OSF HealthCare Newsroom

Stay safe on the water, part one

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:30:00 -0500

Author's note: this is part one of a two part story on outdoor water safety. Click here for part two.

Warmer weather means people flocking to lakes and rivers in droves to enjoy some fishing or time on the boat. But something as simple as the wrong type of footwear can lead to an injury that ruins your day and maybe even your life.

In 2023, the United States Coast Guard reported 3,844 instances of something going wrong on a boat and 564 boating deaths. The numbers were down from 2022 and don’t capture what’s happening on every waterway in America. But they’re still worth paying attention to.

Bethany Huelskoetter, APRN, a family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare, knows a thing or two in this area of medicine, having treated patients for outdoor injuries for years, plus spending leisure time on the water.

Entanglements in boat engines: Contacting the parts under the boat can lead to traumatic injuries and even limb loss. Huelskoetter has heard of instances where a boat driver unknowingly backs up into a swimmer’s midsection.

“Make people aware of where the motor is, and tell them not to swim there,” Huelskoetter says. “Don’t put your feet on the boat’s propellor. It can be sharp and injure you. And if the driver is going to move the boat, they should know where everyone is.”
Head injuries: Diving into water where you don’t know the depth is a big no. There can also be objects like logs, Huelskoetter says.

“People can go down and not come back up,” Huelskoetter warns. “They hit their head, and it knocks them unconscious. And maybe there’s a current underwater that they’re unable to fight.”
Slip and falls: Wet surfaces, like a dock or the back of a boat, make you prone to falls. First, Huelskoetter says to enter the boat in the right spot. That’s usually the back or the side. Don’t try to hop over a tall railing, for example. Second, find a good non-slip footwear that works for you. That could be a sandal or a specialized boat shoe. Huelskoetter says going barefoot can be OK, too, if you watch where you walk. Look for sharp objects, and avoid long contact with hot surfaces.

The buddy system: Try to boat or fish with someone. They can help you if you have an emergency. If you’re alone, let people know your plans. Then if you’re not back when you planned to be, they can alert law enforcement to look for you.
Fish hook impalements: It’s a tiny object. How bad can it be?

Bad, Huelskoetter says. The hooks are dirty, so infections are possible.

“If you can cut the [fishing line] string and come to an urgent care or your primary care provider, that’s fantastic,” Huelskoetter says. “But if you’re unable, push the hook the rest of the way through [the wound]. Then cut the barb on the end of the hook off. If you go fishing, have wire cutters with you in case this happens. Then you can slide the hook out.

“Wash with soap and water, then keep the wound dry and covered. Antibiotic ointment is good to use,” Huelskoetter adds. “Follow up with your primary care provider in the following few days if it develops redness, soreness or anything else irregular. We expect it to be tender, but if you have redness, swelling, drainage or if you’re just unsure, contact your primary care provider.”

Huelskoetter points out that you can usually send a photo to your provider via your online patient portal. Then the provider can advise what to do.

Getting help

If someone suffers a minor injury on the water, you can treat it with a first aid kit until you return home. If it’s a major injury like a concussion, gently move the person out of the water and onto a flat surface. Gentle movements are critical to prevent further injury like paralysis. Call 9-1-1 and meet first responders on land. A charged phone is crucial for a day outdoors, but signal can lack in rural areas. So it never hurts to have a global positioning system (GPS) device, too.

Interview clips

Play, but stay safe this snowmobile season

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:15:14 -0600

John Bednar, MD, hasn’t been on a snowmobile in years, but he’s seen firsthand what can happen to drivers and passengers if they don’t take proper precautions on the snowmobile trails.

Every year, 14,000 injuries and nearly 200 deaths are the result of snowmobiling accidents, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The main causes are excess speed, alcohol, driver inexperience and poor judgment.

Snowmobile accidents range from ankle sprains to serious injuries such as brain, back and neck injuries, says Dr. Bednar, an emergency room physician with OSF HealthCare. He compares these accidents to the trauma seen in motorcycle mishaps.

“Snowmobile crashes can be absolutely horrendous, life threatening and such a tragedy if you have an unexpected accident, like we see every year,” he adds. “Deaths, severe spinal injuries, pelvic fractures, multiple broken bones that can be devastating, devastating injuries and totally unexpected when you're out there to have fun.”

The biggest danger, without question, is consuming alcohol or drugs while using a snowmobile.

“I've seen very few snowmobile accidents that did not have some sort of intoxication involved or other preventive kind of reckless behavior,” says Dr. Bednar. “Intoxication, number one, by far, seems to be most involved in the crashes I've seen over the decades.”

Dr. Bednar says if it’s not alcohol related, the other common factor in snowmobile accidents is not being familiar with the surroundings. That’s especially the case for snowmobilers who travel away from home to ride in other parts of the Midwest.

“Know your trail and stay on your trail,” Dr. Bednar says. “If it's a well-known, well-marked trail, then you're much less likely to hit a stump, hit a rock, get off course, hit the tree, because that's when we see the crashes. When they don't know their trail, they use excessive speed, or they get off course, that's when they hit the tree or the rock, and those things don't like moving, and our heads don't like sudden stops.”

Whether you’re driving your snowmobile day or night, it’s imperative to watch your speed – especially if you’re inexperienced or driving at night when visibility is limited.

Always wear proper protective gear when riding a snowmobile. That includes a helmet, goggles, gloves, wrist guards, shoulder pads, chest protectors, knee protection and supportive footwear. Your equipment can keep you safe but also serves as protection from frostbite and hypothermia.

“Most snowmobilers have great gear, including their helmets,” says Dr. Bednar. “But if you are going to go on ice, if you think it is safe ice, please consider wearing a life vest underneath your gear. We’ve seen multiple tragedies on thin ice.”

