Category: Blog

July 4th is a time for joyous gatherings, illuminated by spectacular fireworks, delicious meals, and lively outdoor fun; however, these festivities may also lead to an increased incidence of injuries, particularly burns. At Brea Urgent Care, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Understanding common risks and knowing when to seek care can help ensure your Independence Day remains a happy memory.

Common Fourth of July Hazards: More Than Just a Sparkle

While fireworks are a spectacular part of the holiday, they are also a leading cause of injuries. Grilling mishaps and general outdoor activities also contribute to trips to urgent care.

• Fireworks Injuries: These can range from minor burns to severe eye injuries, lacerations, and even amputations. Sparklers, often mistakenly thought to be safe for children, burn at extremely high temperatures (around 2,000°F) and can easily cause serious burns.
• Grilling and Barbecue Burns: Flare-ups, contact with hot grates or coals, and steam can cause painful burns. Spilled hot food or liquids are also a common hazard, especially with children nearby.
• Outdoor Activity Injuries: Summer fun can sometimes lead to sprains, strains, cuts, and scrapes from sports, games, or simply navigating unfamiliar outdoor terrain. Heat-related illnesses are also a concern during prolonged outdoor celebrations.

Understanding and Treating Burns

Burns are one of the most common injuries seen around the Fourth of July. They are typically classified by degree:

• First-degree burns: These are superficial, affecting only the outer layer of skin (epidermis). The skin may be red, painful, and mildly swollen, but there are no blisters. A mild sunburn is a classic example.
• Second-degree burns: These burns affect both the epidermis and the second layer of skin (dermis). They are characterized by redness, pain, swelling, and blistering.
• Third-degree burns: These are the most severe, extending through all layers of the skin and potentially affecting underlying tissues. The skin may appear white, black, or charred, and there might be numbness due to nerve damage.

Immediate First Aid for Minor Burns 

First-degree and small Second-degree burns (less than 2-3 inches) can usually be treated at home:

1. Cool Water: Immediately run cool (not icy) water over the burn for 10-15 minutes or apply a cool, clean compress.
2. Remove Jewelry/Clothing: Gently remove any rings, watches, or clothing from around the burned area before it swells.
3. Cover Loosely: Apply a sterile, non-stick bandage or clean cloth.
4. Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage pain.

When to Visit Brea Urgent Care for Burns

It’s important to seek professional medical attention for:

• Second-degree burns larger than 2-3 inches in diameter.
• Second-degree burns on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or over a major joint.
• All third-degree burns (though for extensive third-degree burns, an emergency room is more appropriate).
• Burns that show signs of infection (increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus, or fever).
• Burns caused by chemicals or electricity.
• If you are unsure of the severity of the burn.

Our team at Brea Urgent Care can assess the burn, provide appropriate wound care, and prescribe medications if necessary to prevent infection and promote healing.

Fireworks Safety: Leave it to the Professionals for a Reason

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display put on by trained professionals. However, if you choose to use legal consumer fireworks, follow these precautions:

• Adult Supervision is Key: Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
• Know Your Fireworks: Only use fireworks that are legal in your area and always read and follow the label directions.
• Clear the Area: Use fireworks outdoors in a clear, open space away from houses, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
• Keep Water Handy: Have a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a mishap.
• Never Relight Duds: If a firework doesn’t ignite, don’t try to relight it. Wait 20 minutes, then soak it in water before disposing of it.
• Safe Disposal: Ensure all used fireworks are thoroughly soaked in water before throwing them away in an outdoor trash can.
• Protect Your Eyes: Spectators and those lighting fireworks should wear protective eyewear.

If an injury from fireworks does occur, such as a burn or laceration, seek medical attention promptly. For minor to moderate injuries, Brea Urgent Care can provide an assessment and treatment. For severe injuries, especially to the eyes or involving significant bleeding or trauma, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Grilling Safety: Keep the Flames Friendly

A barbecue is a Fourth of July staple. Follow these tips for a safe grilling experience:

• Stable and Clear: Place your grill on a flat, stable surface away from your home, deck railings, and overhanging branches.
• Attend the Grill: Never leave a lit grill unattended.
• Safe Lighting: Use only proper starter fluid for charcoal grills; never add starter fluid or other flammable liquids to an already lit fire. For gas grills, check for leaks before use.
• Keep Children and Pets Away: Establish a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around the grill.
• Safe Extinguishing: Allow coals to cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container. For gas grills, turn off all burners and the gas supply.

