When the temperature rises, so do the number of trips to the emergency room. Dr. Chris Fevurly should know he works in the emergency room at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

“As people are out and about, I think we see a lot more athletic-based injuries,” he said. “People are off their couches and hopefully walking and playing.

“Children in particular are involved in biking and various activities when they’re more prone to fall or slip or sprain, strain.”

Looking outside is all the evidence needed to know warmer weather is here. Parks all over the city are full of people enjoying spring sports. But whether it’s rollerblading, biking or on the playground, experts say active people have to be careful.

“There are lots of preventive measures athletes can take,” Fevurly said. “Certainly wearing appropriate protective equipment helmets, braces if you’re going to be doing rollerblading. All those things can be very helpful in preventing these injuries.”

And while spending time on the playground is generally reserved for children, injuries resulting from outdoor activities definitely aren’t child’s play.

“You can hurt yourself pretty seriously with any athletic endeavor,” he said. “The most dangerous things would be brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. Those things can be, unfortunately, life-changing.”

But don’t let fear of injury stop you from enjoying a spring sport. In fact, doctors say not engaging in some kind of activity could be even more dangerous.

“Exercise is extremely beneficial,” Fevurly said. “Probably one of the biggest (health) risks that Americans face is the lack of exercise.”

When spring fever strikes, he suggests starting with a low-impact activity such as walking or bicycling.

“I recommend that people get out and do some type of aerobic conditioning exercise for 35 minutes a day, cut out their calories, lose about 10 to 20 pounds, and they’ll feel much better,” he said.