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers the following tips:

Dress for the weather.
Check the weather forecast and road conditions.
Carry appropriate equipment for your activity, such as a flashlight, rope, ice picks or ice claws.
Have spare equipment available in case something breaks.
Stay hydrated and fueled – bring water and snacks.
Bring a buddy.
Tell others where you will be, how long you plan to be gone and schedule check-in times.
Carry a two-way communication device that receives service in remote areas.
Take an honest assessment of your health – if you’re not feeling well, don’t go out.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a sled head, these tips will ensure a safer trail ride this season.

Interview Clips

Stay safe on the water, part two

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Author's note: this is part two of a story on outdoor water safety. Click here for part one.

More sun and rising mercury mean people will head outdoors to lakes and forests. But something as simple as drinking river water can lead to an illness that derails your spring.

Bethany Huelskoetter, APRN, a family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare, hits the major safety points about leisure time on the water.

Bug bites: Coat yourself with bug spray to start the day, and avoid hanging out in tall grass where pests can hide. If your bug bite comes with skin tissue damage, chest pain, muscle cramps, sweating or nausea, see a provider right away. Also, watch for a rash in the shape of a bullseye, which is common with tick bites. To remove a tick, use tweezers to get close to the skin, and gently pull the insect out. Avoid twisting and yanking.
Life jackets: Illinois and Michigan outline their life jacket laws. And some additional suggestions from Huelskoetter: for young kids, use a life jacket that straps on like a diaper. Life jackets that go over the chest could come up over the child’s head, and they could slip out or have trouble breathing. And read the life jacket label to make sure it’s right for you based on your chest size and weight.

Huelskoetter also says a life jacket or any wet object has a risk of mold. So, dry the life jackets by hanging them in the sun.
Fire extinguishers: Like life jackets, Illinois and Michigan laws require a United States Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher on board most watercraft. Boat fires do happen, Huelskoetter says, and a fire extinguisher can mean the difference between a small fire and an explosion.
Dirty water: It’s tough for kids who want to explore, but Huelskoetter says you should keep lake water out of your eyes and mouth. For kids, that could mean wearing goggles.

“There are bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms that can get in your eyes. Also, don’t open your mouth underwater. You don’t want to drink that water,” Huelskoetter says. “If you swim in a lake and your eyes get red or itchy, that’s a sign you might have an infection from an organism in the water. So we want to put you on the proper antibiotic or whatever medication we feel is best.

If you drink the water, gastrointestinal upset can occur. If you have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, you definitely want to be seen by a provider. We’ll do testing to determine what bacteria or parasite you came in contact with so we can treat appropriately,” Huelskoetter adds.
Alcohol: Drinking responsibly can be a part of your day on the water. But Huelskoetter says the rules are just like on land: A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% is the legal limit, so be aware if you’re the boat captain.
Fumes: My group is in the open air. How much should we worry about boat exhaust?

Huelskoetter says you should be fine, but make sure your watercraft has good ventilation. You can also buy carbon monoxide detectors made to clip on boats or life jackets. This can be extra helpful if your boat has an enclosed cabin, Huelskoetter points out.
Spoiled food: Of course, you’ll want to eat on your boating or fishing trip. That could include perishable items like a sandwich.

Putting the food and drink in an ice-filled cooler isn’t enough, Huelskoetter says.

“Keeping your cooler covered and out of the sun is going to do wonders. It’ll keep that ice nice and cool,” she says.

“Never eat anything that’s been sitting out, and now it’s hot,” Huelskoetter adds. “Once food reaches room temperature, you want to be careful. You can go by smell, too. If it doesn’t smell right, don’t eat it.”

Getting help

Have a first aid kit for minor injuries. For major injuries like a head or limb wound, gently move the person to land and call 9-1-1. The word “gently” is important to avoid further injury like paralysis.

Experts also point out that cell phone service can be spotty in the wilderness. So you should also have a global positioning system (GPS) device.

Interview clips

Be Smart When Clearing Old Man Winter’s Snow

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:40:00 -0500

Winter weather will be here soon. That could make for a lot of snow shoveling, and the potential for serious injury.

More than 195,000 people are injured every year due to accidents from snow shoveling with the majority of injuries back, head, broken bones, or heart attacks/strokes.

While most people won't have a problem, shoveling snow can increase the risk of heart attack because of excess exertion coupled with the cold weather. It is recommended those over 55 or anyone with a previous heart-related issue get the okay from their doctor before picking up a shovel or pushing a heavy snow blower.

But, more often, snow shoveling leads to injuries caused by improper shoveling technique, especially with wet, heavy snow.

“You should take small bites with the shovel, take little loads, try not to take giant loads. Snow can be very heavy and it's repetitive. Try not to twist with your back, lift with your legs and make sure that you have a good working snow shovel that’s the right size for the job,” explains Dr. John Hafner, emergency medicine physician at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois.

OSF Saint Francis sees more than 76,000 emergency department visits each year. Dr. Hafner says it’s easy to overdo when it comes to clearing snow.

Another risk for everyone during the winter months is ice, which can cause falls leading to broken bones, or even serious head injuries.

“This time of year there's a lot of ice and there's often times ice underneath the snow when we have repetitive thaw and freeze cycles. So you have a very careful about hidden ice and, again, it's much more important for you to not have an injury then to worry so much about clearing things. If you can avoid it, try to stay off the ice whenever possible,” said Dr. Hafner.

He also reminds everyone to bundle up properly when heading outside, including wearing a hat and gloves in addition to layers under a coat. He says prolonged skin exposure to the cold air can cause frost bite or hypothermia in a relatively short period of time as the temperatures drop.

Check out more snow shoveling safety tips here.