Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has been named to the Honor Roll for the 11th consecutive year. It also tied for #1 in California and Los Angeles.

Cedars-Sinai Health System affiliates Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Huntington Health also earned high state and local rankings. Torrance Memorial Medical Center ranked #7 in California and #4 in Los Angeles, while Huntington Health was #10 in California and #5 in Los Angeles.

“These strong results are a credit to the dedicated healthcare professionals and staff who work every day to advance our four-part mission of healing, discovery, education and community service,” said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System.

The U.S. News rankings, released Tuesday, are based on patient outcomes, patient experience, ability to handle complex medical conditions and a variety of other health-related measures.

U.S. News identified the nation’s top 20 hospitals for the Honor Roll based on their high rankings and ratings in multiple specialties, procedures and conditions.

The publication also ranked the top hospitals by clinical specialties in the U.S.

Ten Cedars-Sinai Medical Center specialties were ranked among the best in the nation, including three that ranked in the top five:

• Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery (#4)
• Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#3)
• Orthopedics (#5)

In addition to the above specialties, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (#9) was ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Three specialties also were #1 in California (highest U.S. News ranking in the region):

• Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery
• Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
• Orthopedics

Those three were #1 in Los Angeles along with Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Three Cedars-Sinai Health System affiliate hospital specialties also ranked nationally:

• Torrance Memorial Medical Center Orthopedics (#27)
• Torrance Memorial Medical Center Obstetrics & Gynecology (#44)
• Huntington Health Obstetrics & Gynecology (#33-tie)

Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital ranked as “High-Performing” in Common Adult Procedures and Conditions, including Back Surgery, Diabetes, Heart Failure, Hip Fracture, Hip Replacement and Pneumonia.

Slavin said the strong rankings reflect Cedars-Sinai’s patient-care philosophy, even during a time of profound change in the healthcare industry.

“We are driven by an enduring commitment to improve the health of patients in Los Angeles and across the globe,” he said. “That is our most important priority.”

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University is advancing groundbreaking research and educating future leaders in medicine, biomedical sciences and allied health sciences. Learn more about the university.

Less than a month since the season began in late March, Huntington Hospital’s Emergency Department is already seeing an uptick in hiking‑related injuries ranging from snake bites and broken bones to heat illness and cardiac emergencies.

The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom interviewed Amal Obaid-Schmid, MD, Huntington’s medical director of Trauma Services, and Janet Henderson, RN, clinical director of Huntington’s Emergency Department and a member of the Montrose Search and Rescue Team, about the most common hiking injuries they treat and how hikers can stay safe when they hit the trails.

What types of hiking injuries do you see most frequently in the Emergency Department?

Henderson: The most common injuries we see from hiking are falls—people slipping, losing their footing, or falling down a slope. These can lead to fractures, lacerations, and sometimes head or spinal injuries. We also see injuries from falling rocks or boulders, especially after heavy rain or wildfire damage has weakened trails.

Obaid-Schmid: Yes, the severity can range widely. Some hikers come in with sprains or simple cuts, while others have internal bleeding or organ injuries, such as a ruptured spleen. The mechanism of injury, how someone falls or what strikes them, matters a great deal.

Reports of falling rocks and boulders have been rising. What makes these injuries challenging?

Obaid-Schmid: We’ve treated hikers with multiple fractures, head injuries and internal bleeding after being struck by falling boulders. In one recent incident, two large boulders broke loose on the same day and injured two hikers at the same time. Both required emergency transport.

Henderson: Many of these rescues require helicopters because ambulances can’t access the terrain. When helicopters can’t fly due to weather or low visibility, it can take hours to get someone out, which delays lifesaving care.

If someone is injured, should they try to keep hiking to get help?

Obaid-Schmid: No. Trying to “walk it off” is one of the biggest mistakes we see. If there’s any chance you’ve fractured a bone, continuing to bear weight can significantly worsen the injury and complicate recovery. The safest option is to stop, stay put and call for help.

Henderson: It’s important to make yourself visible and, if possible, have someone go for help. Staying still often prevents a bad situation from becoming catastrophic.

How big of a concern are heat‑related illnesses?

Obaid-Schmid: Heat illness is one of the most common hiking‑related medical issues we treat, especially as temperatures rise. Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke can all become life‑threatening if people ignore early symptoms.

Henderson: People should hike early in the morning, bring more water than they think they’ll need, and know when to turn around. Finding shade, using sun‑protective clothing and pacing yourself go a long way.

What about wildlife dangers on local trails?

Henderson: Rattlesnake bites are a real concern in warmer months, especially since trails can be overgrown and snakes are easy to miss.

Obaid-Schmid: If someone is bitten, they should seek medical care immediately. Do not cut the wound, suck out venom, burn the skin or use a tourniquet. Those myths cause more harm than good. Hospitals carry antivenom, which is very effective when given quickly.

Mountain lions pose the most serious wildlife risk, though encounters are rare. Coyotes may also approach humans, particularly if food is present. Hikers are advised to stay alert and avoid wearing headphones that limit awareness.

What first‑aid skills make the biggest difference before rescue arrives?

Henderson: Basic splinting for suspected fractures and knowing how to recognize allergic reactions are also important. Hikers with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or severe allergies should always carry their medications—including EpiPens—on longer hikes.

Obaid-Schmid: Every hiker should know how to stop bleeding. Applying direct pressure, packing a wound or using a tourniquet can be lifesaving while waiting for help. Huntington and Cedars-Sinai offer a Stop the Bleed program that provides this important instruction to the community.

Beyond hiking injuries, what other serious medical emergencies can happen on the trail?

Obaid-Schmid: While rare, we’ve treated cardiac arrests that occurred during hikes, particularly in people with known heart conditions. Knowing your limits and choosing hikes appropriate for your health is essential.

Henderson: Shorter, less strenuous hikes done more frequently can still provide the benefits of being outdoors without putting someone at unnecessary risk.

Is it safe to rely on a cell phone for emergencies?

Henderson: Cell service is unreliable in many hiking areas. One of the simplest safety steps is telling someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. That information often triggers rescue efforts.

Obaid-Schmid: GPS trackers or emergency beacon devices can also add an extra layer of safety, especially on remote trails. Hiking should be enjoyable, not dangerous. With a little planning and common sense, people can dramatically reduce their risk and safely enjoy the outdoors this summer.

Read More from Stories and Insights: Should I Go to Urgent Care or the ER?