When Urgent Care is Not Enough

If you or someone else experiences any of the following, you should call 911 or head straight to the nearest emergency department:

• Severe burns (large, deep, or covering sensitive areas like the face or genitals).
• Major trauma from a firework accident (e.g., loss of fingers, severe eye injuries).
• Difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness.
• Signs of heatstroke (high body temperature, confusion, rapid pulse, no sweating).

Have a Happy and Safe Fourth!

By taking a few precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of injuries this Fourth of July. Remember to supervise children closely, handle fireworks and grills responsibly, and stay hydrated. Should you need medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries, Brea Urgent Care is ready to provide prompt and professional care. We wish you a joyful and safe Independence Day!

It’s easy to miss the warning signs of dehydration, especially when you’re busy or outdoors. Brea Urgent Care encourages everyone to stay aware, drink plenty of fluids, and seek care if symptoms worsen.

What Is Dehydration?

Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. This can happen due to sweating, illness, fever, or not drinking enough water – especially during outdoor activities or intense exercise.

Common Causes of Dehydration

Children, athletes, and people who spend time outdoors during warmer months are especially vulnerable to dehydration due to:

• High heat and humidity
• Vigorous physical activity
• Not drinking enough water during the day
• Illness with vomiting or diarrhea
• Certain medications or health conditions

Young children and older adults are also more prone to dehydration and may not show symptoms right away.

Symptoms of Dehydration to Watch For

Dehydration symptoms can range from mild to severe. Early signs include:

• Dry mouth or lips
• Headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Dark yellow urine or infrequent urination
• Fatigue
• Irritability (especially in children)

More serious dehydration can cause:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Confusion
• Fainting
• No urination for several hours

If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to act quickly.

When to Seek Emergency Care for Severe Dehydration

Some dehydration symptoms signal a medical emergency that requires care beyond what urgent care clinics provide. Go straight to the emergency room if you or your child experiences:

• Signs of heatstroke (such as a body temperature over 103°F)
• Confusion or unconsciousness
• Seizures
• Trouble breathing
• Signs of severe dehydration in infants (such as no wet diapers for 3 hours or more, sunken eyes or soft spot, or extreme fussiness or lethargy)

Don’t wait – severe dehydration can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated right away.

How Brea Urgent Care Can Help with Dehydration

Whether you’re experiencing mild symptoms or need immediate care, Brea Urgent Care offers walk-in treatment for dehydration. We can help you rehydrate safely, monitor your symptoms, and offer guidance on how to recover and avoid future episodes. In more serious cases, IV fluids may be necessary to restore your body’s balance.

Tips for Preventing Dehydration

Prevention is key, especially during hot days or active outings. Here’s how to stay hydrated:

• Drink water regularly throughout the day (don’t wait until you’re thirsty)
• Pack extra water for outdoor events or sports
• Avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks, which can increase fluid loss
• Take breaks in the shade or air conditioning when it’s hot
• Encourage kids to drink water before, during, and after play

By paying attention to your body and staying proactive, you can help keep yourself and your family safe.

Dehydration symptoms should never be ignored. If you’re feeling unwell, Brea Urgent Care is here to help. Walk in or check in online today.

As temperatures rise and outdoor activities ramp up, the risk of tick and insect bites increases. While many bites are minor, some can lead to infections, allergies, or even serious conditions such as Lyme disease. Knowing how to prevent, identify, and treat bites can help keep you and your family safe this season.

Preventing Tick and Insect Bites

The best way to avoid complications from tick and insect bites is to prevent them in the first place. When spending time outdoors, especially in wooded areas or tall grass, take the following precautions:

• Wear long sleeves, pants, and light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks
• Use insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin, an insect repellent designed for fabrics
• Avoid walking through tall grass and stay on marked trails
• Perform tick checks on yourself, children, and pets after spending time outside
• If you have a dog, it’s important to protect them as well, as any ticks attached to them could come home with you and eventually bite a human. Use insect repellent designed for dogs or talk to your vet about preventative medications.

