Signs You May Have a Fracture

Did you know that the average person experiences two fractured bones during their lifetime? While fractures, or broken bones, are very common during childhood, they can become more serious as we age. A fractured bone is considered a medical emergency, and it is important to go to an emergency room immediately.

What are the symptoms of a fractured bone?

• Swelling or bruising on the bone
• Deformity over the affected area
• Pain around the injury that becomes worse when given pressure
• Bone protrusion
• Difficulty or pain when putting weight on the area

How is my fractured bone diagnosed?

If you believe you or a loved one have experienced a fractured bone, it is extremely important to bring them to Trusted ER right away! Our doctors will evaluate your injury and take some x-rays. If your fracture does not show up in an x-ray, we can perform a series of other tests to see if you have broken a bone. In some cases, like a wrist, hip, or stress fracture, these additional tests are necessary.

How is my fractured bone treated?

Your fractured bone will be set back into its place and held by a cast or splint to heal properly. It’s important to rehabilitate the injured area immediately, even if you’re still in a cast. This will promote healthy healing, prevent blood clots, and encourage healthy blood flow. Once your cast is removed, the injured area will often be stiff and swollen – but don’t worry, it will go away after a few weeks! Be patient with your body. It will take a few weeks to regain your former strength. Talk with our doctors about exercises and activities that are safe for your body as you heal.

Have you suffered from a fractured bone? Come to Trusted ER immediately! We will help make you feel as comfortable as possible while we treat your fracture.

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Chemical/Caustic Burns

Chemical or caustic burns can happen in the safety of your home, in your workplace, or at school. They are caused by accidentally coming into contact with a chemical or misusing a chemical product.

Chemical Burn Symptoms

Although chemical burn symptoms can differ, they pose serious threats to your health. Symptoms will vary depending on how and where the burn occurred. When you come in for treatment we will want to know a bit about the burn to treat you properly:

• How long was your skin in contact with the chemical?
• Did you inhale or swallow the chemical?
• Did you have any open cuts on your skin during contact with the chemical?
• Which part of your body did the chemical touch?
• Was the chemical in liquid or solid form? Was it a gas?
• How strong was the chemical?
• What amount came into contact with your body?

Common symptoms caused by chemical burns include the following:

• Numbness or pain
• Loss of vision (if chemicals touched your eyes)
• Redness, burning, irritation in the area surrounding the burn
• Dead skin caused by acid

If you accidentally swallowed a chemical, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Cardiac arrest
• Low blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Shortness of breath

Chemical Burn Causes

Anytime you are exposed to chemical materials, you are at risk for a chemical burn. The most common causes of chemical burns are:

• Bleach
• Toilet bowl cleaners
• Teeth whitening products
• Ammonia
• Denture cleaners
• Car battery acid
• Pool chlorinators

Treatment

Your chemical burn must be treated immediately. Remove the chemical and rinse your skin under constantly-running water for up to 20 minutes. If a chemical splashed into your eyes, it is important to rinse your eye for a minimum of 20 minutes before heading to Trusted ER. If you are wearing any clothes or jewelry that came into contact with the chemical, remove them.

Gently wrap the affected area with a sterile cloth. If the burn is larger than three inches or if it occurred on your face, hands, feet, buttocks, or groin, head to Trusted ER immediately. If the burn happened on a major joint, like your elbow or knee, it is important to visit us right away. Otherwise, head to Trusted ER if you aren’t able to control your pain with over-the-counter medications or if you have any symptoms of shock.

At Trusted ER, your chemical burn will be diagnosed based on a few factors. These factors will include how deep your burn is, if there are any signs of an infection, if there is any swelling, and what your level of pain is.

Minor chemical burns will heal quickly with treatment. However, for a more severe burn, you may need long-term treatment.

A chemical burn is a medical emergency! Have you or a friend suffered from a chemical or caustic burn? Come into Trusted ER –  we are here for you 24/7!

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Causes and Risk Factors of Hypothermia

While Dallas winters are mild compared to those of Maine or Minnesota, it’s still important to understand the causes and risk factors of hypothermia. Mild hypothermia can come from simply lingering outside in cold weather, while more severe hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to cold water or weather.

What causes hypothermia?

Hypothermia’s most common trigger is cold air or water, but cold-water immersion brings it on most quickly. Classified as a medical emergency, falling into cold water whisks heat away from your body 25 times faster than air does. Once out of the water, wearing wet clothes can also create issues, as wet clothes also remove heat from your body.

Mild hypothermia can occur if a person is outside on a cold day without a coat. Wind chill can be a factor in hypothermia too, as it reduces body heat faster. A combination of wind and cold water together can be extremely dangerous.

Signs and Symptoms

Understanding the signs and symptoms of hypothermia is important – and could even save a life.

Mild Hypothermia – When the body begins to cool down, it will try to keep itself warm and begin to shiver in order to generate heat. One of the initial and most obvious signs of hypothermia is uncontrollable shivering. Other signs include:

• Loss of fine motor skills, like difficulty texting
• Decrease in blood circulation and temperature
• Quietness, drawing inward, not communicating with others
• Experiencing pain or discomfort

Mild hypothermia can be reversed by drinking something warm and moving to a warmer environment. However, if it’s not reversed, your body’s temperature will continue to drop.

Moderate and Severe Hypothermia – When experiencing severe hypothermia, your body will stop shivering, as it tries to conserve energy. If your body’s internal temperature drops below 95 degrees, it is considered moderate hypothermia. Moderate hypothermia should be treated immediately, otherwise it will progress to severe hypothermia, which poses a serious medical risk. Patients with severe hypothermia are at risk for cardiac arrest, because their heart muscles do not operate normally at a low temperature. Warming them can be dangerous too, as the patient could experience a cardiac arrhythmia.

Other symptoms of moderate or severe hypothermia include:

• Confusion/exhaustion
• Unconsciousness
• Dilated pupils

When to Come to Trusted ER

Any type of hypothermia can be cause for alarm and should receive medical attention. If you suspect a friend or loved one is experiencing these symptoms, bring them immediately into Trusted ER.

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