Officials offer water, outdoors safety tips


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SALT LAKE CITY — As Utahns celebrate Pioneer Day, we want to remind those out recreating to be very careful while on or around water. Experts offered several safety tips Thursday.

"We see a variety of injuries during the summer," said Dixie Regional Medical Center Dr. Brett Christiansen. "They seem to be related to either speed, height or water — or a combination of those three."

In the emergency room, common injuries include concussions, fractures and lacerations. Many of the injuries stem from too many riders on one floatation device, being pulled behind a boat.

"As it goes up in the air and everybody lands on top of each other, they break legs and arms and have injuries that way," Christiansen said.

Another major injury is sunburns.

"People come in with a sunburn and say, 'Make it go away,' " Christiansen said. "It's too late. The damage is done."

The most severe water-related emergency is drowning.

"Most of the drownings happen not from unattended children, but it's a busy pool where someone who is watching the group, but there's so much going on that a kid will slip under the water and go unnoticed for five to 10 minutes," he said.

The best way to prevent injuries is to be prepared and take extra precautions.

"When you head out to recreate, it's important to remember to let people know where you're going and when you plan to be back," said Sand Hollow Reservoir ranger, Darren Tucker.

The majority of the medical problems are heat related. Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen and protect your feet.

"When the air is 100 degrees, you can be sure that the sand is much hotter," Tucker said.

When you're out on the water, be aware of all boaters around you and keep a distance of 150 feet. Children 12 years old and younger are required to wear a life jacket at all times while adults must wear them while being towed behind a boat or operating a personal watercraft.

Always carry a first aid kit and a charged cell phone to call for help if trouble arises.

"Being in Utah's great outdoors, you are somewhat distant from definitive care," Tucker said. "Keep that in mind when you recreate. If you see any dangerous behavior or things that are unsafe, please report them to the correct authority. We want to see everyone have a safe weekend and everybody to go home and have great stories to tell."

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UtahYour Life - Your Health
Jenniffer Michaelson

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