The federal agency annually rates more than 2,000 hospitals nationwide on a one-to-five-star scale, giving patients a widely recognized way to compare hospital performance. The ratings, published on Medicare's Care Compare website, evaluate hospitals on more than 50 quality measures across five areas: mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Torrance Memorial Medical Center each earned five-star ratings, the highest mark of excellence. Only 12.5% of the 2,277 hospitals rated nationwide achieved five stars.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center earned a five-star rating for the ninth consecutive year. Torrance Memorial advanced from four stars last year to five stars this year.

Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital earned a four-star rating for the third consecutive year, joining only 29% of hospitals nationwide to reach that mark in 2026.

Huntington Hospital did not receive a published rating for 2026 after it asked to exclude some data due to the impact of the nearby Eaton Fire and its transition to a new electronic medical record system. However, CMS quality and patient experience data publicly reported across each of the five CMS domains reflected Huntington’s ongoing commitment to excellent care for its community.

“These extraordinary results reflect our sustained efforts to provide excellent, safe, timely and effective care at each of our hospital sites,” said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System.

Slavin pointed to advances made by teams at the hospitals who worked to lower readmission rates for the most vulnerable patients, reduce hospital-associated infections and improve patient experience.

“I feel tremendous pride in our achievements across Cedars-Sinai Health System,” Slavin said. “I am deeply grateful to all our healthcare professionals for their daily commitment to our mission of healing and to the health and wellbeing of our patients and communities. It is a privilege to work among colleagues driven by such strong dedication.”

Read more from Cedars-Sinai Stories and Insights: Creating a Lasting Legacy

“Dr. Corman exemplifies the values and vision of Huntington Health and Cedars-Sinai Health System,” said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System. “His commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and patient-centered care will strengthen Huntington’s role as a trusted partner in advancing the health of the communities we serve.” 

Dr. Corman brings exceptional leadership experience and a deep dedication to healthcare quality, innovation and patient-centered care. Since joining Huntington in May 2023 as chief clinical officer, and serving as interim president for several months, he has connected with physicians, clinical teams and stakeholders to align practices that promote quality outcomes and patient experiences. 

“Dr. Corman has earned the trust and respect of our medical staff through his thoughtful, collaborative approach and consistent focus on patient care,” said Wafaa Alrashid, MD, chief of staff at Huntington Hospital. “His leadership reflects a deep understanding of both clinical practice and the patient experience, and we are confident in his ability to guide Huntington forward.” 

With more than two decades of clinical and executive leadership—including roles as chief clinical officer and medical director at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health—Dr. Corman is recognized for his strategic insight, collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to excellence. A board-certified urologist, he has performed more than 2,000 minimally invasive surgeries, published in leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and served as a clinical professor for more than 20 years. 

“Dr. Corman’s proven track record in clinical excellence and strategic leadership makes him the ideal choice to lead Huntington Health,” said Paul Johnson, chair of the Huntington Health board of directors. “On behalf of our entire board of directors, we are thrilled to welcome him to this post.” 

As president, Dr. Corman will focus on quality care, patient experience and strengthening Huntington’s role as a trusted local institution within Cedars-Sinai Health System. His leadership will guide Huntington into its next chapter of innovation and community partnership. 

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom: After the Wildfires—Huntington Health Expands Lung Care

“I noticed it most when I lay down to sleep,” said Scott, whose family has lived in Altadena for three generations. “I could hear wheezing, I could hear a lot of wheezing, which I had never experienced before.”

Scott is not the only one. Since the wildfires ravaged the area, residents have been seeking help for symptoms that indicate difficulty breathing, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and fatigue.

“We know that heavy exposure to wildfire smoke can have a delayed and long-term impact on lung function,” said Talar Kavafyan, MD, medical director of the ambulatory care center at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai. “Following the devastating fires our community experienced in January, providing enhanced pulmonary care is an important step in recovery—and an important example of how Huntington is dedicated to improving community wellbeing.”

So dedicated that, in response to the potential health impact in the wake of the fires, Huntington Health recently expanded pulmonary medicine for the community at the Huntington Ambulatory Care Center (HACC).  

The expansion came just in time for Scott, who continued to have difficulty breathing months after the flames were extinguished. “I began to talk to my primary physician about it,” Scott said, “and I kept telling her I don't feel like I'm getting a good capacity of air.”

That is a symptom that Raj Dasgupta, MD, has heard from dozens of patients who lived through the wildfires.

“It's understandable to be concerned when someone is having difficulty breathing [dyspnea], which is the sensation of not being able to get enough air, tightness in the chest, or working harder to breathe,” said Dasgupta, associate professor of Clinical Medicine and associate program director of Huntington Health’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. “By offering a wider range of tests in an outpatient setting, we can potentially detect pulmonary issues earlier and initiate treatment more quickly, which can lead to better outcomes and help bring some peace of mind to our patients who might be experiencing pulmonary issues right here in our community.”

Conditions frequently treated by the center’s physicians include asthma; chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis; persistent cough; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); lung scarring, or fibrosis; and sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that causes growths on the lungs.

“When you arrive at HACC, the first step of treatment is to collect information about your lungs and their function,” Dasgupta said. “We do this by conducting a breathing test in our office called spirometry, which is a valuable tool for diagnosing, monitoring and evaluating lung function. It provides essential information for managing lung conditions and improving respiratory health. After additional tests and evaluations, we then discuss the next steps to best support your lung health. Remember,  difficulty breathing and coughing can have various causes, and it's essential to seek medical evaluation for a proper diagnosis and treatment.” 

The pulmonary clinic is open every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 1–5 p.m. For an appointment, call (626) 397-5711.

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Blog: How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect Your Health?

“We’ll take care of you,” they told her.

Sanchez, 29, had been a patient at Pasadena-based Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, for months. She and her husband were airlifted there after a near-fatal head-on collision in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles. She had grown close to the trauma surgeons, nurses and other providers who saved their lives and cared for them throughout their long recoveries.

Her caregivers’ prompting to always listen to her body and her confidence in their expertise led Sanchez back to the medical center two years later when she felt a lump in her breast and felt certain it was cancer.

“There are closer hospitals to where I live, but I knew the doctors and nurses at Huntington cared about my health and wellbeing,” Sanchez said. “If they were able to save me after my car accident, I knew they would take great care of me during cancer, as well.”

