Summer SafetySunburnEveryone enjoys spending time in the sun with their children. It is important to take certain steps to protect ourselves as well as the delicate skin of our children. We sometimes forget that kids can get too much sun as a result of not only sunbathing at the beach or pool, but by going for a walk in the stroller or playing in the front yard or walking in the park. The key points to remember are to limit sun exposure especially during peak hours, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight and dressed in lightweight clothing with good coverage and a hat. Older kids can use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. It should be applied 30 minutes before the activity and reapplied every two hours. If your child experiences sunburn, you may apply a cool compress or place the child in a cool bath. Do not apply toothpaste or butter to the burn and avoid creams which tend to hold heat (petroleum based products) or contain numbing medication (benzocaine). You may also give Tylenol or Motrin as needed to relieve pain. Most sunburn can be treated at home. However, please notify your pediatrician if it is extremely painful, blisters, or shows signs of infection. Water In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported an average of nine fatal drownings per day and for every child 14 years and younger who died, five were treated in the emergency room for nonfatal submersion injuries. This is important to note as nonfatal drownings can result in brain damage and long-term disability. Children under one year of age are more likely to drown in bathtubs, buckets and toilets. In children one to four years of age, most will drown in a residential swimming pool. These children were usually only out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of a primary caregiver. It is essential that parents take the following necessary steps to avoid this often preventable summer tragedy.
Tiny little insects love tiny little legs and arms. Bees, mosquitoes, ticks and ants are enough to spoil any summer day! It is sometimes difficult to tell which type of insect is the culprit. As a general rule, ant bites tend to blister, mosquito bites are very itchy while bee stings are red, painful and swollen. A tick bite may or may not have a red rash resembling a bull's eye around it. To decrease the likelihood of your child being bitten, it is advised to dress them in long pants and sleeves. However, in the summer this may not be feasible. If your family has a summer outing planned, choose a bug repellant which contains DEET to apply to kids over two months of age. There are several concentrations available depending on the amount of time spent outdoors. If the outing is short or less than an hour, use 10-15% DEET. If the outing is an all day event then choose 24-30% DEET. Of note, it is not recommended to use DEET concentrations of higher than 30% on children. Bug repellants that do not contain DEET are available but these are not as effective. There are also combination products available which contain DEET and sunscreen. These are not advised as DEET products should only be applied once daily whereas sunscreen products should be applied every two hours. Remember to wash bug repellant off with soap and water after the outing. Mild itching and swelling from insect bites can be treated with over the counter benedryl and hydrocortisone. If your child gets a bee sting, be sure to remove the stinger by scraping the stinger away in a side-to-side motion with a credit card or fingernail. Trying to pull the stinger out with fingers or tweezers may push more venom into the skin. If you find a tick attached to the child's skin, try to remove it as soon as possible to avoid transmission of illnesses such as Lyme disease. Using a pair of tweezers, grab the head of the tick close to the skin and pull straight out. Do not twist or rock it from side to side. Put the tick in alcohol or in a plastic baggie to kill and dispose of it. Be sure to notify the pediatrician if unable to remove the entire tick, signs of infection develop or a red rash develops around the tick bite. Heat Illness It is also important to monitor children for dehydration when spending time outdoors in the summer months. Children aren't able to say whether they are thirty or not most of the time. Typically, everyone is having so much fun that the attention is taken away from making sure children are drinking enough fluids. Babies are even more at risk because they are smaller and lose moisture faster. For summer outings, make sure that you bring plenty of fluids such as water, juice and milk. Another good thing to remember is that fruit also contains water such as oranges, grapes, watermelon and strawberries. These make great snacks for the busy child. In the event that your child shows signs of dehydration (sunken fontanel, no tears, less wet diapers, dry mouth, less active), please notify your pediatrician. You may be instructed to rehydrate with an electrolyte solution such as PedialyteŽ or to go to the emergency room. A more serious complication of overheating is heat stroke. Please call 911 if your child's skin is hot and dry, has shallow breathing or loses consciousness. Taking the appropriate precautions will ensure that your summer is packed with fun and great memories for everyone. |
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