Weekend Getaways and Road Trip Safety: Why Knowing Your Nearest ER Matters

There’s nothing like a weekend escape to recharge, be it a quick road trip, a relaxing lake day, or an outdoor adventure with the family. The bags are packed, snacks are loaded, and the playlist is on point. You’re ready to make memories.

As part of your road trip safety checklist, it’s smart to plan for the unexpected. Knowing where the nearest ER is before you leave gives you peace of mind. It’s a simple step that can make your weekend smoother, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone.

Weekends and Accidents

Weekends are prime time for fun, but also for accidents. CDC data shows the U.S. sees roughly 155 million ER visits per year, with 43 million related to injuries alone. That includes trips to the ER for falls, cuts, crashes, and other unexpected events.

In addition, unintentional injuries lead to around 26 million ER visits each year. That’s 26 million times families may have wished they knew exactly where to go for emergency care.

For teen drivers, it’s even more serious. Traffic accidents are the second-leading cause of death for teens, with about 2,800 deaths and 227,000 injuries in 2020 alone. Nearly half of these fatal crashes happen on weekends, and 40 percent occur at night. Combine that with factors like distractions, low seatbelt use, and fatigue, and the weekend road trip becomes riskier than it looks.

Why Knowing Your Nearest ER Matters

• Seconds count – In emergencies, every minute matters. Having an ER in mind or on your GPS before something happens can drastically cut response time.
• Confidence calms – You’ll feel more relaxed when fun plans include practical prep. Map it out. Memorize it. Let everyone know.
• Trust matters – Freestanding ERs like Physicians Premier are staffed with board-certified ER doctors, nurses, and imaging teams. They’re open 24/7, all year round, no appointment needed.

Safety Risks on the Road

Car crashes

• The U.S. averages about 12.9 motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 people every year.
• The South, including Texas, often sees even higher rates for crash-related ER visits, around 15 visits per 1,000 residents from crashes.
• For teens 16–19, the fatal crash rate per mile is about 3 times higher than adult drivers.
• Weekends, and especially evenings, are high-risk: 52 percent of teen motor vehicle deaths occur on Friday through Sunday, with 40 percent from 9 pm to 6 am.

Lake, trail, and outdoor fun

• More than 8.5 million people get treated in ERs for fall-related injuries each year.
• Think of slips on a dock, bike accidents along a trail, or cuts from unexpected rocks in the water – each one can lead to real medical needs.

Weekend effect

• Studies suggest that ER and hospital admissions on weekends may carry slightly higher risks. One study on emergency general surgery found increased rates of serious complications and mortality during weekend admissions. While not a cause for alarm, it highlights how unpredictable weekends can be and why knowing your nearest ER ahead of time can help you respond quickly and confidently.

Trusted Emergency Care, 24/7, Even on the Weekend

Physicians Premier brings hospital-grade emergency care to neighborhoods across Texas. Here’s why families choose them:

• Always open – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year – no appointment needed. This includes holidays, weekends, nights – even when major hospitals are full.
• Board-certified providers – ER physicians, nurses, and imaging teams are ready for car crashes, head injuries, allergic reactions, and more.
• Convenient locations – Strategically located near highways, major roads, and lake areas to serve travelers and residents alike.

Before your next lake trip or weekend drive, take a moment to visit the Physicians Premier Locations page and bookmark the ER closest to your route.

Your Weekend Safety Prep Checklist

• Map your ER – Use your phone or GPS to find the nearest Physicians Premier ER along your route and by your destination.
• Pack a basic first aid kit – Include bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers, and tweezers. Add any personal medications.
• Drive smart – Reinforce safe driving with teens: no phone, no late-night spirits, always buckle up.
• Plan for the outdoors – Bring sunscreen, water, and bug repellent. Teach kids safe swimming and dock behavior.

What a Prepared ER Visit Looks Like

Imagine you’re spending the weekend in Corpus Christi. You’ve bookmarked the nearest Physicians Premier ER. During a beach stop, your teenager slips on the boardwalk and bumps their head. They feel dizzy and nauseous. You drive straight to Physicians Premier: CT scan, stitches, and evaluation – all done quickly. Best part? You’re back on the sand in time for sunset.

That calm confidence comes from one simple step: knowing where to go, before you need to go.

Weekend Safety Starts with a Simple Step

Weekends are for fun, family, and exploration. They’re also a time when risks can sneak up – be it a sudden accident, illness, or injury. That’s why road trip safety isn’t just about seatbelts and packed snacks. It’s also about knowing where to go if something goes wrong. Having your nearest ER mapped out gives you a serious edge, turning a potential emergency into a manageable moment.

Before your next getaway, road trip, lakeside adventure, or spontaneous drive, take two minutes now. Visit the Physicians Premier Locations page, bookmark the nearest ER, and save the route on your phone. When you’re headed out, you’ll go with confidence, calm, and a backup plan that keeps your family safe.

Sources

“Emergency Department Visits,” CDC National Center for Health Statistics, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/emergency-department.htm
“Accidents or Unintentional Injuries,” CDC National Center for Health Statistics, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm
“Teen Drivers,” CDC,
https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/about/index.html
“Teen Drivers: Get the Facts,” CDC,
https://cdctransportation.org/www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html
“Weekends at risk: Uncovering the impact of the weekend effect on emergency general surgery,” Surgery, https://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(25)00127-8/abstract
“Make Fall Safety a Top Priority,” NSC,
https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/slips-trips-and-falls/slips-trips-and-falls-home