By: Gabriella Pierce, MD
Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to start preparing now! With warm weather and school closed, the summer months are an exciting time for all children. Without preparation, however, outdoor activities can pose some risks to their health and safety.
Here are some important tips to ensure your child stays safe and has fun with summer activities!
Maximize your sun protection.
Sunscreen is an important part of any outdoor play to prevent burns and development of skin cancer. Limit activity outdoors during the part of the day where the UV light is the strongest (from 11 am to 5 pm). All infants less than 6 months should avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Choose a sunscreen that has at least SPF of 15-30. To be effective, sunscreen must be applied to all sun-exposed areas thirty minutes prior to going outdoors and should be reapplied at least every two hours or sooner after swimming or sweating.
Bug spray application is key.
Prevention of bug bites is also an important part of staying healthy this summer to prevent insect-related illnesses. Insect repellents containing DEET are considered safe and effective for children as young as 2 months old. The concentration of DEET listed on packaging corresponds to how long it is expected to be effective, up to 50%. For younger children less than 2 years of age, apply more sparingly and consider lower concentration. Apply to exposed areas of skin and on top of clothing; do not apply below clothing. Remember to wash the child with soap and water when returning indoors to remove repellent.
It is important to always practice safe swimming methods.
Swimming is a much anticipated and exciting activity for children, especially with the hot temperatures. However, pools and lakes can present a great danger to your child and too often are the scenes of accidents that can happen quickly. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for both younger and older children and preventable water accidents are a common reason for emergency room visits in the summer. Be sure to have an undistracted designated adult to supervise all water activities. A properly fitted life vest is crucial to ensuring a child’s safety, even for experienced swimmers. Unsecured arm floaties can come off quickly and are not recommended to be used without a vest. Always stay within an arm’s reach of young children or inexperienced swimmers while in water. Pools should be secured by a fence at least four feet in height with a locked gait. Empty all small vessels of water such as buckets and kiddie pools with every use. Every second is critical to prevent water related injuries and death so if a child is missing always check the pool first. Enrolling your child in swim lessons and learning CPR can be life-saving interventions that can make all the difference in an emergency situation.
For more information and general pediatrician-guided advice about all your children’s activities, schedule to meet with one of Oklahoma City Indian Clinic’s pediatric providers by calling (405) 949-4900 ext. 633.