Keep safety in mind during the spring months

| April 26, 2010 11:11 AM

With the advent of warmer temperatures and longer days, come thoughts of breaking free of the couch and cabin and hitting the open road.

The staff at Clark Fork Valley Hospital and its Family Medicine Network want to offer you some reminders to keep you and your family safe this spring season.

Travel by car is one of the best ways to get out and enjoy our beautiful surroundings and one of the most efficient ways to get to the destinations that call us. It is also one of the most dangerous forms of transportation. Thousands of people are killed and inured on the highways while driving and riding in cars and trucks. The biggest culprit for making driving so dangerous often times is the people who insist on drinking alcohol or using drugs while driving: the number one safety reminder for anyone driving this Spring is DO NOT DRINK AND OR USE DRUGS WHILE DRIVING! and wear your seat belt.

Many of us are also anxious to get out into the wilds this time of year and very few things are more enjoyable than being away from the crowds in the back country or in the water. Remember that water levels change fast in the spring and runoff can make the rivers and streams unpredictable and dangerous. Be prepared with the proper safety equipment, go with an experienced person who knows the river or lake if you are not and consider taking a CPR course just in case.

The Spring season also means getting to those outdoor projects that need attention around the house done. Make sure you are familiar with the tools you are using. Be cautious around moving equipment you have not used for a while or are not experienced using. If you develop any worrisome symptoms, like chest pain or it becomes more difficult to breathe or you are suddenly weaker on one side of your body,

summon EMS by dialing 911 as soon as possible. Prolonged time before treatment could mean the difference between life and death.

The Clark Fork Valley Hospital Emergency Department has taken additional training and measures to become trauma designated for the county. It is fully staffed and available twenty four hours a day, every day. Clark Fork Valley Hospital has all the diagnostic equipment, personnel and skill necessary to care for those with injuries and illness should you need our services while the seasons change and residents become more active. We are happy to be able to serve the residents of the Clark Fork Valley and the folks who travel through our home with quality compassionate care.

Enjoy all that our valley and villages have to offer and have a safe and productive Spring season.

Tim Thornton, PA-C

CFVH Emergency Department Hospitalist