Summer Safety Tips for Families

The following Tips are from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Excerpts referenced & submitted by Lisa Buenger, MD, Oak Leaf Pediatrics, Eau Claire

Warm weather and sunny skies encourage families to play together. Backyard picnics, an afternoon soccer game, or a bike ride to the playground are fun outings for children enjoying their summer vacation and families sharing some time together. Forming good safety habits takes time. By taking a few minutes to teach and remind your child of safety messages, you can look forward to a summer of funÉ without tears. Make safety a big part of your lives. Be a good example, be prepared.

Fun in the Sun

Applying sunscreen is the last thing your youngster is thinking about when an outdoor adventure is calling. Early avoidance of exposure to the sun will protect your child from potential problems later in life. Proper clothing, hats and sunscreen, even on overcast days, can keep painful sunburn from ruining a perfect summer day.

Babies under 6 months:

• Avoid sun exposure. Dress infants in lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts and brimmed hats. When adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents should apply a minimal amount of sunscreen to such areas as the infant's face and the back of their hands. For Older Children:
• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/tanning.htm

Bug Safety

With summer weather comes an assortment of annoying bugs. Some precautions can be taken to avoid attracting insects and thus reduce the chances of itchy bites or painful stings.

• DonŐt 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.
• Insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent, the maximum recommended for infants and children. DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age.

For more information on DEET: http://www.aapnews.org/cgi/content/full/e200399v1

Bicycle Safety

Riding your bicycle, warm breeze on your face, dodging the dappled shadows on the sidewalk, not a care in the world. Teach your child safe riding habits and remember, one small accident can lead to potentially serious injury without proper head protection. Parents are reminded that bicycle helmets save lives.

• A helmet protects your child from serious injury, and should always be worn. Wearing a helmet at all times helps children develop the helmet habit.
• 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.

Source: http://www.aap.org/family/bicycle.htm
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tbikmyth.htm

Burns

Barbeque grills, hot dog roasts, and family dinner preparations can be great summer fun. DonŐt forget to teach proper respect for hot surfaces and to avoid actions that could cause injury. Two points to remember, if you or your child receives a burn:

Cool the burn

For 1st and 2nd degree burns, cool the burned area with cool running water for 10 minutes. This helps stop the burning process, numbs the pain and prevents or reduces swelling. Do not use ice on a burn. It may delay healing. Also, do not rub a burn as it can increase blistering.

Cover the burn

After the burn has cooled, apply a clean, dry gauze pad to the area. Do not break blisters. This could allow germs into the wound. Never put grease (including butter or medical ointments) on the burn. Grease holds in heat, which may make the burn worse.

Pool Safety

Nothing feels better on a sultry day than playing in a swimming pool. However, children must be supervised at all times and proper safety equipment kept close at hand.

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
• Install a fence at least four-foot high around all four sides of the pool.
• Make sure pool gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.
• 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.
• 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 are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 years of age should not be seen as 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".

Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

Important Information About Syrup of Ipecac

The American Academy of Pediatrics has revised its recommendation regarding syrup of ipecac for suspected poisoning and is advising that it be removed from the home and discarded. For many years syrup of ipecac was a drug used to make children vomit after they had swallowed a poison. TodayŐs recommendation advises against the use. There is no evidence that inducing vomiting helps in any way. Most emergency rooms now use activated charcoal, which binds to poison in the stomach and prevents them from entering the blood stream. You should not make a child vomit with syrup of ipecac, make him gag or give him saltwater. If you have syrup of ipecac in your home, flush it down the toilet and throw away the container.

The best defense against unintentional poisoning is prevention. Parents should keep poisons locked up and out of reach. Be prepared, keep the number of the Poison Control Center posted near the phone.

For more information, call Dr. Lisa Buenger, Oak Leaf Pediatrics, Eau Claire Č 715.830.0732