Today, thanks to Huntington Cancer Center, Sanchez is cancer-free.

While Sanchez’s intuition about where to go for cancer care was spot-on, her medical oncologist, Niki Tank, MD, praised her for immediately noticing a change in her body and seeking a diagnosis.

“I remind patients they are their own best advocate and to not be intimidated by the medical system,” Tank said. “Wendy paid attention to her body and her instincts, and she is doing well today. Her future is very, very bright.”

Healing Habit Sparks Discovery

The car accident in 2022 left Sanchez with a fractured collarbone, ribs and sternum; a broken lumbar spine; a broken tibia and fibula; and damaged internal organs. Surgeons had to remove her colon and two feet of her small intestine. Multiple surgeries to repair her body left her with additional scars.

Her plastic surgeon, Sanjeev Puri, MD, recommended a therapeutic ointment for a long scar stretching from her abdomen to her chest. Applying the ointment became part of her nightly routine.

One evening, smoothing the ointment up her torso, she felt a lump just above her breast.

“I panicked,” Sanchez said. “I told my husband, ‘I think I’m touching cancer.’”

The next morning Sanchez went to her doctor at Huntington Ambulatory Care Center. A subsequent mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy led to a diagnosis of triple-positive ductal carcinoma. This type of breast cancer has receptors for estrogen, progesterone and HER2 and can be treated with targeted therapies.  

Tank, who specializes in breast cancer for adolescents and young adults (people ages 15 to 39), said triple-positive ductal carcinoma is more common in women younger than 50.

“Breast cancer among people in Wendy’s age group tends to be very aggressive and spread quickly,” Tank said.

Sanchez’s cancer was diagnosed at stage 1, meaning it had not spread. But the tumor cells in the breast were large.

Her care team, including Tank and surgical oncologist Amy Polverini, MD, advised chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy.

“I didn’t need a second opinion,” Sanchez said. “I trusted them immediately.”

On May 2, 2025, Polverini removed the tumor, five lymph nodes and Sanchez’s breasts. When Sanchez later underwent breast reconstruction, her plastic surgeon of choice was Puri—who had recommended the scar ointment that led to her discovery of the lump.

Breast Cancer in Young Women

Breast cancer among women under 50 is on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, the number of cases has increased about 1.4% each year since 2012—double the rate seen in older women. A 2024 JAMA Network study showed rising rates of hormone receptor-positive tumors in younger women.

Experts are not entirely sure why.

Sanchez asked Tank if extreme trauma to her body from the car accident could have spurred cancer.

“There are things we still don’t know about why breast cancer develops,” Tank told Sanchez, who was not at high risk to develop the disease.

“While the data isn’t conclusive, there may be a link between physical trauma, the body’s stress response and inflammation that can create an environment where cancer cells thrive. But this doesn’t mean car accidents cause cancer.”

Among known breast cancer risk factors are family history of the disease, tobacco and alcohol use, and a diet of heavily processed foods.

In another nod to the importance of self-advocacy, Tank noted that because Sanchez was not at high risk for developing breast cancer, she would not have been screened for the disease at her age. American Cancer Society guidelines recommend mammogram screening for women at average risk beginning at 45.

A Full New Life

Sanchez is embracing her new life and new memories these days. She and her husband are just back from Disney World, still on a Magic Kingdom high.

“Looking back, I can’t believe everything I’ve survived,” Sanchez said. “I miss the life I had before, but I’m living this new life to the fullest.”

As she left a recent doctor’s appointment, Sanchez met another breast cancer survivor who shared that it had been 30 years since her own diagnosis.

Sanchez smiled.

“I look forward to saying that one day, too,” she said.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: 7 Tips to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk

After her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, independent filmmaker Kailee McGee decided not to leave her director’s chair. Instead, she leaned in and produced an award-winning short film about her experience. And, thanks to her care team at

“I'm on the other side of active treatment,” said McGee, who turned 37 in August. “I did chemotherapy, I had a double mastectomy, and I had radiation, and I'm still currently on an immunotherapy drug. But I want to point out that I'm cancer-free. I've been cancer-free for a while. I've gotten several clean scans, and that is just so exciting.”

After feeling a lump and having a mammogram and other tests, McGee was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an especially difficult type to treat. That’s because triple-negative cancer cells lack surface proteins that would make them vulnerable to estrogen receptor-targeted therapy or HER2-targeted therapy. Triple-negative is a rare type of the disease, representing only 10%-15% of breast cancers.

“Also, with treatments such as chemotherapy, those triple-negative breast cancers often outsmart the treatment. Fortunately, the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to the chemotherapy backbone represents a breakthrough in treating these cancers,” said McGee’s oncologist, Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD, director of Breast Medical Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Cancer. “Huntington Cancer Center is an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, so we were able to offer Kailee leading-edge treatment close to her home.”

The cancer had spread from the breast to the lymph nodes in McGee’s neck, and Yuan recommended treating it aggressively. McGee underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy, along with immunotherapy to help her immune system attack the cancer. After six months of therapy, she had a complete clinical response and the Cedars-Sinai Huntington Health tumor board decided to proceed with a double mastectomy. The surgery, performed by breast oncology surgeon Amy Polverini, MD, was followed by radiation treatment.

Ruth Williamson, MD, medical director of Radiation Oncology at Huntington Cancer Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, was McGee’s radiation oncologist. Williamson said that there was no evidence of active cancer after McGee’s chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and that radiation therapy reduced the risk that her cancer would return by 75%-80%.

“If there's one cell left behind in the regional lymph nodes, the cancer comes back,” Williamson said. “The radiation is extremely effective for targeting the areas where it might come back, and increasing the chance that Kailee is going to be cured of this disease.”

In the middle of treatment, McGee decided to write, produce, direct and star in a film about her experience. Called “Can,” the film won the Audience Award at South by Southwest Film Festival earlier this year.  

“Creating art has always been the way that I've processed my own life, and the world, and what's inspiring me or haunting me,” McGee said. “So I didn't really know what else to do to make sense of this experience.”

At Kailee’s side throughout was her partner, JP Bolles, also a filmmaker and director.

“I think it was incredible to see Kailee have such a drive to do something,” Bolles said, “to take the experience that she was having and make art with it, and just how beautiful that is.”

McGee credits Bolles and her film project with creating a healing environment for her.

