Summer Safety
Awareness can save child from suffering
?It’s summertime and kids are out of school and outside playing sports, riding bikes and enjoying the nice weather. While it is great to encourage children to play outside, it is equally important to make sure they are as safe as possible. Bicycle safety, rules for safe swimming and an awareness of your surroundings are three things that can help to keep our children (and adults) safer this summer.
Every year 176,000 kids go to the emergency department because of injuries from bikes. Biking accidents can cause broken bones, cuts and scrapes and worst case scenario, head injuries. The most important rule for keeping kids safe from bicycle injuries is to make sure they wear a helmet! Any helmet you purchase should have a sticker that says it meets all standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Make sure the helmet fits securely and make sure it is always worn!
Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. As a former lifeguard at the Waynesburg Pool, I can tell you, with authority, how quickly a water accident can happen. A person can drown in less than two minutes from the time they go under water. This is why it’s so important to never swim alone! Don’t assume that because your child has had swimming lessons she can swim alone. Children should be supervised by an adult at all times when they are in or around water. Although water accidents can happen at a pool, a lake, the beach or a water park, most water accidents happen at home.
Summer is also the time for poison ivy and bee stings. The saying goes, “leaves of three, beware of me.” Tell your children to keep away from unidentified weeds and leaves. As for bees, leave them alone and generally they will do the same. If your child does get stung, watch for signs of an allergic reaction, such as dry cough, itchy eyes, hives, shortness of breath and swelling. If you see any of these signs, report to the emergency department immediately.
Greene County Primary Care is open during the week to help you treat non-emergent conditions. We see patients from birth through geriatrics. You can make an appointment by calling 724-627-8582. If you have a true emergency, every second counts. Know that Southwest Regional Medical Center is available to ensure you get the best quality of care possible.
Playing outside during the summer months is a lot of fun, but it is important to exercise caution. Have a great summer and most importantly, be safe!