People are eager to cool off during hot summer months, making trips and memories at local lakes and other bodies of water.
However, some divers plunge head first into rocky and/or shallow waters, placing them at risk of serious injury, paralysis or even death.
Nearly 26,000 individuals are treated in emergency departments, doctors’ offices and clinics for diving-related injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
That’s why the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, in conjunction with the Cervical Spine Research Society and the American Spinal Injury Association, developed the following diving safety tips to minimize permanent neck and spine injuries.
• If you have any doubt about water depth, enter the water feet first.
• Never dive into above-ground pools.
• Never dive into water that is not clear, where sand bars or objects below the surface may be obstructed or not visible.
• Only one person at a time should stand on a diving board. Swim away from the board immediately afterward to make room for the next diver.
Orthopedic surgeons put bones and spines back together after diving injuries. We want people to know the risks associated with diving. Don’t wreck your neck!
Kenneth Morse, M.D.
president, Maine Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons
DownEast Orthopedic Associates
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