“I know that part of the reason that I was so optimistic and strong going through this journey was because of the support that I had from JP and from my family and friends,” McGee said. “I created this community with my collaborators and my friends to heal with me in the moment. It gave me a job and a purpose, and it gave me something to think about that wasn't just going to doctor appointments and getting treatment.”

Rather than focusing on her cancer treatment, McGee’s film centers around what she calls her “existential identity crisis,” examining what it means to be a woman and an artist, and her inner struggle during treatment.

“At the beginning of cancer, I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could close that chapter and never have to think about cancer again,” McGee said. “And now my reality is that in so many different ways—health and spiritually and community-wise—cancer is just part of who I am, and it's part of my life, and it's part of my story, and the journey continues, and acceptance of that is what I want to share with this film.”

After breast reconstruction surgery later this year with James Andersen, MD, McGee will continue to be monitored by Yuan—through imaging and a new type of test that looks for cancer DNA in her blood—to make sure she stays cancer-free.

Both Yuan and Williamson found McGee’s film eye-opening, and believe it has important messages for breast cancer survivors—and all women.

“I thought it was a beautiful way of letting women with breast cancer understand, especially those who have gone through a mastectomy, that those self-image issues and those personal issues are somewhat universal,” Williamson said, “and that we can talk about them and identify those issues and help.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: How Do Your Genes Fit? Cracking the Code on Breast Cancer Risk

John Rodarte, MD, a pediatrician with Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, said planning is key to avoiding heat exhaustion and heatstroke—serious conditions that can require emergency medical attention.

“Think of heat exhaustion and heatstroke as being on a continuum, with signs of heat exhaustion signaling the start of heatstroke unless the body is cooled quickly,” said Rodarte, also a volunteer with the Montrose Search and Rescue team, helping the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department respond to wilderness emergencies.

Since the current heat wave began at the beginning of July, Rodarte said, the rescue team has been busy responding to distress calls from overheated hikers.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses excessive water and sodium, often because of overexertion, and can no longer regulate its temperature. Symptoms include a rapid heart rate, profuse sweating, muscle cramping, dizziness, headache, nausea and sometimes vomiting. If the body isn’t cooled and its temperature reaches 103 degrees, heatstroke—a medical emergency—can occur, causing confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness.

“People experiencing heat exhaustion should be cooled down quickly with ice packs, sips of cold water and rest in a shaded area,” Rodarte said. “With heatstroke, immediate first aid is needed. We use ice packs or ice baths, encourage drinking cold water and sometimes need to use intravenous fluids.”

The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom spoke with Rodarte about how people can minimize the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke during extreme summer temperatures.

When planning to be outside for an extended time, how should people prepare?

Plan activities for early morning or early evening if possible, avoiding midday, when the sun is strongest. If you’re exercising—hiking, for example—go around 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. That’s preferable to early evening because later in the day, it could get dark before you get back, and that presents another problem you may not be prepared for. Take plenty of water and a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap to help keep the face shaded and head cool.

What are other good tips for outdoor exercise?

Don’t push your limits. If you’re going on a hike, have a good meal first so your body isn’t depleted. Drink water before you feel thirsty and take constant sips; don’t wait until you’re parched, because then you’re behind the eight ball. Electrolytes are also important for longer periods of exercise, and you can get those through sports drinks. Salty snacks are good, but make sure you’re drinking enough water along with them.

Also, be aware if you’re a person who overheats quickly. My face turns bright red when I’m exercising, so I take plenty of breaks. I pour water over my head and even into my hat. I also like to wet a bandana and tie it around my neck to help my body stay cool.

How much water should individuals drink?

It’s a little hard to say because everyone is different. It depends on exertion level, what the body is used to, and if the person is accustomed to exercising in the heat. It really comes down to everyone knowing their own body and how well they need to hydrate. And if a person doesn’t know, it’s best not to go out and overexert.

When someone becomes dehydrated when hiking, it’s easy to get disoriented and lost on the trail. It doesn’t take much for that to happen, especially in extreme heat.

What should people with chronic health conditions know about being outside in the heat?

If someone has an underlying condition that affects circulation—like heart disease or kidney disease—they are not going to be able to adjust as well to heat exposure. Medications for those conditions can also make hot weather dangerous. It’s best to avoid being outside in extreme heat as much as possible.

How can parents help kids stay cool?

Kids tend to overheat more quickly, and a telltale sign is when their faces turn beet red—that means they’re pushing too hard. Make sure kids are drinking plenty of water. I encourage parents to take breaks for their kids, to add rest time to the daily schedule. If the family is sightseeing on vacation, factor in midday breaks in an air-conditioned space. Our family toured Europe a few years ago during a heat wave. We purchased a few small, hand-held, battery-operated fans to use while walking around. Those little fans saved us.

Any other tips for helping Southern Californians beat the heat?

We’re lucky that we have many areas to enjoy that are typically cooler—our beaches, the mountains, local lakes. This is a mecca for outdoor adventure, and it’s great to take advantage of that, but be smart about it. Maybe walk through the streams on your hikes instead of around them. Find ways to be active that don’t place you in the middle of the extreme heat. In other words, this is probably not the best time to go rock climbing in Joshua Tree.

Anything else to mention about heat safety?

Don’t forget about your pets. If it’s hot for you, it’s hot—and maybe hotter—for your pet. If your pet is on a hike or a run with you, take water for them. I’ve seen dogs collapse on hiking trails and need to be rescued.

If your job requires you to work outside, take breaks in a shaded area, hydrate and wear moisture-wicking, breathable clothing that protects you from the sun.

Finally, a reminder that search-and-rescue operations in L.A. County don’t cost you anything. We’ve had hikers in distress not reach out to us because they’re afraid of being charged. Don’t wait too long to call us if you need help—that’s what we’re here for. That said, prepare for an outdoor activity in the ways I mentioned and save a rescue crew from hiking—sometimes hours at a stretch in triple-digit heat—to reach you.  

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Common Medical Conditions Aggravated by Sun and Heat

Usher consulted her primary care physician, who ordered blood tests that revealed Usher had anemia, a condition caused by not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's tissues. To determine the source, Usher’s physician sent her to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy to check for polyps or cancer.

The procedure revealed the culprit of Usher’s anemia: a colon tumor that would later be diagnosed as stage 2 colon cancer. Usher, then 37 years old, was stunned. Like many, Usher thought she was too young to get colon cancer.

“I was in shock,” Usher said. “I was really like, ‘God, what are you trying to teach me here?’”