Checking for Bites

Ticks and insect bites can be small and easy to miss. After being outdoors, inspect your skin carefully, paying close attention to areas where ticks tend to attach, such as:

• Behind the knees
• Under the arms
• Along the hairline and behind the ears
• Around the waistline

Look for small red bumps, swelling, or the telltale “bullseye” rash that can indicate Lyme disease (which often does not show up for weeks to months after being bitten). If a tick is found attached to your skin, proper – and prompt – removal is crucial to reducing the risk of infection.

Diseases Carried by Ticks

Ticks can transmit several serious illnesses, including:

• Lyme Disease – Caused by Borrelia bacteria, Lyme disease often presents with a bullseye rash, fever, fatigue, joint pain, and flu-like symptoms. However, symptoms may not appear for weeks after the bite. If untreated, it can lead to long-term complications affecting the nervous system and joints. Treatment typically includes antibiotics such as doxycycline.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) – A bacterial infection that causes fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash that spreads from the wrists and ankles inward. Symptoms can take days or even weeks to appear. Without treatment, RMSF can become severe. Early antibiotic treatment is essential.
• Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis – These bacterial infections cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle aches, and headaches, which may not develop for one to two weeks after a tick bite. They are treated with antibiotics like doxycycline.
• Babesiosis – A parasitic infection that attacks red blood cells, leading to fever, chills, fatigue, and anemia. Symptoms can take weeks to show up, making early detection difficult. Treatment may include a combination of antimicrobial medications.

What to Do If You Get Bitten by a Tick

If you find a tick attached to your skin:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure—do not twist or jerk the tick, as it could cause parts of the body to stay embedded in your skin.
3. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water
4. Dispose of the tick by placing it in a sealed bag or flushing it down the toilet

Most tickborne diseases are avoidable with prompt removal of the tick. However, if a tick is attached for more than 12 hours, the risk of contracting an infection increases. Monitor for symptoms such as fever, rash, or flu-like symptoms in the following weeks. If you develop any concerning signs, seek medical attention promptly. 

Urgent Care Treatment for Tick and Insect Bites

While most insect bites heal on their own, some may require medical attention. Visit urgent care if you experience:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face and throat
• A tick bite followed by a rash, fever, or joint pain
• A bite that becomes red, swollen, or shows signs of infection
• Multiple bites that cause significant discomfort

At Brea Urgent Care, our urgent care providers can remove ticks safely, prescribe antibiotics if needed, and treat severe allergic reactions. Walk in or check in online for prompt care and peace of mind.

Whether you’re carving down slopes or gliding across the ice, winter sports are a thrill. However, accidents happen, and understanding when to see a doctor after a fall can make all the difference.

Common Winter Sports Injuries

Falls during winter sports can lead to a variety of injuries, including:

• Fractures: Broken bones are a frequent result of high-impact falls. Wrist fractures often occur when trying to break a fall, while leg fractures are common in skiing accidents.
• Sprains: Twisting or landing awkwardly can strain or tear ligaments, particularly in the ankles or knees.
• Concussions: A hard hit to the head can cause a concussion, even if a helmet is worn. Symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, and confusion.

Understanding the type of injury and its severity is crucial in deciding where to seek treatment.

Winter Injuries Related to Cold Exposure

Winter sports enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers are also at risk of injuries caused by cold exposure. These include:

• Frostbite: Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can damage skin and underlying tissues, often affecting extremities like fingers, toes, nose, and ears. Symptoms include numbness, discoloration, and a hard or waxy feel to the skin.
• Hypothermia: When the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, hypothermia sets in, leading to symptoms like intense shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and fatigue. Severe cases can be life-threatening.
• Chilblains: Extended exposure to cold but non-freezing conditions can cause painful inflammation of small blood vessels in the skin, resulting in redness, swelling, and itching, particularly on fingers and toes.

These conditions require prompt medical attention to prevent complications. Urgent care can often provide initial treatment for frostbite and mild hypothermia, ensuring you get the care you need quickly.

