Summer comes, and again we orthopaedic surgeons see patients who dive into shallow water, fracture (break) their necks (cervical spines) and are paralyzed! Many must be pulled from the water because they can’t move their arms or legs, and have difficulty breathing.

It is estimated that about 800 spinal cord injuries occur in the USA annually as a result of diving errors. Teens and young adult males are often the victims, caught off guard by alcohol, or “rough-house” play, or just not thinking. How can we help reduce these catastrophic injuries?

1. Never-ever dive into an above-ground pool. They are dangerously shallow.

2. THINK TWICE before you run and dive into the ocean. Changing tides and waves cause the ocean sands to continually shift and you will not see the sandbar. Even ocean life guards have been paralyzed this way. Click here to read an article on this.

Continued at: https://www.anationinmotion.org/ortho-pinion/think-twice-before-you-dive/