It's Summer! Play Hard, Play Safely

How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe and Healthy in the Summertime

by Robin Hoogshagen, R.Ph.

Summer is when you're more likely to see kids outside playing ball, riding bikes -- and getting hurt.

In fact, May through August is the most dangerous time of year for children, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. In a recent report, SAFE KIDS found that nearly half of all injury-related childhood deaths occur during the summer, with July having the highest death rate.

And although an estimated 3 million children will visit emergency rooms this summer, there are some things we all can do to help keep our loved ones safe.

Wear a bike helmet -- and make sure your children do, too.

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute offers some sobering statistics about bike riding and head injuries: More than 800 bicycle riders are killed in the United States every year, and 85 percent of cyclists' head injuries could have been prevented if they had been wearing helmets.

Statistics regarding children and bicycle helmet use are more scarce, but experts agree they're a must. Helmets made for sale in the United States after 1999 must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard. Children's helmets must fit snugly and be strapped securely under the chin. Never let your child wear a bicycle helmet on the playground. This seemingly harmless activity can be a safety hazard if the chin strap gets caught or a child's head gets lodged on playground equipment.

You can learn more about safe biking for children by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site.

Be safe around water -- inside and outside

Drowning claims the lives of 4,000 people every year, according to the National Safety Council, with small children having the highest death rate. Most small children drown in pool accidents or when left alone in a bathtub. Here are several things you can do to keep your children safe around water:

• Never leave your children alone near water -- outside, at the pool or beach, or inside, near a bathtub -- not even for a second.
• Be vigilant about hidden household water hazards. For example, small children have been known to drown in buckets with only a few inches of water. Also, keep toilet lids secured if you have toddlers in the home.
• Even if your home pool is secured, be aware of other neighborhood pools.
• Teach your children always to swim with a buddy, and not to dive headfirst into unknown bodies of water.

Don't forget the sunscreen

Some common sense guidelines can go a long way toward preventing the immediate discomfort of sunburn -- and the long-term damage and health risks associated with UV-ray exposure.

Limit your time outside when the sun's rays are strongest -- usually from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wear sufficient sunscreen, rated SPF 15 or higher, and reapply it every two hours. Sun protection is especially important for babies and young children, who have particularly sensitive skin. Some doctors don't recommend using sunscreen on children six months or younger, so check with your pediatrician before applying sunscreen to a baby. The best course might be to simply limit exposure for little ones.

Also, consider wearing a hat and protective clothing, such as a shirt with long sleeves, and use sunglasses with UV-absorbing lenses.

Know your local poison control number

Some 30 children die each year due to accidental poisonings, and 1 million phone calls are placed to poison control centers annually, according to the Poison Prevention Council. It only takes a few seconds for an adult to be distracted by a ringing phone or doorbell, so the best course for poison control is vigilance and prevention.

Affix the number of your local poison control center permanently near your phone. Keep syrup of ipecac on hand -- an over-the-counter medicine that induces vomiting -- but only use it at the direction of a doctor or poison control center.

Most accidental poisonings occur with children under five, according to the National Capital Poison Center, so be aware. Never assume a child could not have ingested a medicine or chemical because it tastes bad to you.

• Lock up poisons and household chemicals, including cleaning solutions.
• Don't assume childproof lids are 100 percent safe. Some children are able to open them.
• Don't leave out purses, suitcases or overnight bags that might contain medicines.

Also, for homes with babies or toddlers, identify and remove poisonous household plants. For example, did you know that peace lilies are poisonous? Be aware of plants in your yard that might tempt small children -- irises, lily of the valley, and daffodils are all poisonous.

Learn CPR, or take a refresher course

Many people have taken a CPR course at one time or another, but how many of us can say that we actually remember how to safely perform it? Are we familiar enough with the steps to be able to give CPR during the middle of a crisis? So even if you've been certified to perform CPR, take a refresher course, or review your CPR manual.

Stock up your First-Aid Kit

And don't forget the all-important first-aid kit. You probably already have many of these items scattered throughout your home, but in an emergency, it would save time if your first-aid materials were already packaged into a handy kit. Double-check your first-aid supplies with the following checklist:

• Alcohol or antiseptic wound wipes
• Antiseptic/anesthetic spray (like Bactine)
• Adhesive tape (1-inch thickness)
• Antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) for cuts and scrapes
• Aspirin or acetaminophen (aspirin is not recommended for children 12 years or younger)
• Bandages
• Blanket
• Burn cream for minor burns
• Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Eye wash kit
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• Instant cold pack
• Insect bite/sting stick
• Scissors
• Smelling salts
• Sterile gauze pads for large wounds
• Syrup of ipecac
• Tweezers

A few common sense practices and a little preparation can make all the difference in the world. So be vigilant, have fun, but most importantly -- have a safe and healthy summer!

Robin Hoogshagen, R.Ph., is a Wal-Mart pharmacist in Bentonville, Ark.
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