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Newark, NJ -- Spring break
is a great time for the family to get away from the cold, dark
days of winter and have some fun in the sun. This year you can
keep your family safe and make spring break memorable by having
fun and while staying healthy and well prepared. “Spring
Break safety is usually the last thing people think about while
planning their getaway, but it may be the most important aspect
of the trip,” says Michael Rosen,
M.D., Pediatric Director of the Emergency Department at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey.The following
are vacation recommendations from The Emergency Department at Newark
Beth Israel Medical Center and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC):
Remember that alcohol can impair your judgment and actions. Alcohol-related
motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and nonfatally
injure someone every two minutes. Don't drink and drive. There
are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives.
If you have been sitting most of the year working at the computer,
take this opportunity to do fun activities like walking, dancing,
playing volleyball, and swimming. Avoid injury by starting any
new activity slowly. Include activities that raise your breathing
and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles.
If you are going on a trip, be prepared. Are vaccinations required?
Are there special food, destination, or other things you need to
consider ahead of time? If you are taking medications, do you have
enough for the trip? Know what's happening en route or at your
travel destination.
There may be temptations on your break that involve different
or high-risk activity. Think twice before putting yourself at risk
for injury. Use appropriate safety gear, such as seat belts, life
vests, or knee pads. Remember that unintentional injuries kill
more Americans in their first three decades of life than any other
cause of death.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
Check out your surroundings before you go out. Have a well-lit
route back to your hotel. Avoid wearing headphones as you walk
so that you can be aware of what is going on around you, especially
if you are walking alone. Be alert at all times.
- Protect yourself from the sun.
Excessive and unprotected sun exposure can result in premature
aging, changes in skin texture, and skin cancer. Always wear sunscreen
with at least SPF 15. For eye protection, wear wraparound sunglasses
that provide 100 percent UV ray protection.
Having fun takes energy and fuel. Be sure to eat a variety of
foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain
products. Also include low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry,
fish, and legumes. Drink lots of water and go easy on the salt,
sugar, alcohol, and saturated fat.
Establish a meeting spot in the event that you get separated.
Before you go out, identify a safe way to return to your hotel.
Make sure that someone at home has all the informaiton about your
trip, including hotel name and phone number, the members of your
trip, your flight plans and times you should arrive to your destination
and return from your vacation. If any of this information changes,
make sure to notify your contact person.
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, a 673-bed regional care
teaching hospital, provides comprehensive health care to its
local communities and is a major referral and treatment center
for the northern New Jersey metropolitan area. With more than
800 physicians, 3,200 employees and 150 volunteers, the Medical
Center has over 300,000 outpatient visits and 25,000 admissions
annually. For more information, please call Newark Beth
Israel Medical Center at (973) 926-7000, or visit www.barnabashealth.org.
For physician referral information, please call 1-888-724-7123.
Follow us on Twitter: get real time news from the Saint Barnabas
Health Care System at www.twitter.com/barnabas_health.
Date: February 16, 2010
Contact: Beth Salamon
Public Relations
Phone: 973.322.4926
esalamon@barnabashealth.org
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