It’s football season, which means Friday night lights, busy schedules, and unfortunately…increased risk for concussions. Hopefully those expensive helmets do the trick, but what if they don’t? We want you to be fully prepared to catch the warning signs before it’s too late, especially in younger children who are difficult to read. According to Medical News Today, the following are warning signs for a concussion in children:

•   headache·      
• sleepiness
• feeling like they are in a fog
• feeling sick or vomiting
• sensitivity to noise or light
• seeming irritable
• sleeping more or less than usual
• feeling depressed or sad
•  feeling dizzy or having problems with balance
• unable to think properly or concentrate

Adults need to question their children on these symptoms after they have experienced a head injury because they may not think to point them out to mom or dad. If they are experiencing these symptoms, call your doctor immediately. 

When should you go to the emergency room?                 
Each individual has a right to decide when is best for them to visit the ER or take their child, but these are some major warning signs that you can look for:

• lost consciousness when hit
• loss of memory for more than 24 hours
• seizures, which could mean shaking or twitching
• one pupil larger than the other
• slurred speech
• been unable to wake up
• vomited repeatedly
• symptoms that suddenly get worse

 

We are officially in the triple digit weeks, which means increased risk for dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes. Unfortunately, the heat isn’t going anywhere, but there are precautions that you can take in order to help prevent these heat-related complications from happening.
 
    1. Drink plenty of waterThis can not be emphasized enough, our daily water intake should range from 11-15 cups, so be sure to have at least this amount if not more during hot months
    2. Slow down and stay indoors as much as possibleEven though there are a lot of fun activities outdoors during summer, do your best to minimize being out in the heat for extended periods of time
    3. Use a buddy system when working outsideThis will help keep each other accountable for staying hydrated and not overheating
​    4. DON’T HESITATE TO CALL 911Heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be life threatening, if you experience cramps, dizziness, or lightheadedness seek care immediately

​While a majority of sunburns are easily treated with a little bit of Aloe Vera and staying in side an extra day or two, some can result in an emergency room visit if not taken care of properly. According to research in Dermatology, there were 34,000 ER visits in the U.S. in 2013 due to serious sunburns. If your sunburn results in nausea, confusion, headache or extreme pain or chills, you should see a doctor. Of course all of this can be easily prevented by practicing good sun protection habits for yourself and whoever you are supervising during your time outside. Sunburns can result in more serious and detrimental outcomes in the future that negatively impact your overall health and well-being, so do everything you can to avoid even a minor burn.
 
Stay hydrated, wear plenty of sunscreen, and have fun this summer. Remember, in the time of an emergency, ER Now is conveniently located at 4121 Southwest Parkway. We are here for you. Faces You Know. Doctors You Trust. 

​Summer is here and kids are living outside, which is great for their health and a fun way to spend summer, but mother nature can be fierce sometimes. Typically, a bee sting is nothing but a few tears and a popsicle to make it all feel better, but what if your child is allergic to bees and you didn’t know it beforehand? There are a few signs to look for that signal anaphylaxis, and if you see any of them you should dial 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room. The following list are some of the most common symptoms with anaphylaxis:

• Wheezing or trouble breathing
• Swollen lips, tongue, or face
• Hives, and flushed or pale skin
• Weak or rapid pulse
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of consciousness

Fortunately, a shot of epinephrine will do the trick right away but don’t let any of these symptoms be prolonged. ER Now is conveniently located at 4121 Southwest Parkway and could easily be the emergency room near you in a time like this, you will be treated by Faces You Know and Doctors You Trust.

Dr. Evan Meyer has been a Wichita Falls resident since he was 7 years old, and left to attend medical school at the University of Texas at Galveston. He graduated from his residency in 2013 and Titanium Group happened to have an opening in Wichita Falls, so he came back to his roots. He has been an emergency room doctor at United Regional since July of 2013, and started at ER Now in summer of 2017. Dr. Meyer has been a part of many organizations during his time as a physician, including the Wichita County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association where he will serve as a member at large on the board of WCMS starting in 2018, and has been the alternate delegate to the TMA representing the WCMS since January of 2017. He was one of the 16 physicians under 40 selected to graduate from the TMA elite leadership College in May 2017.
            Dr. Meyer is married with 3 kids, and the family attends Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He is a hard working family-man who became a new member of the TRN 20 Under 40 Class of 2017. What an honor! We are proud to have him as a part of our ER Now family, he is the prime example of “Faces You Know. Doctors You Trust.”
 
Read the full article by Times Record News here:
www.timesrecordnews.com/story/life/announcements/2018/01/24/dr-evan-meyer-making-difference-makes-your-day/1006704001/

It’s that time of the year again. Spring is here which means season is here for young children. Of course it is a happy time, but also a stressful time for parents who have to worry about their children’s health and well being associated with sports. The CDC estimates that more than 2 million American children wind up in the ER each year as a result of sports related injuries. Some of the most common injuries include Sprained Ligaments, Heat Sickness, and those resulting from repetitive motion. The question now becomes how can parents reduce the chances of these injuries occurring. According to a post by League Lineup, there are three ways to help this issue:
 
1. Enroll Your Child in an Organized Sports Club or Team
     They will be given training and proper equipment to reduce their chances of being injured. A lot of injuries       occur because kids are engaged in “backyard sports” where equipment and rules are nowhere to be               found.
2. Warm-Ups
     Everyone should warm-up before exercising, in doing so it greatly reduces the chance of a repetitive               motion injury as well as others. They should also do a few cool down exercises that will loosen the                 muscles that have become tight while playing.
3. Fluid
     This is almost a no brainer, but it is surprising how many children get dehydrated on a daily basis.                   They are so active and don’t have the reasoning to stop doing what they are doing to rehydrate. So be             sure to encourage hydration, even if it means stopping them while they’re playing because this can                 strongly influence the beginning of heat sickness.
 
Of course injuries aren’t 100% preventable, and in the time of an emergency ER Now has your back. We will take care of your child promptly and with great care. We hope these prevention techniques are helpful, feel free to call or comment below with any questions or concerns. 

​Chest pain is something that should never be taken lightly, even if it may just be a post-dinner settling or discomfort. You and only you can decide whether or not the pain in your chest calls for an ER visit, but according to “verywellhealth" there are some signs to look for that may show the pain is less likely to be dangerous:

• The pain reliably and reproducibly changes with changes in your body position.
• The pain is momentary or fleeting.
• You have had identical pains in the past, and a cardiac disorder was ruled out after a complete medical evaluation.

This is not an exhaustive list, but a good source of information in the case of chest pains. As always though, if you feel you need emergency medical care then call 911 or go to an emergency medical facility.
Verywellhealth also discusses some signs that need immediate attention:

• You are any age and have a very strong family history of early heart disease.
• The pain can best be described by the terms tightness, squeezing, heaviness, or crushing.
• The pain is accompanied by weakness, nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness or fainting.
• The pain “radiates” to the shoulders, arms, or jaw.
• The pain is more severe than any you have had before.
• The pain is accompanied by a sense of alarm, or the feeling that something is horribly wrong (this is often called by doctors, “a sense of impending doom”).
• The pain gets continually worse over the first 10 or 15 minutes.
• The pain is new –- you have never experienced anything like it before.

We want our patients to be educated in every situation, and especially those that need emergent care immediately. Chest pain is one of the more common emergencies that patients are unsure of how to handle, but never hesitate if you know feel something is not right.
When you think “What Now?” Think ER Now. Faces you know, Doctors you trust.
Read the full article “When Is Chest Pain An Emergency?” here:
https://www.verywell.com/chest-pain-part-2-1745275
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