Colorectal cancer in those younger than 55 has been steadily rising by 1% to 2% during the past 30 years, according to the American Cancer Society. The increase has been driven mostly by Native Americans and white people, although Black people are still more likely to get colorectal cancer at a young age.

The rise led experts to reduce the recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screenings from 50 to 45 several years ago.  But the cause isn’t entirely clear.

“Risks of colorectal cancer can include lifestyle, obesity, a low-fiber diet, alcohol and tobacco. We attribute some of this to the rise of cancer in younger people,” said colorectal surgeon Juliane Golan, MD, with Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai. “But there may be new factors that have not been completely unearthed yet—changes in the normal bacteria in our gut that may be related to diet and environmental exposures that are leading to these increased cancers.”

Catching Cancer Early

Getting diagnosed with cancer at such a young age frightened Usher, who already had been managing two chronic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. She wasn’t expecting a third diagnosis that could possibly lead to death.

In January 2023, Golan performed robotic surgery on Usher to remove the cancerous tumor and a section of her colon.

“She had a very early-stage cancer, luckily,” Golan said. “She did not have to undergo chemotherapy. She was cured with just surgery.”

Today, Usher is 39 and grateful for her health and the new opportunities it has brought her. She is back to devouring books, recently took up watercolor painting and got married.  

“I'm feeling great now. I feel like I have a new lease on life,” Usher said. “I'm able to put things into perspective and let the little things go that maybe easily upset me before.”

Golan credits Usher’s recovery to her positive attitude and the tremendous support she received from her loved ones.

“Getting the cancer diagnosis was a big surprise to her, but she really dealt with it with such grace,” Golan said. “But one thing I think is truly important, for any patient with cancer, is she had her family. I saw her mom and her dad at every appointment. Having that familial support, whether it's actual family or close friends, I think is something really important to get patients through the cancer process.”

Usher also is thankful for her medical team at Huntington Cancer Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer. She appreciated her nurse navigator, who guided her through the surgery process, and especially Golan.

“The rise in colorectal cancer among younger patients is one of many factors that strengthens our commitment to precision detection and prevention of this disease,” said Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer and the PHASE ONE Foundation Distinguished Chair. “We are also continually opening new clinical trials to bring leading-edge therapies to these patients to improve survival rates and quality of life.”

Avoiding Cancer at a Young Age

Usher hopes her story will encourage other people to listen to their body, seek help from their physicians and get colonoscopies. Golan agrees, stressing the importance of screening, especially for adults 45-50 years old.  

“The whole point of a colonoscopy is to find precancerous lesions early, so we can take them out and they never have the chance to grow into cancer,” Golan said. “Even if we, unfortunately, find cancer or a tumor, stage 1 to 3 of colorectal cancer essentially is curable.”

To reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer, Golan says maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle is key: eating a healthy, high-fiber diet, limiting red meat, avoiding tobacco, enjoying alcohol in moderation, and getting exercise.

She also encourages young people to watch for symptoms like unexplained blood in their stool, darkening of the stool and abdominal pain. She recommends getting established with a primary care provider who can order routine, annual lab tests to check for anemia.

“If you're having those symptoms, seek care,” Golan said. “Don't just assume it's something normal or benign, like hemorrhoids. Make sure that it's nothing more serious.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: The Need for Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Hispanic Community

Building on decades of local experience, Congress Orthopaedic Associates Inc. and Risser Orthopaedic Group will continue to offer high-quality, personalized and coordinated care to patients.

The two groups have formed one comprehensive practice that will strengthen a shared commitment by Cedars-Sinai and Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, to enhance the wellbeing of patients across the region. The practices’ combined 29 specialists and support staff serve patients at locations in Pasadena and Arcadia.

“We are proud to welcome two of the most trusted orthopaedic practices in the San Gabriel Valley to Cedars-Sinai, expanding our ability to provide comprehensive orthopedic services to the local community through Huntington Health,” said Jill Martin, executive vice president of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network.

Huntington Health will continue as the primary hospital to admit and provide high-quality orthopedic services—including total joint replacements and spine surgery—to Congress and Risser patients, as it has done for years.

“By working even more closely with these two outstanding practices, we can offer members of the community an even better, more coordinated experience throughout their care journey,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Huntington Health. “We look forward to continuing to support these groups in providing high-quality orthopedic care in the San Gabriel Valley.”

The specialists at Congress and Risser offer expert care in general orthopedics and specialty areas, including knee, ankle, foot and hip, hand and wrist, shoulder and elbow, and neck and spine, as well as joint replacement, sports medicine, occupational medicine and orthopedic oncology. Physicians and staff provide a wide range of innovative treatment options, including noninvasive approaches and minimally invasive surgery. They also offer advanced diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation services such as physical therapy.

Congress is a well-known medical name in the area, where it has served patients for more than 60 years. It now has offices in Pasadena and Arcadia.

“For more than six decades, Congress Orthopaedic Associates has been dedicated to offering high-quality patient care, leading-edge research and comprehensive patient education,” said William M. Costigan, MD, director of the Congress Associates Center for Spinal Surgery and Study. “We look forward to furthering that commitment through our new relationship with Cedars-Sinai and Huntington Health.”

Risser’s history in Pasadena dates to the 1930s, when its founder, Joseph C. Risser, MD, began providing orthopedic care in the community. Risser’s current leaders said they look forward to enhancing services for communities that have long come to rely on the group for high-quality orthopedic care.

“Providing expert care close to where patients work and live in the San Gabriel Valley helps support the best outcomes for our patients,” said Daniel Laster, MD, medical director of Risser Orthopaedic Group. “Our patients have been at the center of all that we do, and we look forward to caring for them for many years to come.”

According to the L.A. County Department of Health, accidental fentanyl deaths increased 1,652% between 2016 and 2022.

The numbers are shocking, and so is the patient population. No longer is the epidemic of overdoses limited to regular drug users. Today, emergency medicine experts say it’s common to treat overdosing patients who had no idea they had ingested fentanyl.

At Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, healthcare workers are trying to change that. A team of doctors, pharmacists and nurses is traveling to schools, libraries and community centers to educate people about the opioid crisis and the importance of knowing what to do when witnessing an overdose.

Cedars-Sinai’s Newsroom spoke with Huntington Health Emergency Department Pharmacist Evan Adintori, PharmD, and Emergency Physician Sam Beckerman, MD, PhD, about their work to  curb the fentanyl epidemic.

