Before I headed out the door to school, a sleepover with a new friend, or soccer practice, my ER doctor dad reminded me of this acronym: S.S.A. It was a reminder to be safe, smart, and aware.
As an emergency room physician, my dad witnessed how seemingly insignificant habits—and silly mistakes—can cause some of the most horrific accidents. While broad, his motto encouraged me and my siblings to think about ways to protect ourselves and our health daily. So, after years of tips, reminders, and many eye rolls, I’ve decided to share some of his more specific wisdom from his long nights on the trauma floor.
1. Cut grapes in half
You might not have thought about this fruit safety hack, but it’s especially significant for parents of young children. More than 12,000 children are taken to the emergency room each year for food-related choking, with about one child dying every five days from choking on food. As it turns out, grapes can be a common culprit.
“To avoid the tragic risk of airway obstruction, it’s best to cut grapes (same goes for hotdogs) in half and even quarters for the littlest ones,” my dad, Dr. Michael Mikhail, a retired emergency room physician in Ann Arbor, tells Fortune. “Children (and have also seen it in adults) may inhale without adequately chewing, so mitigate the risk by cutting it up for them.”
2. Don’t wear two earbuds while walking
While wearing a chunky noise-canceling set of headphones or popping in AirPods has become a culturally accepted public look, it can limit your ability to notice a biker, red light, or pothole (looking at you, Michigan).
For those who routinely walk on bustling streets, commute to work by foot, or simply stroll to the store, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. A 2012 analysis found that pedestrian accidents when wearing earbuds have increased since 2006. More data is needed, although it could be argued this is even more prevalent today as more people embrace wireless headphones and earbuds.
“You always need to be aware of your surroundings, especially in urban traffic, and these noise-canceling accessories alter your senses and increase your risk for injury,” says Mikhail. His advice for those, like me, who can’t forgo their morning podcast? “Keep just one in your ear to enjoy while you are out and about.”
3. No trampolines
We were an anti-trampoline family growing up (often to our disappointment). However, trampolines have caused preventable injuries. One analysis found that over 800,000 injuries resulted from trampolines between 2009 and 2018, most notably fractures, strains, and skin abrasions. Due to ineffective safety measures, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages trampoline use.
“Trampolines are one of the most dangerous backyard activities responsible for many devastating injuries including fractures, head injuries, and even spinal cord damage,” Mikhail says. “Don’t be fooled by the ones with netting on the outside to catch you from tumbling out. It still doesn’t safeguard against the most concerning injuries.”
4. Avoid the pet lick
While I'm guilty of enjoying a big embrace with my miniature dachshund when I return home to Michigan, my dad cautions against letting pets lick your face. He loves Lucie, of course, but cautions that our beloved pets may carry bacteria and parasites.
“The germs that they harbor in their mouths are difficult to treat should you get infected by them, which includes intestinal worms,” he says.
Being too eager to get close to other pets you don’t know can also be dangerous. “The unfortunate thing as ER physicians is we see, sometimes, the worst of the worst. Animal bites from uninvited embraces can lead to severe disfiguring injuries," Mikhail says.
5. Remember your grippy shoes
On a Michigan game day in November, you’d be remiss not to hear my dad proudly announce how many layers of clothing he has donned for the Big House. Dressing for the weather is always important to avoid catching a cold (from 100,000 tightly packed spectators most likely) and, worse, hypothermia or frostbite from frigid temperatures. But often your footwear can be a last-minute grab. When you know you’ll be out in colder inclement weather for an extended time, wear comfortable shoes with grips, so you won’t slip. My dad recalls seeing a surge of people in the ER with broken wrists and ankles from slipping, especially the day after a snow or ice storm.
“They wear shoes with poor or no treads for ice and slick pavement,” he says.
While accidents happen, and you don’t want to live in fear, my doctor dad says it’s best to remember S.S.A. to take more control of your health and well-being with minor habit changes.
After decades of seeing preventable accidents, he has a point.
