Beware Of Summer Hazards

Summer Months Can Be Dangerous For Kids

(CBS)  The summer months are among the most dangerous for children because they are out of school and often lack adequate adult supervision.

To help parents keep children injury free, Dr. Mallika Marshall from WBZ-TV provided some tips on The Saturday Early Show.

Dr. Marshall says bike injuries are among the most common during this time of year. In 2001, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign, more than 300,000 children under the age of 14 were hospitalized for injuries they sustained while bike riding. And nearly half of those kids had what are considered to be serious head injuries. So, Dr. Marshall says, 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 child wears a helmet if he is skateboarding or rollerskating.

Serious injuries can also be incurred when a child falls from a window. The National Safe Kids Campaign says approximately 18 children, ages 10 and younger, die from window-related injuries every year, and about 4,700 have to go the emergency room.

The National Safe Kids Campaign provides the following tips on preventing window falls:

• Don't Depend On Window Screens: Dr. Marshall says screens may seem strong enough, but the weight of a small child can easily send the screen - and the child - out the window. So don't assume that, just because you have a screen in the window, your child is safe.
  
  
• Install Window Guards: Most people think window guards are just for apartment buildings with several levels. But, Dr. Marshall says, they are also good to use in single-family one-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, says Dr. Marshall. But it can be a recipe for disaster if an adult is not around. So, she says, don't tempt your child. Keep all furniture away from windows.

Parents leaving their children in the car while running errands is another problem that's common during the summer, says Dr. Marshall. Parents may be gone for only minutes, but a car with the windows up on a hot day can become an oven. General Motors recently conducted a study that found some 175 children have died in hot cars since 1996. And it's important to know that the soaring heat inside a car gets even more stifling as the humidity rises.

Another danger to children is poison ivy, says Dr. Marshall. The plant has three shiny green leaves per cluster and contact with it can cause the skin to become thick, itchy and dry, with red patches.

Dr. Marshall says a good expression to teach your child is: "Leaves of three, leave them be." In other words, avoid contact with the plant.

Insects are another pesky and potentially dangerous problem this time of year. Dr. Marshall says West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes and has caused many illnesses in the last few years. Make sure you protect your child with insect repellent before sending him outdoors, being careful to follow manufacturer's instructions. Dr. Marshall says it's best to use a spray that contains DEET, but make sure the spray contains no more than 30 percent DEET. But do not use this chemical on children under 3. Another good idea is to dress your children in long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Finally, Dr. Marshall says, parents should remember the importance of using sunscreen. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer, but it is an easily preventable disease as long as you take the right precautions and avoid getting sunburned, she says. There are several sunscreens made especially for children, and most are waterproof.

To get the most protection against sunburn, the sun protection factor (SPF) of the sunscreen must be at least SPF 15. And Dr. Marshall says when applying sunscreen to a child, it's 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.