Why is fentanyl so dangerous?

Sam Beckerman, MD, PhD: Fentanyl is an extremely powerful and very effective drug that we use every day in the hospital, but it has made its way into the illicit drug supply in our country. It is an extremely powerful and potent drug, an opiate like heroin, but you need like 1/100th the amount of fentanyl compared to heroin to make you overdose and stop breathing.

Evan Adintori, PharmD: People are buying medication that they don’t have a prescription for, such as anxiety medications, and they are buying it online or in the street, and in many cases, these pills are laced with fentanyl, which can lead to potentially fatal overdoses by unsuspecting customers.

Who is at risk for a fentanyl overdose?

Beckerman: It's not just people who use drugs regularly. It's anybody who experiments with drugs, anybody who takes pills, anybody who might have gotten a pill from a friend for a headache, or being told that this is like a study drug. We're seeing it creep into our high schools and middle schools. What we're seeing—and the language that I like to use is that we're basically seeing fentanyl poisonings. These are people who oftentimes had no intention of taking fentanyl, or no intention of taking an opiate, but they end up ingesting a potentially lethal dose, without knowing it, and can die as a result of it. 

What does a fentanyl overdose look like? 

Adintori: There are several major signs to look for. If their pupils are what we call pinpoint pupils, they become very, very small, like the size of a point of a pin. In addition, they might be breathing very slowly or very irregularly. If you try to wake them up, they may not respond very well. They might seem very drowsy, and no matter how hard you shake them, they're not waking up. Those are some of the major signs of a fentanyl overdose. 

What action should you take if you suspect someone has overdosed on fentanyl? 

Beckerman: If somebody has a fentanyl overdose or a suspected fentanyl overdose, there's now an over-the-counter medication called Narcan or naloxone that can be given to people who are suffering from an opiate overdose. It can help them start breathing again and give people enough time to call 911 and get paramedics and have patients be brought to the emergency room while they're still breathing, as opposed to having the paramedics bring us somebody who's already died because they stopped breathing.

How do you use naloxone?

Adintori: Naloxone is very easy to use. It's designed so that anybody can use it while waiting for help to arrive. There is one dose per device and there are usually two devices in every box. If you believe someone is experiencing an overdose, you want to lay them down on their right side in case they have any adverse effects, or if they vomit, it won't go in their airway. You insert the device into the patient's nose, and you push the button. You only have to push it once. It will administer a single dose. And then if the person does not respond, you can administer another dose using the second device. It does not matter which nostril it goes in. You do not have to divide it between nostrils. The most important thing is that you just insert the device, push the button, and the dose is administered. This medication reverses the effects on someone's breathing. It only works for opioid medications; it will not work for other types of overdoses. However, if someone is experiencing an overdose from an opioid, it'll help them to start breathing again, and it will give you time for help to arrive. 

What do you want the public to know about naloxone? 

Beckerman: It's something we feel really strongly about. It's a very safe medication. It has a long shelf life. It doesn't require special handling. It's very similar to the nasal sprays that people use for their everyday allergy medications. And we recommend that people keep this medicine next to their fire extinguisher in their house, and that they have it available. We try to provide it to people in a judgment-free way, especially in light of the fact that the people who are at risk of having a fentanyl overdose these days are any human beings who might encounter a pill. One of our goals is to remove the stigma for having this in your first-aid kit in your house, just like you would a fire extinguisher or gauze or Band-Aids, because you just don't know these days. 

What are you and your team doing to educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl and the benefits of naloxone?

Adintori: We've gone to a fair number of schools within the area as well as libraries and community centers, and we've been able to educate as many people as we can on the opioid crisis and using naloxone. We've had extremely positive feedback. We've had schools invite us for the next years, so we can continue to educate some of their students and parents, especially some of the freshman classes at the high schools.

Beckerman: One of our main messages is that we know that people will likely still continue to experiment with potentially dangerous drugs, so our goal is to inform them of what those risks are if they choose to do so. Our main goal is to save as many lives as possible because it's now the case where if someone—maybe they decided to try something new just this once—we don't want that to be the last mistake someone makes. We want to empower them and the people around them to know what to do in that situation and potentially save a life.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Talking to Your Kids About Drugs

Huntington Health has added numerous highly respected and deeply rooted local physicians through the affiliation, enhancing and expanding local access to expert care and services in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. Among these: cancer; cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery; obstetrical and gynecological care; pediatric subspecialty services; and otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat).

“We chose to affiliate with Cedars-Sinai for many reasons, including their commitment to grow care at a local level to build healthy, strong communities,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Huntington Health. “Under this guiding principle, we’ve come a long way in two short years.”

Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System, credits the commitment of teams at both organizations for the affiliation’s early achievements.

“When we welcomed Huntington Health into the Cedars-Sinai family in August 2021, we were excited about the many opportunities to collaborate, as well as the opportunity to share resources and expertise,” Priselac said. “It is very gratifying that we already have up-and-running collaborations and new information-technology platforms in place that are benefiting patients.”

The accomplishments of the affiliation include:

• Patient care/patient experience—Huntington Health launched CS-Link, a secure, electronic medical records system that enables patients to communicate with their doctors, schedule appointments and access their personal health information. A newly created software system—designed to enhance and simplify the billing/payment experience for patients—also has been implemented.
   
• Cancer care—Huntington Cancer Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, has seen tremendous growth in dedicated personnel and services. Additional physicians have joined Huntington Health to expand the already expert roster of skilled clinicians who provide comprehensive cancer care—from diagnosis through surgery and recovery. There are expanded capabilities for infusion for chemotherapy and direct access to Cedars-Sinai Cancer clinical trials.
   
• Cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery—Expert surgeons have joined the Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery Program at Huntington Health to offer a wide range of lifesaving and life-enhancing surgeries to local patients. New, innovative treatment options include robotic valve repair, coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic root and arch surgery, surgical treatment of arrhythmias and minimally invasive thoracic surgery, making this a state-of-the-art program in the San Gabriel Valley. Cedars-Sinai is pleased that cardiac surgeon Robbin Cohen, MD, has joined the faculty and serves as director of the Cardiac Surgery Program at Huntington Health and professor of Cardiac Surgery in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai.  
  
  These surgeons enable San Gabriel Valley residents to access the full spectrum of coordinated care offered by the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Cedars-Sinai is best in California and #2 in the U.S. for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery, according to U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2023-24" rankings.
   
