School is winding down and most kids and their families are anticipating the fun of summer. The staff of Meriter’s Emergency Services and FastCare wish you all a happy, safe summer and offer a few tips to avoid or treat summer’s common ailments:

Bike Safety

Studies on bicycle helmets show they can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

• Your child always needs to war a helmet on a bide ride, no matter how short or how close to home. Children learn best by observing. Whenever you ride, put on your helmet.
• When purchasing a helmet, look for a label or sticker that says the helmet meets the CPSC safety standards.
• A helmet should be worn so that it is level on the head, not tipped forwards or backwards. The strap should be fastened, and you should not be able to move the helmet in any direction.
• Ride the right size bike for the child’s size and abilities
• Obey the rules of the road.
• Anytime a helmet has been in a serious fall or crash, it should be replaced, even if you can’t see actual damage. The stress on the materials from the impact could make the helmet less effective the next time.

Sun Safety

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 80 percent of harmful sun exposure occurs before age 18. That's because kids spend more time outdoors than adults do, especially in summer.

• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays.
• Reapply every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
• Be sure to get the back of the neck, shoulders, ears!!!, feet and back of arms and legs
• Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.
• Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.

Water Safety

About 1,000 kids die every summer from drowning. The water doesn’t have to be deep – even plastic kiddie pools and buckets can be dangerous.

• Never leave children alone in or near water, even for a moment
• Keep rescue equipment and a phone at hand.
• Avoid inflatable swimming aides such as “floaties”. They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give a false sense of security.
• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s length for “touch” supervision.
• Empty plastic pools and turn on their sides when not in use.
• Never dive headfirst into unknown waters. Enter the water feet first.
• To be safe on a boat, always wear an age appropriate life vest.
• Learn CPR.

Yard Safety

Each year about 400,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries related to the use of lawn and garden tools.

• Keep younger kids away from lawn mowers. Despite the need for a summer job or simply wanting to help, the American Academy of Pediatrics advices that children younger than 16 years old should not be allowed to use ride on lawn mowers; children younger than 12 should not use walk-behind mowers.
• Outdoor experts recommend that anyone operating electric gardening equipment should wear protective eyewear and protective clothing such as a close-fitting shirt, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirts and close-toed, slip-resistant shoes.
• Don't lift yard waste that is too heavy for you, use a dolly or wheelbarrow to help transport heavy loads.
• Never work with lawn and garden equipment in damp or wet conditions.
• Always use equipment as it is intended. Always turn off the mower and wit for the blades to stop completely before removing he grass catcher
• Before mowing, remove debris from the lawn such as rocks, metal, glass, sticks and branches.
• Try to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go.
• Never carry children on a riding mower.

Keep BUGS away

• Avoid grassy areas and shrubs where ticks may be lying in wait to tag a ride on a potential "meal."
• Wear light-colored clothing so you can spot ticks easily and brush them off.
• Tuck your pants into your boots or socks.
• Use insect repellant when necessary
• Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.
• Insect repellents containing DEET are most effective against ticks, which can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes, which can transmit West Nile Virus and other viruses.
• The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent. The maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children. DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age.
• Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do not use under clothing.
• Do not use DEET on the hands of young children; avoid applying to areas around the eyes and mouth.
• Read the label carefully to determine the DEET content.
• Do a daily tick check if your kids have been playing outdoors, especially in or near wooded areas. Make sure to check these parts of your body and your child's body for ticks:
  
• Under the arms 
•  In and around the ears
• Inside belly button
• Back of the knees
• Under the arms
•  In and around the hair 
•  Between the legs 
•  Around the waist

Fireworks

We strongly recommend you leave fireworks to the professionals. Fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries.

Car Safety

More time on the road – car crashes go up.

• Always wear seat belts
• Use safety seats
• Best seat for kids is the back seat

Heat Safety

The body cools itself by sweating. During extremely hot, humid weather sometimes sweating isn’t enough and the body’s internal temp can rise resulting in heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It takes the body 6 to 7 days to become acclimated.

Prevention:

• Drink plenty of fluids before and during any activity in hot sunny weather – even if you don’t feel thirsty
• Wear light colored, loose clothing
• Restrict heavy activity between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Avoid heavy meals
• Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages 

Watch for heat exhaustion symptoms such as thirst, cramps, fatigue dizziness, nausea, vomiting headaches and fever.

Keep a watch on:

• Infants and children under four years of age
• People 65 or  older
• People who are overweight
• People with chronic illnesses – their medications can interfere with their body’s ability to cool down