Ensuring A Safe Summer For Kids
The summer months are among the most dangerous for children, because they are out of school and often lack adequate adult supervision.
So on The Saturday Early Show, Dr. Sean Kenniff of CBS News Miami station WFOR offers the following tips to help you keep your children free of injury.
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 fitted bike helmets could dramatically reduce the risk of bike-related brain injuries; however, only one out of five cyclists ages 5 to 14 usually wears a helmet. So it's vital that you make sure your child has a bike helmet. Make sure it fits properly too, because an ill-fitting helmet will be of little help. Also make your children wear a helmet if they are skate boarding or rollerskating.
Avoid Window Falls
According to the National SAFE Kids Campaign, approximately 18 children ages 10 and under die from window fall-related injuries annually. And thousands more are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained from falling out of windows. More than a quarter of these children require hospitalization. Not surprisingly, the majority of these injuries occur during the spring and summer months.
Here are some tips from the National SAFE Kids Campaign on preventing window falls:
- Don't depend on window screens - Screens may seem like they are strong enough. But the weight of a small child can easily send one out the window. So don't assume that just because you have a screen in the window that your child is safe.
- Install window guards - We often think of window guards 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 injure 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, which 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.
Never Leave Child Alone In A Car
So often we 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 also to know that the heat inside the car gets even more stifling as the humidity goes up.
Keep Kids Away From Poison Ivy
This plant has three leaves per cluster, so a good expression you may want to teach your child is: "Leaves of three, leave them be." The symptoms of poison ivy exposure are thick, itchy, dry, red patches of skin.
Use Repellent
Insects are another pesky problem this time of year. So make sure you spray your child with insect repellent before sending them outside. It's best to use a spray that contains DEET, but make sure the spray contains no more than 30 percent of DEET. For children under 3, avoid this kind of spray. Another good idea is to make your kids 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 to a child, it is important to cover every part of the body that is exposed to the sun. That includes the ears and back of the neck, which are often overlooked.