• Otolaryngology—Cedars-Sinai’s nationally recognized Otolaryngology Program is now available to adult and pediatric patients throughout the San Gabriel Valley who have conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat.
   
• OB-GYN—Fair Oaks Women’s Health, one of the most respected and longstanding obstetrical and gynecological practices in the San Gabriel Valley, joined Cedars-Sinai in May. With six specialists, it will provide patients access to an even greater network of specialized care.
   
• Pediatric care—Huntington Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and pediatric physicians now have access to Cedars-Sinai pediatric subspecialists via teleconsultations. The affiliation also enables direct transfers to Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s for the most complicated conditions. Outpatient pediatric care in endocrinology and cardiology is also now available at Huntington Health.

“We are so pleased with the progress this partnership has made over the past two years, and I’m confident that these strides point to continued success in the years ahead,” Priselac said.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Heart Disease | When to Get a Second Opinion

adolescents and young adults.

“Dr. Patel is a terrific addition to the Huntington Cancer Center team,” said Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer and the PHASE ONE Distinguished Chair. “She excels at treating patients and working in clinical trial development and survivorship care—all key in offering the highest-quality service throughout the communities we serve. Working closely with young people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer is of special interest to Dr. Patel, and we are gratified to benefit from her expertise.”

Patel earned her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai, where she later served as chief medical resident. She completed a hematology-oncology fellowship at City of Hope and later directed the City of Hope Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program.

“We greatly value all that Dr. Patel brings to breast cancer patients at Huntington,” said Howard Kaufman, MD, regional medical director of Huntington Cancer Center. “She is known for her compassion, kindness and utmost competence, and we’re thrilled that patients throughout the San Gabriel Valley have the opportunity to be treated and cared for by her.”

Patel said that she values the caring, family feel that Cedars-Sinai and Huntington Cancer Center are known for, especially the connection to patients.

“The human element of medicine is what has always most appealed to me, and that is an important part of the Cedars-Sinai culture that I’ve also found at Huntington Cancer Center,” Patel said. “Through oncology, I enjoy developing meaningful relationships with patients and offering them the most innovative treatment options—both of which can change the face of their cancer journey.”

Patel’s career was inspired by her father, a pediatrician in a small, central California town. Some of her most cherished memories are of accompanying him to the hospital nursery to check on patients, and even going with him on house calls.

“I loved that he got to help make people feel better,” Patel said. “I grew up wondering why everyone wouldn’t want to do this as a career.”

Throughout her residency at Cedars-Sinai, Patel was impressed with the team’s approach to compassionate patient care. During her third year, while working with breast cancer patients, she found her calling.

Patel has a special interest in exploring how food, exercise and intermittent fasting can improve care for all cancer patients and survivors. In her work with adolescents and young adults with breast cancer at Huntington Cancer Center, she strives to make sure patients feel more empowered.

“The teen years, 20s and 30s are a pivotal time, and when you are told you have breast cancer and you have to take a big pause in your life for treatment, or you are going through surgery that could be disfiguring, it can feel devastating,” she said. “This demographic especially needs someone they can feel comfortable talking to. If all we do is focus on the medicine, we’re losing half the game. It’s important to me to spend as much time talking about what else is going on in patients’ lives as it is talking about their cancer.”

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: What's My Breast Cancer Risk

“Trails got washed out, and the vegetation got washed out. In some instances, actually, the roads even getting to those trails are washed out and continue to be to this moment,” said John Rodarte, MD, a pediatrician with Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai.

Rodarte also is a reserve deputy sheriff with Montrose Search and Rescue, a team of volunteers that helps the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department respond to emergencies in the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains. As a volunteer, Rodarte has treated injured hikers, bike riders, drivers and motorcyclists. Those with traumatic injuries are sometimes airlifted by helicopter to nearby Huntington Hospital, where Rodarte works. 

“It’s great having Huntington Hospital in our local community of the mountains because it's a Level II trauma center where we can send our patients,” Rodarte said. “I love being on staff there because I can also follow up on patients that I see in the field.”

Rodarte spoke with the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom about some of the hazards that hikers might encounter on the trails this summer and how to deal with them or avoid them altogether.

Damaged Trails and Roads

Heavy rains carved narrow gashes into some hiking trails while washing out others altogether or leaving trees or large rocks blocking their paths. Some roads sustained such significant damage from rockfall and other debris that they remain closed.

Eroded trails can give way, causing hikers to fall and get injured. Hikers can get turned around on a washed-out trail, ultimately getting lost. “The next thing you know, darkness comes on and they can't find their way back again,” Rodarte said.

Rodarte recommends checking online sources for the latest information on trail and road conditions before heading out. The latest comments or reviews in hiking apps like AllTrails, and real-time maps on sites like CalTrans showing current road conditions also can be useful.

“You can find so much,” Rodarte said. “Try to get the latest in terms of what trails [and roads] are actually open and be prepared that it may not be what it seems like when you read about it online.”

Getting Lost and Getting Found

One of the most common scenarios Rodarte sees as a search-and-rescue volunteer is hikers getting caught out on a trail after dark. Hikers might get lost or realize that a trail was more difficult or longer than they had anticipated. “Once it gets dark, it gets very hard to find your terrain, especially if you're not familiar with that trail already or if it’s overgrown,” he said.

To help increase the chances of being found, hikers should share their plans with others and never hit the trail alone.

“If you don't get back on time, your family or friends can say, ‘They were supposed to be back by 6 tonight. It's now 8, 9 at night,’ which is probably the time we get most of our callouts for the rescue team when someone hasn't come home,” Rodarte said.

For hikers who need to be rescued, the best thing to do is stay put.

“That way we're not chasing you while you're still moving,” Rodarte said. “The hardest thing to do is to find a moving target. So, if you can stay put for the night, find someplace safe, then we can come out and kind of look where your last known location was.”

Carrying a loud whistle also can help a hiker flag down rescuers. “It's so easy to do. Yelling is really, really hard, and after a while you lose your voice. You never want to rely on just trying to yell out for help,” Rodarte said.

Poisonous Plants

Southern California exploded with color after the rain, as green grasses, yellow mustard and orange poppies have blanketed the hills. But among that beauty lurk some poisonous plants, like the deceptively pretty poodle-dog bush, which flourishes after a fire. 

