With summer season in full swing we thought that our first newsletter should focus on summer safety.
Summer time is a season when a lot of injuries happen so it is very important to take the right precautions so as to not experience any mishaps.
Sun Safety
For babies under six months of age the best way to prevent sunburn is to not expose them in direct sun. Young baby's skin is extremely sensitive. It is best to keep the skin covered with lightweight clothing and keep baby in the shade. If you cannot avoid the sun exposure you may apply small amount of sunscreen on the feet and hands. The SPF should be more than 15.
For children apply sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 that protects for both UVA and UVB rays. You should apply the sunscreen about thirty minutes before going outside and plan on reapplying every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Keep the children in the shade as much as possible and consider wearing lightweight clothes that cover the arms and legs. Do not forget to wear a hat if your child will be out in the sun for a prolonged period of time. Avoid peek sun exposure hours if at all possible. That is between 10 am and 4 pm.
Bug safety
Avoid areas that have a high concentration of insects such as stagnant pools of water, or gardens in full bloom. Use a product that contains DEET. Only products with DEET are able to prevent mosquito bites and tick bites. The current AAP recommendations are that children over 2 months of age use a product that has 30 percent DEET. DEET should not be used in infants under 2 months of age.
It is not recommended to use combination products of sun screen with insect repellents. Children should wash their skin when coming back inside if they used an insect repellent. Kids should not be dressed with loud colors or flowery patterns to play outside because they will attract more insects.
Bicycle/Scooter Safety
The most important rule when it comes to bicycle or scooter riding is the use of a protective helmet. It should be worn at all times no matter how close or far the child rides. It should fit well, and it should not be tilted back or forward. The strap should fit securely. The helmet should have a sticker that says it meets the CPSC safety standard.
The bike that your child uses should be the appropriate size. It is dangerous if the bike is too tall for your child. Also do not push your child to take off the helper wheels too soon. Most children are not ready to ride a 2 wheeler until about 5-6 years of age.
Playground Safety
Always supervise your children. Make sure there is protective material on the grounds around the play areas, such as wood-chips or safety rubber mats. Watch the temperature of the metal surfaces to avoid any burns.
Watch for any loose parts on any of the play equipment. Do not allow your child to use any ropes, or jump ropes on the equipment for the fear of getting strangled.
Pool Safety
Always keep close supervision while your child is in the pool. For young kids the parent should be within an arm's reach. Your child should wear the protective floating vest at all times.
The pools should be fenced off the rest of the yard with a fence that is at least 4 feet tall. The hatches on the doors should be above the child's reach. There should be emergency equipment in every pool. Remember just because the child is taking swimming lessons does not mean she can not drown.
