Summer Safety Tips

FUN IN THE SUN

• Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade or under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.
• Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs and use brimmed hats.
• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15.
• Try to keep children out of the sun between 10 am and 4 pm - that's when the sun's rays are strongest.

POOL SAFETY

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
• Make sure adults are trained in life-saving techniques and CPR so they can rescue a child if necessary.
• Surround your pool on all four sides with a sturdy five-foot fence.
• Make sure the gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.
• Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool.
• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
• Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning.
• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."

BUG SAFETY

• Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
• Repellents appropriate for use on children should contain no more than 10 percent DEET because the chemical, which is absorbed through the skin, can cause harm. The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase.
• Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
• Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
• To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail. You can also remove a stinger by pinching it out with a pair of tweezers or your fingers.

PLAYGROUND SAFETY

• Carefully maintain all equipment.
• Swings should be made of soft materials such as rubber, plastic or canvas.
• Make sure children cannot reach any moving parts that might pinch or trap any body part.
• Make sure metal slides are cool to prevent childrens' legs from getting burned.
• Even in supervised training programs, the use of trampolines for children younger than 6 years of age should be prohibited.

SUMMER CAMP HEALTH GUIDELINES

• All camps should have written health policies and protocals that have been approved by a physician with a particular knowledge of children's health, preferably a pediatrician.
• All camps should be in compliance with immunization schedules recommended by the AAP and as required by state and local health departments.
• All campers should be required to have a complete health evaluation signed within the past year by a licensed health care professional, preferably a pediatrician, before the first day of residential camp. Campers with clinically significant medical histories with implications for ongoing care (eg, asthma, surgery, seizures, diabetes, or orthopedic injuries) should have had an examination within the previous 6 months.
• Camp authorities should be reposnsible for describing to the parents the activities and programs and the health services available at the camp. Parents should be aware of the preadmission medical requirements at the time of registration.
• By the first day of camp, parents or guardians also are responsible for providing information to camp authorities about any current health problems and all current medications.
• Camp records should include emergency contacts for all children. In addition, if a chronic condition exists (eg, diabetes), the child's physician should be identified by name, telephone number, and fax number, and the date of the last health care visit should be noted.

TRAVEL SAFETY

• Buckle up car seats and seat belts.
• Keep supplies with you, such as snacks, water, a first aid kit and any medicines your child takes.
• Always use a car seat, starting with your baby's first ride home from the hospital. Help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.
• Read the manufacturer's instructions and always keep them with the car seat. Read your vehicle owner's manual for more information on how to install the car seat.
• Put your child in the back seat. It is the safest place in the car because it is farthest away from a head-on crash (the most common type of crash).
• The harness system holds your child in the car seat and the seat belts hold the seat in the car. Attach both snugly to protect your child.
• Children in rear-facing car seats should never be placed in a front seat equipped with an air bag.
• Children traveling alone to visit relatives or attend summer camp should have a copy of their medical information with them at all times.
  

DOG BITES

• If you are getting a pet as a companion for your child, wait until your child is mature enough to handle and care for the animal - usually around age 5 or 6.
• Never leave your infant or young child alone with any dog.
• Teach your child some basic safety precautions for dealing with dogs outside your home, such as not surprising or scaring a dog or never approaching an unfamiliar dog.
• Instruct your child to stand still if approached or chased by a strange dog. Tell your child not to run, kick or make threatening gestures. Your child should face the dog and back away slowly until he or she is out of reach.
• Contact your pediatrician whenever your child receives an animal bite that breaks the skin, no matter how minor the injury appears. The doctor will need to check whether your child has been adequately immunized against tetanus.

American Academy of Pediatrics, May 2001 (Reprinted by permission)