Ask the Experts Blog

Summer is here, school is out, and kids are enjoying their season of freedom. With less time spent indoors, there is more time to have fun, but parents should be prepared for potential health issues that may occur.

Anne Dudley, DO, pediatrician at Southwestern Medical Clinic shared some tips on how to keep your kids safe while they’re out having fun in the sun:

First, let’s talk about surviving the great outdoors where adventures, critters, and plants await. Mother Nature always has a few tricks up her sleeve, and mosquitoes and ticks are some of the most bothersome. To keep your kids bug free:

• Choose bug spray with low levels of DEET (20 percent or less) which can be toxic.
• Wear light-colored clothing, which also helps keep bugs away and allows you to spot any ticks that may have landed on your children’s skin. 

Poisonous plants in the yard or woods can pose a threat to children as they climb and  explore the outside. We all know what happens when we run into poison ivy—blisters, bumps, and hives, oh my! No one likes itchy skin. To protect your kids from this itchy monster:

• Put them in clothes that cover a lot of skin.
• If they do come into contact with poison ivy, cool showers and oatmeal baths help relieve itching.

As for those kids who love adventure, whether it be climbing on playgrounds or riding anything with wheels, here are some tips on keeping them safe: 

• Perform safety checks before letting them out on the loose. Be on the lookout for hot surfaces that can potentially burn the skin and other dangers such as loose ropes.
• Ensure there is a protective surface covering the ground like rubber mats, wood chips, or mulch that help reduce the risk of a head injury if a fall occurs
• If your kids are thrill seekers and enjoy activities that involve riding something with wheels, make sure they wear a helmet, elbow and shin guards. 

Now we all know one activity that helps us get fit and beat the heat…swimming! When participating in this refreshing summertime activity parents should keep in mind:

• Never let kids swim without an adult present regardless of age or swimming experience.
• Always watch your kids, even if they’ve completed swimming lessons.
• Don’t forget to use life jackets for non-swimmers.
• If you own a pool, install fencing around it with a self-closing gate.
• Know how to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in case an accident occurs.