|
|
Summer
Safety Tips
By Paula Court
Summer means sun, fun and more emergency room visits than any
other time of the year for children. Injuries and illnesses can happen
anywhere-at the beach, on a camping trip or even in your own backyard.
Here's what you need to know to protect your children this
summer:
AT THE BEACH
·Jellyfish - If your child is stung by a jellyfish, apply
a paste of meat
tenderizer and salt water to neutralize the venom. A mixture of
equal parts vinegar and salt water will also work.
·Sunburn - Apply sunscreen offering a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 15 or higher at least 30 minutes before stepping outside.
Reapply after heavy physical activity or water play. Keep your children out
of the sun between 10 AM to 3 PM.
Riptides - Always pay close attention to the flags posted
at most public beaches warning of hazardous conditions. Even strong swimmers
can be caught off guard and carried out to sea by a riptide. The danger
arises when the swimmer panics and tries to swim directly back to shore by
fighting against the current. If you or your child is caught in a riptide,
swim parallel to shore until the riptide eventually dissipates.
IN THE BACKYARD
Helmets - According to the Center for Disease Control,
helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries due to bike accidents by 85%.
Make a firm rule and stick to it -- helmets must always be worn on bikes and
scooters with no exceptions.
Bike Safety - Children should not be allowed to ride
unaccompanied on neighborhood streets until they're at least 10 years old.
Before the age often, a child's cognitive skills are not developed enough to
accurately judge the speed of an approaching vehicle.
Lawn Mowers - A surprising 10,000 children per year are
injured by lawn mowers. Never allow children under the age of 14 to operate
power mowers. To prevent eye injuries from flying objects, make sure
children stay a safe distance away from a moving lawn mower.
Dehydration - Schedule drink breaks every half hour on
hot summer days. Water is the best choice because soft drinks and juices are
loaded with sugar and carbohydrates.
AT THE PLAYGROUND
Every 2 ˝ minutes a child in the United States visits the
emergency room for injuries sustained on playground equipment. To prevent an
injury to your child follow these guidelines:
Supervise your children at all times to assure they're playing
on age
appropriate equipment.
Check the equipment for splinters, jagged metal edges, loose
bolts, etc.
·Always remove loose clothing or jewelry that may catch on
equipment and risk strangulation.
59% of all playground injuries occur from falls. When choosing a
playground, look for shock absorbing materials below slides and
swings.
ON A CAMPING TRIP:
Poison Ivy - Teach your child to recognize the leaves of
poison ivy and memorize the rhyme-"leaves of three-let it be." If your child
does come in contact with the vine, wash the area immediately with soap and
water and throw their clothes in the washing machine or place them in a
separate bag. The sap from the vine can linger on clothes and pets so it's
possible to develop an allergic rash without touching the leaves. To relieve
the itching, try calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.
Ticks - Do a tick check every two to three hours during
outdoor activity. The risk of contracting Lymes Disease or Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever is greatly reduced if the tick is removed within 24 hours of
attachment. To remove a tick, grasp the tick with tweezers as close as
possible to the skin and pull upward. Avoid touching with bare hands and be
careful not to squeeze the body of the tick, which may contain
infectious fluids. After removal, thoroughly cleanse the site and wash your
hands.
Bug Off! - Dress your children in long-sleeved,
light-colored clothing and tuck pants legs into socks before heading into
the woods. Apply insect repellent that contains 6-10% DEET to any exposed
body parts. Since DEET can be toxic in high concentrations, never apply
products stronger than 10% or use combination sunscreen/insect repellent on
children. To minimize the allergic reaction to mosquito bites, carry a tube
of hydrocortisone cream in your pocket and apply it immediately.
Bee Stings - If your child is stung, remove the stinger
immediately, but try not to squeeze the area because this releases more
venom into the skin. Apply hydrocortisone cream or meat tenderizer to reduce
the reaction. If this is your child's first bee sting, be on the look out
for a more severe allergic reaction. If your child experiences tightening of
the throat, difficulty breathing or hives, seek emergency treatment
immediately.
AT THE POOL:
·Water Safety - Remember-nothing is a substitute for
adult supervision. Floats and water wings are particularly dangerous because
they lull both children and adults into a sense of safety, but they can
deflate quickly without warning.
Diving - Teach your children to always check the depth of
a pool or any other body of water before diving in. The American Red Cross
recommends nine feet as a minimum diving depth.
·Watch those teeth! - Dentists report swimming pools as a
leading cause of dental injury. Children chip or knock out front teeth by
hitting them against the hard edge of the pool and by slipping on wet
concrete surfaces.
E. coli - Even chlorinated pools can be contaminated by
E. coli. Teach your children to never swallow pool or lake water. To help
prevent possible contamination, take your children on frequent bathroom
breaks and don't allow them into the pool if they have diarrhea. Also,
refrain from changing diapers poolside.
ON A PICNIC
Meat - To prevent most food borne illnesses, cook
chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs and eggs until they're well done. Never allow a
utensil or plate that has held raw meat to touch cooked foods. Refrigerate
all foods promptly.
·Vegetables - Wash all fruits and vegetables before
eating, even those whose rinds are inedible such as melons or oranges. A
knife can carry bacteria from the rind into the edible fruit.
|
While in the Heat...
Most people
don't realize
how important it is to take
care of yourself (and your
children) when you are
outside playing when
it's hot. Here are some
tips to protect yourself
while outside in the heat:
1. Drink plenty of fluids,
even if you aren't thirsty.
**Avoid caffeine and
alcohol.
2. Stay in air conditioning
if at all possible. If you are
working out, you may want
to try and find a way to
move your workouts inside.
3. If you
are outdoors, try
to limit activities to the
early morning, the coolest
part of the day.
4. Babies,
the elderly
and people with chronic
health problems are
most likely to become
vulnerable to a
heat-related illness.
|
Fireworks Safety
For Tips for
Celebrating on the Fourth From the National Council on Fireworks
Safety
Click Here.
OR
Visit the National Council on Fireworks Safety web site at
www.fireworksafety.com
Symptoms
of Heatstroke:
1. Body temperature over 105 degrees
2. Very flushed skin (usually without sweating)
3. Heat exhaustion happens first and those symptoms include:
* fatigue
* dizziness
* vomiting
* clammy skin
* headache
WHEN IN THE SUN...
DON'T FORGET!
When you are outside, use sunscreen!!!! A sunscreen
with an SPF of 15 or above is recommended.
|
For more information on Summer
Safety, check out these links:
www.kidsource.com:
This site has some very good articles on summer safety as well
as other great information for parents and caregivers.
Consumer Product Safety Commission:
This site has much more than just recalls on products. The CPSC
has all the latest news on unsafe products and and gives tips on
how to keep your family safe.
|
|