“It's a beautiful plant. It has this really nice, beautiful purple stalk with purple flowers that come up, and I've seen people picking it in the forest before,” Rodarte said. “Poison oak may give you a rash for a couple of weeks. Poodle-dog bush may give you that same kind of rash all over for a couple of months. So, avoid both of those if you can.”

Poison oak vines with their clusters of three green leaves that turn orange over the summer also have flourished on overgrown trails. Like the poodle-dog bush, the oils from this plant ignite a nasty rash and can linger on clothing and hiking gear.

Avoid touching either of these plants, and if that’s not possible, wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts and long pants. After coming in contact with these plants, wash skin as quickly as possible with soap and water or rinse off the oils with whatever is available on the trail.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Keeping Your Kids Safe This Summer: 4 Tips

About 10% of people who have had COVID-19 appear to suffer from long COVID, the debilitating condition that can last months or even years post-infection, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health. 

Shriner told “AirTalk” host Larry Mantle that early variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 were likely to produce prolonged symptoms—such as brain fog, neurocognitive dysfunction, fatigue, cardiovascular complications and joint pain. She said a wide range of individuals can develop long COVID, including those who had a bad initial illness, those with underlying autoimmune diseases or immunosuppressive disorders, and even people who don’t have any other risk factors.

“Although the acute manifestations seem to have resolved, they still have really persistent symptoms, which seemed to be quite common—certainly was with Delta, Alpha and Beta viruses, but [it] also can occur with Omicron,” Shriner told Mantle.

Long COVID can disrupt everyday life for patients and force them to take short- or long-term disability leave, Shriner said. She encouraged patients experiencing lingering symptoms to seek care at a clinic specializing in long COVID, such as the one at Huntington Health, for validation of their condition and to enroll in clinical research.

Shriner told Mantle long COVID is a serious public health concern, and she hopes that as the scientific community develops a better understanding of the condition, it will allow insights into other illnesses.

“The more we understand what’s going on with the immune system in the setting of long COVID, the more we’re going to understand about other diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome and other debilitating sort of vague diseases that interrupt people’s lives,” Shriner said.   

Click here to listen to the complete episode of “AirTalk.”

Along with the fun, though, are the very real dangers of drowning and other pool related injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children 1-4 years old die from drowning than any other cause of death.

The Cedars-Sinai Newsroom spoke with Amal Obaid-Schmid, MD, medical director of Trauma Services at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, about how to keep the children in your care safe this summer.

What are the most important pool safety rules?

Any owner of a pool should first and foremost ensure that they have a fence at least four feet high around their pool.

If children or non-experienced swimmers will be in the pool, it's very important to have adult supervision. I think asking another child to watch after their sibling, for example, is not adequate. You need a supervisor who's an adult, who is not distracted with their cell phone, or a phone call inside the house, or a conversation with another adult, really taking that role very seriously. Not letting your eye off the child is huge because drowning can happen in an instant.

Have a variety of flotation devices in and around the pool, including a life jacket, but also floating noodles or a paddle board that a drowning person can grab onto to help them get out of the pool quickly.

Have a cell phone in the pool area so that you can call for help immediately. And adults involved in pool activities should learn basic CPR.

Describe the basic CPR method?

Place the person on their back and gently lift their chin and tilt their head back.

Pinch their nose and place your mouth tightly over their mouth and administer two short breaths. Then start chest compressions, placing one hand over the other and placing them over the patient’s breastbone and administering 30 compressions. Start again with the two breaths and compressions until the patient starts breathing.

Timing is crucial so call for help and start administering CPR as quickly as possible.

What other pool related injuries should parents watch out for?

At the Emergency Department, we see significant head injuries and spinal cord injuries that come from reckless diving, and this happens more among teenagers and young adults.

To prevent diving injuries, make sure pool-goers are only using existing diving boards that are designed to dive into deep water. We see catastrophic injuries from diving from unsafe places such as roofs or patios, or diving head-first into shallow water.

Many of these injuries are alcohol related. Alcohol and swimming don’t mix. Your risk of a drowning or a near-drowning event increases 37-fold when you are consuming alcohol while swimming.

What is “dry drowning?”

Dry drowning is when you’ve had a near-drowning event that resulted in water getting into your lungs and that stimulates what’s called laryngospasm. What that means is that your airway is basically closed off so you are not getting enough oxygen and this can occur from several hours to 24 hours after the event.

The signs may be subtle and can present as coughing, vomiting, not being able to talk, or just not appearing well. if this happens you need to go to the Emergency Department or call 911 right away. Although it is very rare, dry drowning can be fatal.

The key to a fun and safe pool experience is prevention. If you have the right safety equipment and proper supervision, you can prevent most pool related injuries and drownings.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Common Breathing Problems in Kids and How to Treat Them

While Huntington will continue its local governance—with its own employees, board of directors and medical staff—the affiliation with Cedars-Sinai Health System provides for a wide variety of collaborations, as well as sharing of resources and expertise. In addition, the health system has committed to investment in Huntington Hospital in many areas, including enterprise information technology, expanded ambulatory services and enhanced physician development. Huntington’s fundraising and volunteer programs will remain locally controlled.

Over the coming months, leaders from both institutions will identify potential areas for collaboration and for sharing of resources and expertise.

“This affiliation enables Huntington to continue its longstanding tradition of providing high-quality care for our community while benefitting from the expertise and resources of Cedars-Sinai to further strengthen our mission,” said Jaynie Studenmund, chair of the Huntington Hospital Board of Directors.

“Huntington Hospital’s longstanding commitment to its community, as well as its reputation for quality along with its outstanding physicians, nurses and other staff, make it an excellent fit for the Cedars-Sinai Health System,” said Vera Guerin, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Health System Board of Directors. “We are delighted to welcome Huntington Hospital to the Cedars-Sinai family.”

Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, the CEO of Huntington noted, “Cedars-Sinai Health System has demonstrated a commitment to build on the strengths of its affiliates to advance clinical quality, provide outstanding patient care and engage with the communities it serves. Huntington will be both a strong contributor to this world-renowned, nonprofit system and enjoy the benefits of joining a larger, regional organization to preserve our legacy of compassionate, community-based care well into the future.”

“I am very impressed with the quality of care and depth of community commitment at Huntington,” said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System. “We are excited to collaborate with Huntington to continue and strengthen its role as the leading hospital in the San Gabriel Valley.