The birds are chirping, the frost is melting and the sun is shining a little brighter. Spring is here, and kids are heading outside in droves, ready to shake off the dust of winter. As bikes are being pulled out of garages and trampolines are getting broken back in, pediatric offices and emergency rooms are gearing up for injuries associated with spring and summer fun. Aside from bubble-wrap or keeping your child locked inside, you might be wondering how you can avoid landing at the doctor with common injuries.
Many kids (and adults) take to the sidewalks and roads on bicycles, roller skates, and skateboards this time of year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that less than half of children ages 5-14 wear helmets when riding a bike — even though 26,000 children and adolescents sustain traumatic brain injuries due to bicycle activity each year. Wearing a well-fitted bicycle helmet can help prevent serious injury associated with crashes; additionally, ensure you teach your child other staples of bicycle safety: follow the rules of the road, wear reflective clothing, and be aware of obstacles (people, cars, objects) in the path of the bike.
Swimming is a great warm-weather activity that keeps kids active and away from the television screen. Unfortunately, the CDC estimates that about one in five people who die from drowning are children (and for every child who dies from drowning, an additional 5 kids are treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal submersion injuries). Talk to your kid about water safety. Teaching your child basic swimming skills or enrolling them in swim lessons can reduce the risk of child drowning. Ensure children are always accompanied by an adult when swimming and that children who cannot swim are always within arm’s reach in the water, even if they are wearing a life jacket. Swimming pools should be completely surrounded by fencing to prevent children from climbing in unattended, and children on boats should wear life jackets.
Gun sports are popular activities that should be enjoyed with safety in mind. If your family participates in activities involving guns or has a gun in the house, it is important to educate about the power of guns and take appropriate steps to prevent gun related injuries. Ensure guns are unloaded and locked away (hiding a gun is not enough — kids climb!). Keep ammunition in a separate locked area, and when cleaning or handling the gun, never leave it unattended. Gun safety classes can be a great way to ensure your child knows the safe ways to handle firearms. Have conversations with your children about gun safety — even if you do not keep a gun in your house, your child may have friends whose parents do.
Other important safety points to keep in mind as the weather warms up include sunscreen, bug spray, and playground safety. If your child is going to be out in the sun, choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and make sure you reapply at least every two hours. Don’t wait to put on sunscreen until you get to the pool/beach — for best protection, it should be applied 30 minutes prior to going outside. Children older than 2 months old can use insect repellant; there are several products on the market with a variety of different ingredients — be sure to read the label of the product you choose. If you are unsure of what might be best for your child, ask his pediatrician/nurse practitioner. Talk to your kids about playing safely on a playground — no pushing or roughhousing on slides or monkey bars, use equipment appropriately, and be aware of other kids who are playing.
At Joshi Pediatrics, we want all kids to enjoy the warm weather and all of the fun it brings. Stay safe, have fun, and take care.
Meg Sorg, RN, MSN, CPNP, from Joshi Pediatrics, Crawfordsville, contributed this column. She may be reached at 765-361-3086.
