‘Tips for a Safe Summer’
By: Tomer and Isidora Fridman
Our California summers are always hot! With the weather getting warmer and warmer, we found some fabulous tips for parents to help keep their children safe and healthy this season. From staying hydrated to keeping bugs away, these are just a few ideas to prevent summer dangers, inspired by www.Parenting.com’s Family Safety Guide.
It’s important to encourage your kids to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration in the summer months. If your child is especially active, or plays sports for more than 45 minutes per day, a sports drink with electrolytes is recommended. Watch out for signs of heat exhaustion, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion. If you suspect your child may be suffering with heat exhaustion, immediately stop all physical activity and have them rest in a cool place and drink water. If symptoms persist, it may be necessary to seek medical care.
Kids love being outdoors in the summer, but being outdoors can expose their sensitive skin to poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. According to www.parenting.com, you can treat your child’s run in with these irritants by washing the area with soap and water for at least ten minutes, applying an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream and trimming his fingernails to prevent scratching. Calamine lotion can be applied up to three to four times a day to alleviate persistent itching, according to the parenting.com article.
Pests like mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and early evening, so it is best to keep young children indoors during those peak times. The Family Safety guide recommends avoiding tick and mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and spraying bug repellant on clothes/gear when spending time with the family in heavily wooded areas.