When to Visit Urgent Care for a Winter Sports Injury

While some injuries require emergency care, many can be effectively treated at an urgent care clinic like Brea Urgent Care. Here are some guidelines to help you decide:

• Urgent care is appropriate for:
  • Suspected fractures: If you experience intense pain, swelling, or difficulty moving a limb, urgent care can provide onsite X-rays to confirm the injury. 
  • Mild to moderate sprains: If you notice swelling, bruising, or limited mobility but can still put some weight on the injured area, you may be able to wait and see whether you need medical care. While rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) will be sufficient for most sprains, you should visit urgent care if swelling does not decrease and you are unable to bear any weight on it within a few days. It is especially important to have children evaluated when you suspect a sprain to rule out a fracture that could affect the growth plates in their arms or legs.
  • Head injuries with mild symptoms: For bumps or mild concussions without loss of consciousness, vomiting, or worsening symptoms, urgent care can evaluate and monitor you.
• Seek emergency care if:
  • A bone is visibly out of place or piercing through the skin.
  • There are signs of severe head trauma, such as unconsciousness or repeated vomiting.
  • The injured person is unable to move the affected body part at all or is in extreme pain, or pain that does not respond to over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Still not sure whether you need urgent care or the ER? Check out this blog post for more info on making the right call.

How Brea Urgent Care Can Help

At Brea Urgent Care, we’re equipped to handle a range of winter sports injuries. Our onsite X-ray services allow for quick and accurate diagnosis, and our medical team can provide splints, braces, or other treatments to support recovery. We’re also experienced in evaluating and managing concussions to ensure your safety and long-term health.Winter sports are a great way to stay active and enjoy the season, but injuries can happen. If you take a tumble, don’t wait to seek care if something doesn’t feel right. Walk in or check in online to get fast treatment today!

Cold and flu season brings challenges with illnesses like RSV, bronchitis, and the flu circulating widely. Managing symptoms wisely and knowing when to seek care ensures faster relief and better protection for your loved ones. At Brea Urgent Care, we’re here to offer expert advice and compassionate care to get you through the season.

Common Winter Illnesses

Winter is prime time for respiratory illnesses. Here’s what to know about some of the most prevalent conditions:

The Flu (Influenza)

Symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, and a dry cough. While many cases resolve at home, severe symptoms—such as difficulty breathing or prolonged fever—may require urgent care.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

Common in children and older adults, RSV can cause congestion, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Watch for worsening symptoms that could indicate a need for medical attention.

Bronchitis

This condition often follows a cold or flu, with symptoms like a persistent cough, chest tightness, and mucus production. Chronic cases or severe symptoms may need professional evaluation.

Seasonal Colds

A runny nose, sneezing, and mild fatigue are hallmarks of the common cold. While usually manageable at home, a lingering or worsening cold may signal a secondary infection, requiring care.

Tips for Managing Symptoms at Home

For many minor illnesses, at-home care can help you recover comfortably:

• Stay hydrated: Drinking water, herbal teas, or clear broths can ease congestion and prevent dehydration.
• Rest: Give your body the time it needs to heal by reducing physical activity and getting plenty of sleep.
• Use over-the-counter remedies: Medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can reduce fever and relieve aches. Decongestants and throat lozenges may also provide symptom relief.
• Try a humidifier: Adding moisture to the air can soothe irritated nasal passages and ease coughing.

When to Visit Urgent Care

While many winter illnesses can be managed at home, certain symptoms should never be ignored. Visit Brea Urgent Care if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• High fever that lasts more than three days
• Severe sore throat or trouble swallowing
• Symptoms that worsen after a few days instead of improving
• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Dehydration signs, such as dry mouth or reduced urination

At Brea Urgent Care, we offer fast, expert care for cold, flu, and other winter illnesses. Our team can assess your symptoms, provide treatments like antivirals, and ensure you’re on the path to recovery.

Stay Healthy This Season

The cold and flu season doesn’t have to slow you down. By managing symptoms at home and seeking professional care when needed, you can navigate winter illnesses with confidence. If you’re feeling under the weather and need medical attention, Brea Urgent Care is here for you. Walk in or check in online today for expert, compassionate care.