Summertime fun in the sun can lead to summertime bumps, bruises or more serious injury.  Mercy Health Partners has emergency services in hospitals across East Tennessee in case the need for urgent medical care arises from being out in the sun or playing your favorite sports.

“If you ask yourself the question ‘Should I go to the emergency room?’, then you probably need to go to the ER,” said Stephen Russell, M.D., a board-certified emergency medicine physician in the Emergency Department at Baptist Hospital West in Turkey Creek.  “A person with an unusual combination of symptoms or usually severe symptoms should seek care at the nearest ER.

 “We see an increase in the volume of outdoor-type injuries in the summertime.  Many of them are preventable by taking the proper precautions when engaging in summertime activities.  This includes using sun screen when out in the sun for any period of time, wearing proper protective gear such as a personal flotation device when on the water or a helmet when biking, and drinking enough water during high-temperature days to prevent heat-related problems.”

In the time between the injury and arriving at the ER, Dr. Russell suggested cleaning any breaks to the skin with soap and clean water, stopping any bleeding by applying compression and icing down any injured ankle, knee, elbow or shoulder joint.

 Heath Parker, D.O., who is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics and an ER doctor at St. Mary’s Medical Center North in Powell, said he knows the weather has turned warmer outside as there are many more people in the ER suffering from ATV or water-sports accidents.

 “Nearly 100 percent of the ATV and water-sports accidents I see in the ER are alcohol related, so I strongly urge people to not drink and drive any type of vehicle,” Dr. Parker said.  “It is the same as drinking and driving in a car, with the same terrible results that can turn a fun summer activity into a tragedy.

 “While the ER can get very crowed in the summer months, I want everyone to know that the ER doctors and nurses do our best to get people in and out of the ER as soon as possible.  The staff will work to triage, or evaluate, the patients to make sure those at the greatest risk are seen quickly.  We even have started to run tests while people are still in the waiting room to speed up the process,” Dr Parker said.

 Dr. Parker said that people need to be aware of the warning signs of other types of year-round emergency conditions because heart attack and stroke, for example, do not take a vacation during the summer months. 

 
 “Signs of a heart attack typically include pressure-like discomfort and/or pain in the chest which may radiate to the neck, jaw or down the left arm.  This pain also may be associated with nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and breaking out in a sweat.  Signs of a stroke include the sudden onset of numbness and/or weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking and swallowing, and change in vision.

 “In these life and death situations, call 911 to get the ER as soon as possible,” Dr. Parker said.

 The Mercy ER doctors also noted some other summertime problems that may require immediate care including:
• Heart stroke with a fever above 102 degrees, a change in person’s mental state resulting in confusion, seizures or the sudden stop of sweating
• Severe dehydration with vomiting, severe diarrhea and fever
• Concussions with vomiting dizziness or seizures
• Bee-string allergy from a bite that results in hives, faintness, shortness of breath or wheezing
• Broken bones
 
 In the Knoxville area, Mercy has 24/7 emergency services for adults and children at:
• Baptist Hospital West off  I-40 at Lovell Road
• St. Mary’s Medical Center North off I-75 at Emory Road*
• St. Mary’s Medical Center off Broadway
 
 Other East Tennessee Mercy hospitals with 24/7 emergency departments include:
• St. Mary’s Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City
• Baptist Hospital of Cocke County in Newport
• St. Mary’s Medical Center of Campbell County in LaFollette
• St. Mary’s Medical Center of Scott County in Oneida
• Claiborne County Hospital in Tazwell

Mercy Health Partners was formed by the merger of St. Mary’s Health System and Baptist Health System of East Tennessee in 2008.  The new healthcare system operates seven acute-care hospitals and many other healthcare facilities across East Tennessee.  More than 1,000 of the area’s leading physicians are on the active staff at Mercy facilities.  One of East Tennessee’s largest employers, Mercy has 5,700 associates dedicated to providing compassionate care using the latest medical technology.

For physician referral and service information, please call the Ask Mercy phone line at 632-5200 (toll-free at 877-368-7362).  A complete list of Mercy physicians, facilities, services and extensive health information is available online at www.mercy.com. 
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*A St. Mary’s Medical Center facility