Stay Safe for the Summer

June 5, 2009  
Filed under Random

~Ashley Chaffin, Aimee Fowler, & Brandi Harrelson~

Summer is a time that all children look forward to. However, the summer months are among the most dangerous for children because they are out of school and lack adequate adult supervision. Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent injuries from ruining your summer vacation. Here are a few tips to help children—and you, stay safe!

Prevent Bicycle Injuries

Bicycling can be very dangerous. According to the National SAFE Kids Campaign, “Each year more than 100 children die from bicycle-related injuries, and more than a quarter million are treated in emergency rooms. Of these, nearly half have traumatic brain injuries.”

Properly fit bike equipment is a must. Helmets can drastically reduce the risk of bike-related brain injuries; however, only one out of five cyclists ages 5 to 14 wears a helmet. It’s vital that you make sure you/children wear a helmet any time you ride a bicycle. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Avoid Window Falls

Here are some tips from the National SAFE Kids Campaign:

•  Install window guards—often people think of window guards as just being used in apartment buildings with several levels. But, they are also good to use in single level homes. Even a short fall can seriously inure a child. When buying a window guard, make sure that it meets federal guidelines.
• Move furniture away from windows—Children are inquisitive by nature and like to look out windows. This is fine if there is adult supervision. However, it can be a recipe for disaster if an adult is not around. So, don’t tempt your child. Keep all furniture away from windows.
• Don’t depend on window screens—screens may seem like they are strong enough to prevent a child from going through the window, but the weight of a small child can easily send him out of the window. So, don’t assume that just because you have a screen in the window that your child is safe.

Never Leave a Child Alone in a Car

Often people hear about people leaving their dogs in cars on hot days. But, it’s a problem for children, too. Parents may be gone for only minutes, but anyone who has been in a car with the windows up on a hot day knows that it becomes like an oven. It’s important to also know that the heat inside the car gets even more stifling as the humidity goes up.

Keep Kids Away From Poison Ivy

“Leaves of three, leave them be.” The symptoms of poison ivy exposure are thick, itchy, dry, red patches of skin. It can take up to three weeks for poison ivy to completely go away in some cases.

Use Bug Repellent

Insects are another one of those pesky problems this time of year. Make sure you spray everyone before going outside. It’s best to use a spray that contains DEET, but make sure the spray contains at least 30% DEET. For children under 3, avoid this kind of spray. Another good idea, even though it may get hot, is to make a child wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Use Sunscreen with SPF 15

Skin cancer can strike anyone, but it is an easily preventable disease as long as you take the right precautions and avoid getting sun burned. There are several sunscreens made especially for children; most are waterproof. The sun protection factor (SPF) must be at least 15. When applying sunscreen, it its important to cover every part of the body that is exposed to the sun. This includes the ears and back of the neck, which are often overlooked.

  information obtained from: http://www.safekids.org/