Lifesaving summer safety from a trauma professional

As the weather heats up, Dr. Jerry Rubano, the trauma medical director for NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk, offered these summer safety tips for pool, water and boating:

1. Avoiding drowning: Pool accidents often happen, he explained, when more than one person thinks someone else is keeping an eye on the kids in the water. Instead, he said, there should be a designated person who is watching the kids, maybe even switching that person every 20 minutes, or adults should consider hiring a lifeguard. “The biggest thing we hear when someone comes in after a drowning is ‘I thought so and so was watching them,’” he said. “You need a designated person who is watching the kids.”
2. Beach safety: To prevent drownings at the beach, he said, people should be honest with themselves about how strong of a swimmer they are or their children are. Beware of waves and riptides and always wear bright-colored bathing suits so that you are easy to spot by lifeguards. “Earth tones are hard to pick up on, especially in the ocean,” he said.
3. Summer drinking: Additionally, he said, a lot of spine and neck injuries happen when diving off a boat, as there could be shallow water or a hidden reef below. People who are intoxicated also can dive into the wrong end of the pool into the shallow part. “Having a designated [sober] person will help with pool or beach safety,” he said, explaining they can help prevent injuries.
4. Silent drowning: According to Rubano, silent drowning can happen when a child, or adult, is underwater for too long, gulps water, and has a reaction to it later down the road. “It’s something to keep an eye on; look for coughing or vomiting and chest tightness,” he said, also noting fluids will come up from the lungs.
5. Boating safety: Taking a boating safety course is the biggest way to prevent injuries and accidents on the water, he said. “There are very specific guidelines that should be followed—learning how to tie it down and being aware of water depth,” he said. Additionally, he added, you should treat it like a vehicle and also have a designated driver.
6. Avoiding burns: Most injuries he sees in the summer, though, are burns, lacerations, bruising, or concussions. People, he explained, will surf, boogie board, bicycle and motorcycle, or use trampolines in the summer improperly. Also, fire pits and barbecues can cause burns. Simply taking a moment to learn how to use the equipment or show others how to use things at your home could prevent injuries.
7. Stay hydrated: With temperatures reaching and exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, he said, people might still want to get out there, go for run or go biking, but, he said, “Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are real things.” Be sure to drink water and stay hydrated in the summer heat.

ABOUT DR. RUBANO

As an acute care surgeon, he treats patients who come to the emergency department with a variety of diseases. He often removes gallbladders, repairs hernias, and manages appendicitis, bowel obstructions, abscesses, and necrotizing fasciitis, a dangerous bacterial infection.

“Emergency surgery appeals to me because I enjoy thinking on my feet. No two emergencies are exactly the same, and it is satisfying to be able to tailor treatment to each patient to help them return to their everyday lives,” he said of his career.

He also cares for patients who have experienced blunt injuries, which may be caused by a car accident, a fall, or other trauma. In addition, he manages penetrating injuries, such as gunshot or stab wounds.

“Traumatic injuries can change people’s lives in an instant,” he said. “I pride myself on not only managing patients’ injuries, but also assisting them with their recovery.”

In addition to performing emergency surgery, he offers elective procedures, including removing soft tissue masses and the gallbladder. He also sees patients who need a second opinion as well as those who require revision surgery and performs abdominal wall reconstruction for patients who have complex hernias, as well as those whose hernia repairs have failed.

Additionally, he performs procedures on patients who are considered high-risk because they have multiple health conditions, such as cancer or heart disease, or are waiting for a transplant.

In 2021, he was honored to receive the Healthcare Hero award and was selected by Suffolk County Legis. Kara Hahn for providing exceptional care to patients with COVID-19.