Take the danger out of summer fun

Summer is the time for getting outside and playing with friends, going on adventures and enjoying all the playground equipment at the local park. Let us keep these days of summer filled with laughter and fun free of potential summer dangers.

There is plenty of fun to be had during the happy-go-lucky summer months, but there are also dangers to consider as children take part in summer fun activities.

Car Safety

• Never leave a child alone in a car, even briefly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, adults should follow these guidelines:

• Always check the front and back seats of the car before locking it.

• If you see a child in a hot car, call 911 immediately. Get them out quickly if they are in distress.

• Put your purse, briefcase or something else you will need by the car seat so you don’t forget to check.

• Always lock your car when it’s empty so children can’t get in without you knowing. On a day that is just 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a car can increase by 30 to 40 degrees in an hour, and 70 percent of this increase can occur within the first 30 minutes. Heat stroke can occur when the body temperature passes 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This overwhelms the brain’s temperature control, causing symptoms such as dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, loss of consciousness and/or death.

Playgrounds

• Emergency rooms visits occur quite often from playground mishaps. So make sure your child will be safe.

• Before getting ready for an outing to play on playground equipment, make sure your child doesn’t wear anything that has loose strings or ties such as the drawstrings hanging form shirts or tops. The drawstrings can catch on different types of playground equipment, especially slides. When they get caught they have the potential to choke a child.

• Also, while at the playground, look for small holes in fences or playground equipment that a child can get his head into. Small children, especially, are capable of putting their heads into places that look impossible for them to fit. Beware of these possibilities as this, too, can cause a choking hazard.

• For the children younger than 5 the following should be avoided: monkey bars, seesaws, long spiral slides, overhead rings, arch climbers, chain or net climbers, balance beams, dome climbers, parallel bars.

• Rubber-soled shoes should be worn to prevent falls and stubbed toes. Sandals should not be worn when playing at playgrounds.

• Playground equipment should have a safety surface underneath it to lessen the impact from a fall. But notice if the playground has sand as a safety ground cover under playground equipment. Cats can be using it for their litter box. It could be unsanitary to play in this sand.

Water Hoses

• There are no national safety standards for materials used in the manufacturing of outdoor water hoses. Personally, I have noticed on the water hose packaging it states to wash your hands very thoroughly after handling the hose, not to drink from it, etc., due to the lead content and other hazardous materials. It also has on the label, that the hose is not allowed to be sold in California because of the dangerous contents. I immediately took it back to the store I bought it from.

• The hazard with the water hoses is mainly the lead content, especially the metal ends. So drinking from a water hose is not a good idea. High levels of lead can cause different types of health issues, especially in children. Note the warnings on a water hose before using it to fill “kiddy” pools as some may leach lead into the pool’s water. Always read the label before purchasing an outdoor garden hose and heed it warnings.

Swimming Pools

• Constant supervision is the No. 1 way to prevent pool drowning. Many times if a child is playing in small portable yard pool, adults don’t think there is much chance of drowning. But it is possible and it does happen. So whether in a small portable pool, an above the ground pool or in ground pool, proper supervision is a must. If in an above ground or in ground pool, a life vest is necessary if a child cannot swim.

The Sun

• Cover children in broad spectrum sunblocks before going outdoors, applying it before children put their clothes on. If children are going in the water or will be out of the water and sweating, re-apply every two hours.

• Heat stroke is another danger caused by the summer heat, especially at the beginning of summer when. We are particularly vulnerable at the beginning of summer when our bodies have not yet adjusted to the warmer temperatures. Remember our bodies lose a large amount of moisture through evaporation when we sweat. So be sure to drink plenty of water and take breaks when out in the sun.

• Protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses with 100 percent protection from both UVA and UVB radiation. Polarized glasses help reduce glare, giving a visibility bonus. Sunburn of the cornea can lead to vision loss.

Insect Bites

• When venturing out at dusk and in the evening hours, make sure you use an insect repellent. Threats of West Nile and other illnesses caused by mosquito bites are still out there. The ingredient deet helps keep mosquitos at bay. Be sure to read the label on any insect repellent to make sure it is safe for children. There are products for children that have safe limits of deet in them.

• Whether applying insect spray or sunscreen, do not spray it directly on the face of a child as it may get in their eyes. You may think that would be common sense, but I have witnessed a parent doing just that.

Let’s make summer 2014 the safest summer of all. Think about possible dangers and make every effort to take precautions to avoid them.