Angel Medical Center Column for June 2026

Stay Safe This Summer with Some Simple Strategies

June is one of my favorite months of the year. The temperatures are climbing, and it’s finally getting warm enough to take a dip in a pool or one of our beautiful mountain creeks. One of the most special parts of living in Macon County is that there is water everywhere that we can enjoy and cool off in. Enjoying beautiful waterfalls and river pools or floating along the river in a tube, kayak, or other vessel of choice allows us to really relax. Getting outside, enjoying nature, and fitting in some physical activity are all good for our physical and mental health.

But as good as the water, sun, and outdoors are for our bodies and souls, they also present risks that we should pay attention to. I don’t want to echo the pleas of everyone’s mothers from when they were growing up, but we have to admit, many of their warnings were smart ones. A few of these are, always remember to apply your sunscreen (with at least an SPF of 30), be aware of the critters and insects you might come into contact with, and remember to wear a life jacket if you’re on a kayak, canoe, or boat — but I’ll retire the “Don’t swim for 30 minutes after you eat” advice.

Though summer unfortunately presents a multitude of ways to get hurt, most stem from not being cautious about what you’re doing, respecting the rules around the activity you’re engaged in, and being mindful of potential dangers. Another root cause of summer mishaps and accidents is partaking in too much alcohol consumption or other substances, which inhibit your ability to think clearly and exercise good judgement. Sometimes this combination of factors causes a person to become overconfident and believe they can do something or handle themselves well when they’re really not up to it. This is a recipe for a visit to the Emergency Department.

There are also additional sun safety steps we can take to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays such as staying well-hydrated, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and scalp and sunglasses to shield your eyes from harm. And remember, even if it’s cloudy, those UV rays still get through. I should add too, that infants and the elderly are more vulnerable to the sun than children and adults, and they’re at risk even when they don’t exert themselves.

Hydration is huge too, for our children who are involved in summer sports practices and games, and adults as well. The combination of being active in the heat and sun and not drinking enough water sets us up for three conditions: dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. With heat exhaustion, you sweat profusely and can become dizzy. Rest and rehydrating are the best treatments.

Heat stroke is considered a medical emergency and life-threatening. This is when your temperature exceeds 104 degrees, you stop sweating, and your thinking can even become fuzzy. Heat stroke requires a call to 9-1-1 and immediate medical intervention, because it can cause your organs to shut down.

When I talk about hydration, I mean that you should drink water or a sports drink — alcohol doesn’t hydrate you — in fact, it contributes to dehydration.

A good thing to do when you’re enjoying outdoor activities with your family or friends is to create a “buddy system” where you keep an eye on each other. This way others may recognize when someone in the group is in trouble before they themselves do.

I want to take a moment to give a shout-out to our wonderful athletic trainers who are there to help protect athletes and identify these types of problems, in addition to sports injuries. They are present at practices and games to ensure that players take water breaks, cool down, and take good care of themselves. They’re also specially trained to offer aid if an emergent event occurs. We are so blessed to have our athletic trainers on the sidelines caring for our athletes. Thank you to our team members Lynette and Justin, for all you do to keep our students safe.

No matter what season it is, everyone at Angel Medical Center is committed to caring for our community with expertise and sensitivity. Thank you for trusting us.

Clint Kendall, FACHE, MBA, MSN, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer/Chief Nursing Officer of Angel Medical Center. He started his career as a nurse, and that perspective still informs his work and passion for the patient experience. Clint holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Nursing, and Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina University. Clint has also earned the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) certification, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the American Nurses Association (ANA).