As much as we may not want to think about it, a traumatic injury can happen at any moment. Therefore, it is critical to always be aware of your surroundings, adjust habits as needed and be mindful of your environment at large. This is all in the name of safety.
Did you know that Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital is the only Level I Trauma Center between Cleveland and Pittsburgh?
“Ninety-five percent of all traumatic injuries that come through our emergency department are considered preventable,” shares Amanda Lencyk (pictured above), an injury prevention specialist at Mercy Health – Youngstown. “Therefore, it’s imperative that we remind ourselves of the simplest things we can change or be aware of to prevent serious injury to ourselves or others.”
Amanda offers the following four ways you can practice safe habits and injury prevention all year long.
Protect yourself and loved ones from falls
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among Ohioans age 65 and older. You can reduce your risk of falling by paying more attention to what we like to call the three Hs: Home, Health and Habits.
Avoid distractions
This doesn’t just apply to distractions when driving like cellphones, eating, passengers and loud music. Distractions also pose a threat in everyday life: forgetting a child in the car, leaving the pool gate open, taking eyes off a young child in the bathtub, missing the crosswalk signal or walking away while cooking. Always stay aware and stay focused during your daily activities.
Stop bleeding as soon as you can
Uncontrolled bleeding is a major cause of preventable death. Approximately 40 percent of trauma-related deaths are due to bleeding or its consequences. Know that every second counts! Someone who is severely bleeding can bleed to death in as little as five minutes.
Donate blood
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood and/or platelets. Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in our country, along with nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma. Learn what happens to blood after it is donated and how you can help.
Learn about all the emergency and urgent care services we offer at Mercy Health.
