Summer Safety Tips
For babies under 6
months:
- The two main recommendations from the AAP to
prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight
long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to
prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available,
parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun
protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of
the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected
area.
For young children:
- Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before
going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at
least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays.
For older children:
- The first, and best, line of defense against
the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing
forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet
rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
- Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit
sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater.
Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young
adult.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after
swimming or sweating.
- Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand
as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.
Heat stress in exercising
children:
- The intensity of activities that last 15
minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach
critical levels.
- At the beginning of a strenuous exercise
program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration
of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during
a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat.
- Before prolonged physical activity, the child
should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be
enforced, for example, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored
sports drink for a child weighing 90 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent
weighing 130 lbs, even if the child does not feel thirsty.
- Clothing should be light-colored and
lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate
evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated shirts should be replaced by dry
clothing.
- Practices and games played in the heat should
be shortened and more frequent water/hydration breaks should be instituted.
Pool Safety:
Source:
http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm
- Install a fence at least four-feet high around
all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or
protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
- Make sure pool gates open out from the pool,
and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.
- Never leave children alone in or near the
pool, even for a moment.
- Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a
long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable
telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment
made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.
- Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties."
They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a
false sense of security.
- Children may not be developmentally ready for
swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children
under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning.
- Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around
water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch
supervision."
Bug Safety:
- Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair
sprays on your child.
- Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate,
such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers
are in bloom.
- Avoid dressing your child in clothing with
bright colors or flowery prints.
- To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently
scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail.
- Combination sunscreen/insect repellent
products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two
hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.
- Insect repellents containing DEET are most
effective against ticks, which can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes,
which can transmit West Nile Virus and other viruses.
- The current CDC and AAP recommendation for
children over 2 months of age is to use 30 percent DEET. DEET should not be
used on children under 2 months of age.
- The concentration of DEET in products may
range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. Ten percent DEET only
protects for about 30 minutes – inadequate for most outings.
- The concentration of DEET varies significantly
from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase.
Children should wash off repellents when back indoors.
For more information on DEET:
http://www.aapnews.org/cgi/content/full/e200399v1
Playground
Safety:
Source:
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/maytra.htm
Source:
http://www.aap.org/family/playgrd.htm
- The playground should have safety-tested mats
or loose-fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, wood chips, or bark)
maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches. The protective surface should be
installed at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions
from the equipment.
- Equipment should be carefully maintained. Open
“s” hooks or protruding bolt ends can be hazardous.
- Swing seats should be made of soft materials
such as rubber, plastic or canvas.
- Make sure children cannot reach any moving
parts that might pinch or trap any body part.
- Never attach—or allow children to
attach—ropes, jump ropes, leashes, or similar items to play equipment;
children can strangle on these.
- Make sure metal slides are cool to prevent
children's legs from getting burned.
- Parents should never purchase a home
trampoline or allow children to use home trampolines.
- Parents should supervise children on play
equipment to make sure they are safe.
Bicycle Safety
Source:
http://www.aap.org/family/bicycle.htm
Source:
http://www.aap.org/family/tbikmyth.htm
- Do not push your child to ride a 2-wheeled
bike until he or she is ready, at about age 5 or 6. Consider the child's
coordination and desire to learn to ride. Stick with coaster (foot) brakes
until your child is older and more experienced for hand brakes.
- Take your child with you when you shop for the
bike, so that he or she can try it out. The value of a properly fitting bike
far outweighs the value of surprising your child with a new one. For more
information on finding the proper fit, go to
http://www.aap.org/family/bicycle.htm#choosing
- Buy a bike that is the right size, not one
your child has to "grow into." Oversized bikes are especially dangerous.
- Your child needs to wear a helmet on every
bike ride, no matter how short or how close to home. Many accidents happen
in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets.
Children learn best by observing you. Whenever you ride, put on your helmet.
- When purchasing a helmet, look for a label or
sticker that says the helmet meets the CPSC safety standard.
- A helmet protects your child from serious
injury, and should always be worn. And remember, wearing a helmet at all
times helps children develop the helmet habit.
- A helmet should be worn so that it is level on
the head, not tipped forwards or backwards. The strap should be securely
fastened, and you should not be able to move the helmet in any direction.
If needed, the helmet’s sizing pads can help improve the fit.
Skateboard, Scooter,
In-line Skating and Heelys Safety:
Source:
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/marskate.htm
- Children should never ride skateboards or
scooters in or near traffic.
- All skateboarders and scooter-riders should
wear a helmet and other protective gear; wrist guards are particularly
important.
- Communities should continue to develop
skateboard parks, which are more likely to be monitored for safety than
ramps and jumps constructed by children at home.
- While in-line skating or wearing Heelys, be
sure to wear appropriate protective equipment and only skate on designated
paths or rinks and not on the street.
Lawn Mower Safety:
Source:
http://www.aap.org/family/tipplawn.htm
- Try to use a mower with a control that stops
the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go.
- Children younger than 16 years should not be
allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use
walk-behind mowers.
- Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or
sneakers) are worn while mowing.
- Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as
stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins.
Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
- Do not pull the mower backward or mow in
reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind
you when you mow in reverse.
- Always turn off the mower and wait for the
blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the
discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
- Do not allow children to ride as passengers on
ride-on mowers.
This article is taken from the
American Academy of Pediatrics.
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