ER doctors have some advice for the American public about how to stay out of the emergency room and help reduce the 139.8 million ER visits reported by the CDC in 2024. Dr. Marty Brown, an emergency room medical specialist at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center, provides some suggestions: “Cancel the Crocs! We see people skateboarding in flip flops and Crocs – a recipe for disaster. It’s important to wear appropriate footwear for whatever you’re doing,” says Dr. Brown. Healthline, the leading digital health and wellness platform, says you should leave your Crocs in the closet when doing high-impact activities like running or taking long walks, hiking or weightlifting. They don’t have enough support and the fit isn’t right for such activities, leading to broken bones and other injuries. “Chest Pain? Don’t wait,” advises Dr. Brown. “Denial is not just a river in Egypt, it’s how some people react when deciding if they should go to the ER.” Cleveland Clinic says if your chest pain lasts longer than 5 minutes and doesn’t go away when you rest or take medication, get immediate help. Call 911 or your local emergency services number right away to avoid needless tragedy. As hurricane season approaches, Dr. Brown’s suggestion is “Heed those post-hurricane warnings. Emergency room doctors would much rather work before or during a hurricane – after the storm has passed, common sense seems to disappear and injuries pile up.” The National Weather Service advises that knowing what to do in the wake of a severe storm or disaster may be just as important to you and your family as taking proper actions ahead of the storm. A study of injuries after a storm showed that 50 percent of the weather-related injuries were suffered during rescue attempts, cleanup and other post-storm activities. Nearly a third of the injuries resulted from stepping on nails. Any storm that damages power lines, gas lines or electrical systems, puts you at risk due to fire, electrocution or an explosion. So be careful and avoid an ambulance ride. “Fireworks? Adults only,” Dr, Brown cautions. “If fireworks are in your party plans, keep the kids away. Some fireworks being sold now are super-explosive, not like the ones we remember from our childhood.” The Consumer Product Safety Commission documented eight deaths and an estimated 9,700 injuries involving fireworks in 2023. Out of the eight deaths, five were associated with firework misuse, two with a device malfunction, and one involves unknown circumstances. Teenagers 15 to 19 years of age had the highest rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries, with children ages 5 to 9 years old having the second highest rate. “The Flu Vaccine Works, Stupid,” says Dr. Brown. “Although there is currently a lot of vaccine hesitancy, the fact is that this one works. We see a big difference in how people who have been vaccinated respond. Over the years, a lot more people have died from the flu than from COVID.” Mayo Clinic states that getting a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu and its complications for almost everyone. It can lower the risk of getting the flu and can also lower the risk of having serious illness, needing to stay in the hospital – or dying. “Weekend warriors and wheelbarrow wielders are some of the ER’s frequent ‘visitors,’” says Dr. Brown. “Trying to cram a week’s worth of exercise into one or two days without proper warmup and stretching sends many people our way. And when it comes to household chores, you’d be surprised to see how many people never learned that chainsaws and ladders don’t mix.” “‘Weekend warriors’ often develop repetitive, overuse injuries from improper mechanics or techniques related to their respective sport,” said Eric K. Holder, MD, a doctor at Yale New Haven Hospital and assistant professor of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine. Clearsurance.com, a customer-first marketplace for insurance, reports the most common body parts injured during home improvement projects gone awry are the finger, hand, eyeball, head and upper trunk area of the body. The household tools that are blamed for causing the most injuries are workshop manual tools (hammers, utility knives, screwdrivers, etc.) and power saws. “Don’t sleep on it.” Dr. Brown says the five warning signs of stroke include: “Acquaint yourself with these and remember them. Time really matters and I can’t tell you how often someone will come to the ER and say.’ I couldn’t move my arm (or leg) last night, but I decided to sleep on it.’” Dr. Marty Brown is an emergency medicine physician and is affiliated with Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He has board certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties. Holmes Regional Medical Center is located at 1350 S Hickory St., Melbourne. The phone number is 321-254-6218.