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SUMMER SAFETY TIPS
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The following summer
safety tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Feel free
to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast
story. Please attribute these tips to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
FUN
IN THE SUN
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/tanning.htm
Babies under 6 months:
- Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts and brimmed hats are still the top recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands.
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.
For Older Children:
HEAT
STRESS IN EXERCISING CHILDREN
Source: http://www.aap.org/policy/re9845.html
- The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels. (See policy statement for details)
- 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, eg, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold
tap water or a flavored sports drink for a child weighing 88 lbs, and
9 oz for an adolescent weighing 132 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 garments
should be replaced by dry garments.
POOL
SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm
- 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 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."
BOAT
SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tippslip.htm
- Your children should
wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water.
- Make sure the life
jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose.
It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted.
- Blow-up water wings,
toys, rafts, and air mattresses should never be used as life jackets
or life preservers.
- Adults should wear
life jackets for their own protection and to set a good example.
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.
- Insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective.
- The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children. DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age.
- The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase.
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
- Carefully maintain
all equipment.
- Swings 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.
- 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.
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 brakes until your child is older and more experienced.
- 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 bike.
- 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.
- 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.
SKATEBOARD
AND SCOOTER 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.
- 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.
TRAVEL
SAFETY
Source: Car Seat Safety
http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
http://www.aap.org/policy/re0116.html
Source: Air Bag Safety
http://www.aap.org/family/airbag.htm
- Buckle up car seats
and seat belts.
- When your child
reaches the top weight allowed for his car safety seat or his ears have
reached the top of his car safety seat, he needs a booster seat. Booster
seats should be used until he can correctly use a lap/shoulder seat
belt.
- Keep supplies with
you, such as snacks, water, a first aid kit and any medicines your child
takes.
- Always use a car
seat, starting with your baby's first ride home from the hospital. Help
your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.
- Read the manufacturer's
instructions and always keep them with the car seat. Read your vehicle
owner's manual for more information on how to install the car seat.
- Put your child
in the back seat. It is the safest place in the car because it is farthest
away from a head-on crash (the most common type of crash).
- The harness system
holds your child in the car seat and the seat belts hold the seat in
the car. Attach both snugly to protect your child.
- Children in rear-facing
car seats should never be placed in a front seat equipped with an air
bag.
- Children traveling
alone to visit relatives or attend summer camp should have a copy of
their medical information with them at all times.
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.
FIREWORKS SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/junefireworks.htm
- Fireworks can result in severe burns, scars and disfigurement that can last a lifetime.
- Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, i.e. sparklers, can reach temperatures above 1000 degrees F, and can burn users and bystanders.
- The AAP recommends prohibiting public sale of all fireworks, including those by mail or Internet, and encourages parents to attend professional fireworks displays instead of using fireworks at home.
HOME ALONE
Source: Workplace Solutions
- Spend some time explaining your expectations for any time that your children are unsupervised.
- Establish a regular schedule of "check-in calls" in which your child calls you to let you know how and what he/she is doing.
- Remember time off from school does not mean time off from chores. Household tasks help teach kids responsibility.
- For older kids, establish rules about friends coming over to visit. Are you ok with your child having friends over at the house without any supervision?
- Create a first aid kit and teach children how to use it. Establish a list of emergency phone contacts and keep it by the phone.
- Store alcohol and prescription medication in a location that is completely inaccessible to children.
American Academy of Pediatrics, May, 2004
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