School’s out for summer! Kiddies are ready to enjoy the great outdoors! Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind. (You can watch the original BT Montreal segment by clicking here)
Lyme disease has become a serious issue this summer. If you’re going camping or playing in a grassy wooded area take extra precaution!
A tick stuck in the arm skin in Summer
- Wear protective clothing, long pants/sleeves and even tucking your socks in your pants… I know it isn’t the best fashion trend.
- Use bug repellant on the kids (and pets) when needed. Make sure it is 10-30% DEET for children (not under 2 months) and avoid hands and face. Use repellant only when really necessary.
- Perform tick checks on everyone at end of each day (between legs, under arms, around waist, inside belly button, hairline and scalp).
- If a tick needs to be removed do it right away to avoid tick related infection.
- When removing a tick, use tweezers and pull up steadily so ticks mouth doesn’t break in the skin
- A few signs/symptoms of tick related illnesses are fatigue, fever/chills, headache, rash and swollen lymph nodes.
Accidents and deaths happen every single day because of poor water safety! That includes bathtubs,
Keep kids at an arms length when in water.
toilets, buckets, baby pools streams etc.
- Adult supervision is a MUST! No distractions. Not even for a second.
- Practice ‘Touch Supervision’. Translation the adult supervising must be within an arms length of the child being watched when near or in the water.
- Learn CPR
- When boating life jackets are a must!
- No running around the pool
Good sun safety is important to protect your kids sensitive skin.
Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours
- Sunscreen should be used on sunny and cloudy days.
- Avoid sun exposure during peak sun hours 11am-4pm. Hint: If your shadow is shorter than you the sun is very strong)
- Wear protective clothing, hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UV Protection
- Broad Spectrum (UVA and UVB protection) and an SPF of at least 30 for the kids.
- Apply 30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every 2 hours if swimming, sweating
- Put enough sunscreen. A shot glass full is what you need.
When the heat is just too much make sure to stay hydrated because lots of fluid is being lost.
Keep your kids hydrated before, during and after outdoor activities
- Give your kids liquid before they go outside to play, while they’re playing and after
- Don’t wait until your kid says they are thirsty before offering fluid.
- Avoid strenuous activities during sun peak hours 11am-4pm. Shady areas are best.
- NEVER EVER EVER leave infants/children in a parked car!! (Pets neither)
- Dress kids in loose, lightweight, light coloured clothing
Save your child’s life by making sure they wear a helmets when on bikes, scooters, skates, rollerblades, skateboards etc.
Prevent head injuries with proper helmet safety
- Get the helmet fitted correctly
- Use the proper helmet for individual activity
- Be a good example and wear a life saving helmet as well!
Playground Safety
Every year thousands of children are treated for playground related injuries.
Safest playground surfaces are sand, wood chips or synthetic material
- Safe playground surfaces are sand, wood chips or synthetic materials.
- Be very careful with playground surfaces such as grass, dirt and asphalt (which are usually in our very own backyards).
- Check grounds for broken glass, metal and other garbage
- Make sure your kids are not wearing clothing with cords or drawstrings that are too long.
- Supervise children at all times!
- Know the signs and symptoms of a concussion…(personality/mood change, dazed, clumsy, can’t remember previous events and headache, vomiting/nausea, balance issues, light sensitivity, confusion, feeling down)
Watch my segment on Summer Safety with Alex Despatie on BT Montreal: