UR sports medicine doctors are urging Finger Lakes residents and visitors to take basic precautions on the water as summer boating, tubing, swimming and jet-skiing bring an increase in lake-related injuries.
Drs. Katherine Rizzone and Peter Obourn, board-certified sports medicine physicians with UR Medicine, said concussions caused by head trauma are among the most common lake-related injuries they see.
The UR Medicine Orthopaedic Urgent Care team in Canandaigua treats hundreds of lake-related injuries each year, according to a July 2 safety advisory. Boating accidents and extreme water sports are among the most common causes.
Doctors said common injuries also include hamstring injuries, shoulder dislocations and wrist fractures.
Rizzone recommended that boat and jet ski operators take a boating safety course, noting that New York requires a safety course for jet ski operators. She also urged people to wear properly fitted life jackets, use a spotter when towing skiers, tubers or wakeboarders, follow posted speed limits and stay sober on the water.
The advisory also cautioned families to closely supervise swimmers, especially children, and to consider each person’s swimming ability. Life jackets and supervision are essential to preventing drownings, the doctors said.
Weather and water conditions can also create hazards. Doctors urged boaters and swimmers to check forecasts, head to shore when storms approach and be aware of water temperature, especially for children or people with medical conditions that can affect temperature sensitivity.
Hidden hazards such as water chestnuts and zebra mussels can also cause injuries. The doctors recommended wearing water shoes and watching for foreign objects in the water.
UR Medicine said people should seek emergency care immediately for head injuries, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, suspected drowning or severe bleeding.
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