SUMMER SAFETY FOR KIDS
Whether your kids are enjoying summer at home or at camp, address these safety topics with your family to keep them healthy and happy.
Keep watch to prevent drowning.
Summer water safety should be top of mind for parents, regardless if you have a pool in your backyard or visit a community pool. It only takes seconds for drowning to happen. Actively supervise children at all times when in or around water, and make sure you have the right equipment to keep pools safe.
Look for signs of heat exhaustion.
Cases of heat stroke spike during the summer months, and this can be life threatening in children. Prior to heat stroke, kids often show milder symptoms such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Make sure children take water breaks and wear lightweight clothing when playing outside.
Protect skin from the sun.
Apply sunscreen whenever your child is going to be outdoors. Reapply every three hours or immediately after your child has been in or splashed by water. Try to avoid outdoor activities during peak sunshine hours, and consider dressing children in sun protective clothing.
Avoid bug bites.
As the weather warms up, bugs come out in full force. To avoid bug bites, apply insect repellant before spending time outdoors, avoid using heavily scented soaps or lotions and cover arms and legs as much as possible.
Drink enough water.
Kids are more prone to dehydration than adults, and their risk increases as temperatures rise. The amount of water a child should drink varies by age, weight and activity level. However, a general rule is take half of your child's weight (up to 100 pounds) – and that's the number of ounces of water they should drink every day.
Dress Kids in Loose-Fitting & Light-Colored Clothing. Dark colors attract the sun, so don’t put your kids in a tight black shirt and blue shorts. Instead, opt for a light-colored outfit that allows them to breathe a little! This will help them to avoid overheating .
· Do
Low Intensity Activities. If
it’s hot for you, it’s hot for your child. Avoid letting your kids do intense
activities like tag or races when the temperature rises. Save these for after
dinner when temperatures start to drop.
·
Wear Hats. Having a hat on your child can help protect them from the sun’s harmful rays, and can also offer added protection to their ears and neck.
Stay Hydrated – The scorching heat leaves your body hydrated. You should make sure that you drink enough water or water-based drinks to keep your body hydrated.
·
Sunscreen – In the scorching summer heat, make sure you use a sunscreen lotion. Take precautions, try not going out in the sun when the sun is out, shining brightly. If at all you are out in the sun for too long, make sure you reapply the sunscreen.
· Protect Your Eyes –
It is not just your skin that needs to be protected, but also your eyes. Make
sure you wear sunglasses when going out in the sun. Choose sunglasses which
provide 99% protection against the ultraviolet rays.
· Watch your foods –
Summer also brings with it the temptation of ice creams, however, they are best
avoided. Instead, choose fresh fruits and vegetables which are easy to digest.
· Choose indoor play at noontime –
Play indoors during the afternoons to avoid extreme summer heat from 12.00 noon
to 4.pm.
· Dress appropriately –
Wear cotton clothes rather than synthetic ones to avoid skin problems. Also
wear lighter colours, to attract less body heat!
·
Refresh yourself – Summer is the perfect time of the year to get wet! Start by swimming for 10 minutes and increase the time over the following weeks to beat the summer heat.
·
You should always call your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns or questions about their health.
Dr. Suneel Kumar is a leading Pediatrician In Greater Noida . He is an experienced and council certified Pediatrician providing one – to – one care to children of all ages right from – newborn, infants, toddlers, young children upto adolescence. He firmly believes that while children may be small, but their health is a big deal & so he is dedicated to provide most updated and best care to all his patients.
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