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Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: Aug. 7, 2006
Media contact: Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493

Shoreline Medical Center offers tips for beating the heat and staying safe in summer

NEW HAVEN — Summer is in full swing, and with still a month to go before the start of the school year and warm temperatures and high humidity all around, medical experts at the Yale-New Haven Shoreline Medical Center offer the following for parents and children as safety guidelines. This summer, they estimate children ages 14 and under will to be rushed to emergency departments nearly 3 million times, and more than 2,500 children will die.

"Parents need to be extremely vigilant with regard to education and supervision of summertime activities in order to keep their children safe and healthy," said Harry Moscovitz, M.D., medical director, Yale-New haven Shoreline Medical Center department of emergency medicine. “The Shoreline Medical Center has expanded the hours to accommodate and treat the expected increased number of patients we anticipate seeing and treating.”

Here are tips for playing it safe:

Water play: Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14. Provide constant supervision near pools, rivers, ponds, spas, toilets, bathtubs and buckets. Sign children up for Red Cross-certified swimming lessons at age 4 or 5, but never rely on lessons or aids to keep kids safe.

Summer sports: Whatever your child pursues, figure out what type of protective gear he or she will need. Activities as common as in-line skating and skateboarding call for a multi-sport helmet, elbow guards, knee pads and wrist guards. Appropriate instructions of sporting principles and rules of play are critical.

Bicycling: Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injuries by as much as 85 percent. The rim of the helmet should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows, the straps should form a V just beneath the ear lobe and the buckle should be flush against the skin under the chin.

Playgrounds: Seek out playgrounds with safe surfaces, such as rubber, mulch or fine sand, and make sure the equipment is up-to-date. Never allow children to wear necklaces or anything that could cause strangulation at the playground.

All-terrain vehicles: Say no to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). More than one-third of the rising number of ATV deaths involved children under 16, and one study showed they are at risk whether they wear helmets or not. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents prohibit children under 16 from riding in ATVs.

Fire hazards: Take the risk of burns seriously. Stick with public fireworks managed by professionals, and remember that handheld sparklers can cause serious burns too. Watch children carefully around grills or campfires.

Sunburn: Limit exposure to the sun especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Even on cool or overcast days, apply water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply it every two hours. Use caution when a child is taking a medication that causes sun sensitivity.

Bug bites: Kids can get Lyme disease and West Nile virus walking in the woods or playing in the backyard. Use bug spray containing DEET, but never on babies, and use a spray with no more than 10 percent DEET on children. Dress kids in shoes, and light-colored long sleeve shirts and long pants, and pull socks over pant cuffs. Be sure to inspect children for ticks and bug bites at the end of the day.

Food poisoning: Bacteria grow faster in warm weather, and that can turn picnics into danger zones where children are among the hardest hit. Wash hands with soap and water before cooking and eating, keep raw food separate from cooked food, cook food thoroughly and never leave food out for more than one hour.

Heat illness: Heat stroke can occur in children within minutes, even if the car window is opened slightly. In 2003, at least 42 children in the United States died after being left in hot cars. On hot days, stay in air conditioned areas, reduce strenuous activities, carry water bottles, and wear light weight loose-fitting clothes.

Parents who have health-related questions during the summer should contact their primary care physician or provider.

The Yale-New Haven Shoreline Medical Center emergency department at 111 Goose Lane in Guilford expanded hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. “The expanded hours come at an optimal time particularly since we anticipate summer volume to increase with the influx of shoreline visitors and more injuries from outdoor activities and sports,” said Moscovitz.

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Last revised: Aug. 7, 2006 (dh)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.