HEALTH NOTES

Ways to prevent injuries

The Integris Paul Silverstein Burn Center released the following tips to prevent burns.

• When cooking, don’t wear loose clothing like robes or scarves. Use oven mitts and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.

• If your food catches fire in the pan, put a lid over it and turn off the burner if possible. Don’t add water to a grease fire.

• Keep children at least three feet from the stove while cooking.

• Don’t set your water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees. Test the water before putting children in the tub.

• Use tight-fitting lids on hot drinks. Don’t use tablecloths or place mats when hot food is on the table, because children could pull it down.

• Only grill outdoors, and make sure there are no leaks in your propane tubing. Never use gasoline to start a fire.

• Don’t allow children to play with sparklers or run near a fire pit. Have water ready near fire pits.

• Never smoke while lying down or drowsy, or while using oxygen.

• If you have decreased feeling in your skin, don’t use a heating pad or heated blanket.

Mercy in OKC gets honor

IBM Watson HealthTM named Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City one of its top 100 hospitals.

Top hospitals have better survival rates, fewer complications, higher patient satisfaction and lower costs. It’s difficult to say conclusively that they are better, however, because patient demographics and other factors can influence results.

Spine center opens in Chickasha

Southern Plains Medical Center and Oklahoma Spine Hospital recently announced a partnership to create the Spine Center at SPMC in Chickasha.

The center will offer spinal surgeries and other treatments. For more information, go to www.spmcmed.com.