proper footwear, athletes who pound the same pavement every day can quickly develop repetitive-motion injuries; watch for signs of soreness or inflammation lasting more than a day. "If kids want to exercise daily, make sure they mix things up," says Ted Ganley, MD, director of the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "If basketball is their preferred sport, reserve 2 days a week for activities like swimming or biking, which don't put all their weight on their legs."

Learn the signs of concussion: Between 1.8 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions go undiagnosed every year in the United States, reports the CDC. Although treatment usually involves only a few days of rest, more serious damage can result if a child suffers a concussion and then re-injures his head before it heals--and this can lead to permanent problems with coordination, speech, and even memory.

If your child receives a blow to the head, concussion symptoms may be subtle: confusion, memory loss, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, slurred speech, nausea, or vomiting. If there's any doubt, play it safe: Take him out of the game, and call his doctor. "Contrary to what people think, you don't always lose consciousness, and often there's no bump or visible sign," explains Shannon. Finally, don't be fooled if your child insists that he feels fine--pain isn't a good guide in this case, since his motivation to get back in the game may make him downplay his symptoms.

Gunnison Valley Hospital teams up with Safe Kids Worldwide to encourage parents to help prevent all children under age 16 from riding on ATVs under any circumstances.

GVH is asking the community to think about not only themselves but also those they ride with. Since the year 2002, Gunnison Valley Hospital has seen a tremendous increase of All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) related accidents every year. In July of 2006, ATV accidents surpassed car accidents as the number one mechanism of injury in Gunnison County. Nationwide, ATV’s cause approximately 38,000 injuries and 100 deaths of children 16 and under each year. While wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries, no safety devices can adequately protect against other injuries commonly sustained while riding ATVs. In 2006, 24 serious ATV accidents were treated at GVH. Of those seven were transferred other hospitals, three were admitted to GVH and one person died.

“Compared to a bike crash, an ATV crash is six times as likely to send a child to the hospital and 12 times as likely to kill a child,” said Martin R. Eichelberger, M.D., chairman of Safe Kids Worldwide and director of emergency trauma and burn services at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “A child riding an ATV is four times as likely to be seriously injured as a rider over age 16.”

A common misconception is driving an ATV at slower speeds is safe. But what riders do not take into account is the actual weight of the machine. ATV rollovers, collisions and ejections can cause instantly fatal head injuries as well as serious nonfatal injuries to the head, spinal cord and abdomen. Children have suffered grave injuries as a result of being crushed by these machines. Gunnison Valley Hospital EMS maintains a service area of twice the size the state of Delaware. ATV explorers also need to take into account the natural make up of our area; mountains, hills, streams, old forest service roads that sometimes lead to nowhere and the distance from our hospital to some of these locations. Getting to these locations can take hours. Some types of minor injuries can turn severe if left untreated within a certain timeframe.

A child riding an ATV is four times as likely to be seriously injured as a rider over age 16. This is why Gunnison Valley Hospital joins Safe Kids Worldwide in urging everyone to look a little closer to this increase in accidents and urges ATV riders in helping prevent them.

Just like clock-work, tick season arrives to the Gunnison Country. Generally, ticks are encountered between the months of April and August. Ticks thrive in many different environments in this area. You are just as likely to encounter a tick in the high mountain sage as you are on the low lying creekbeds and willows. So, what's the worry?

Colorado Tick Fever is a very common illness that is transmitted from tick to human. (This should not be confused with Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever, which is a much more serious illness. Symptoms include rash, fever, joint pain, vomiing and abdominal pain) Colorado Tick Fever occurs following an attachment to a human by a tick. Symptoms generally appear within 7 days. These symptoms include high fever, aches, joint pain, eye pain and fatigue. Symptoms often last about 3 days, disappear for a couple of days, and may reappear again for 2-3 days. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this illness. Over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers (as suggested by your physician) may help alleviate some of the symptoms. Rest and adequate fluid intake will also help alleviate some of the symptoms.

Steps can be taken to help reduce the risk of contracting CTF. Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants while in the outdoors may be beneficial. As well, it is important to check yourself and family members for ticks after spending time in the outdoors. Should you find a tick embedded, simply remove the tick with tweezers, ensuring you have removed all parts of the tick. Cleanse area with disinfectant. Another helpful hint... tick and flea collars for pets that live both indoors and outdoors.

Should you or a family member experience similary symptoms, please see your primary care physician for direction.