Summer safety: Parents should be on the lookout for these dangers
MUNCIE, Ind. – The summer can be an exciting time for families. Children are on vacation from school so parents may have to adapt their routines. Below are eight safety tips to keep in mind to protect your family this season.
Keep little ones near
Make sure you (or another adult) are watching closely so younger children don’t wander off or up the swing set alone or play near the street. We know it can be tempting to run into the house quickly for sunscreen of to refill a water bottle, but the safest move is to bring your child with you. And whether they are young or older, make sure your kids take regular breaks to hydrate and reapply sunscreen, especially during peak sun hours.
Sun protection
Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella or the stroller canopy. When possible, dress yourself and your children in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body. Wear things like lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats. Select clothes with a tight weave or choose clothing labeled with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). Limit your sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm when UV rays are strongest. Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Use “broad-spectrum” sunscreen with at least 15 SPF and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming and sweating. Remember to wear sunscreen even on cloudy days
Help prevent bug bites and stings
Avoid bright colored clothing and scented soaps and lotions, which can attract bees and wasps. Dump stagnant water in wading pools, bird baths and other structures where biting insects can breed. Certain ticks can transmit Lyme disease, and mosquitoes sometimes carry viruses such as West Nile and Zika. After dark, cover up with long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks to prevent mosquito bites. Long sleeves, pants and hats also can protect against ticks in high grasses, bushes or wooded areas. Always use insect repellent.
It is recommended to use insect repellent products registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and contain ingredients like DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
When using DEET, keep in mind that the percentage of protection will correlate with the amount of time spent outside. For example, 10% DEET provides protection for about 2 hours, and 30% DEET protects for about 5 hours. A higher concentration works for a longer time, but anything over 50% DEET does not provide longer protection. For children under 2 years old, apply DEET sparingly when needed and use DEET no higher than 30%. Do not use DEET products for children younger than two months old.
Similar to products made with DEET, insect repellents with picaridin provide protection from mosquitoes and ticks for an amount of time that is based on the concentration of picaridin. Insect repellents with 5% picaridin can protect against mosquitoes and ticks for 3 to 4 hours.
Do not use oil of lemon eucalyptus for children younger than three years old.
Only apply insect repellents on the outside of your child’s clothing and on exposed skin, not under clothing. Spray repellents in open areas to avoid breathing them in. Wash your child’s skin with soap and water to remove any repellent when they return indoors and wash their clothing before they wear it again.
Safety tips for the water
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children under 4 years old. Make sure an adult is always watching children in and around a pool or any body of water. The adult should be within an arm's length of young children and beginning swimmers. They should always keep their eyes on kids who are in the water, even older children who can swim. They should not use a cellphone, socialize, drink alcohol, or do anything that might be a distraction
All pools and hot tubs should have a 4-sided fence at least 4 feet tall around them with a self-closing, self-latching, locked gate. If you can't fence around a spa or hot tub, be sure it is securely covered when not in use. Many tragedies happen in home swimming pools when children wander outside without adults. It is a good idea to have door and window alarms that chime when opened to alert a parent that a child is going outside, and pool alarms when someone enters the pool. Have children take swimming lessons when they are at least one year old.
Children, as well as adults, should wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets while on a boat, even if they can swim. Water wings and other "floaties" do not protect children from drowning.
Choose jump ropes over trampolines
Trampolines may be popular and a fun way to get exercise, but there are safer ways to encourage your children to be physically active, such as playing catch, riding a bike (don't forget a bike helmet), or playing a team sport. Keep in mind trampolines should only be used in supervised training programs for gymnastics, diving or other competitive sports.
Avoid mowing the lawn while kids are playing
Power mowers can fling sticks, stones and other objects with enough force to do serious harm. And while it's tempting to let your child join you on a riding mower, the safest strategy is to cut the lawn when kids aren't around. Mowers, hedge trimmers and other tools should be stored out of reach, along with gasoline cans and lawn chemicals.
Prevent burns around grills & fire pit
When you cook outdoors or enjoy an open fire, use a child safety fence to keep young ones at a safe distance. Explain that grill surfaces are hot and can burn them—like the kitchen stove—so we never touch them. Position gas grills so kids can't reach the knobs. Always douse a wood fire before leaving the area and make sure charcoals are cold before dumping them.
Keep kids away from pesticides, fertilizers, poisonous plants
Consider organic pesticides and herbicides, which are generally safer for families with kids. Read the instructions carefully, and make sure children stay away from lawns and gardens for 48 hours after you spray. To help your family remember the yard is off limits, put a note on your door with the end date and time. And don't forget to store outdoor chemicals under lock and key just like you would inside your house. Also, remember that some plants can be poisonous, especially for young children. Review other trees, plants, and shrubs to ensure they're non-toxic. If your child eats something dangerous, call Poison Control at 800.222.1222.
To answer more questions, or meet with a pediatrician, reach out to Cami Barger-Jones, MD at iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/cami-s-barger-jones-md-7056.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Summer safety: Parents should be on the lookout for these dangers
