The final bell signifying the end of the school year elicits joy from not only the overly exuberant students but the ecstatic teachers and staff as well. Water slides, golf outings, vacations to foreign lands and numerous summer camps embody what it truly means to be on summer break. However, having a relaxed summer schedule should not equate to laxity in proper safety and precautions.
For children age 1-4, the leading cause of accidental death in the US is drowning. Those numbers include drowning accidents in bathtubs, pools, and lakes. Pediatricians recommend never leaving a young child unattended while bathing. Just a foot of water could potentially be fatal.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43 percent of all drownings occur in a natural water setting. Tragically, every summer we hear the horrific tale of an innocent child being swept below the water in some outlying lake. The incident usually involves a child who was known not to be a good swimmer and should not have been swimming in such an area.
This brings us to our first summer rule:
Children need to take swimming lessons by a certified instructor and not your cousin Ray-Ray!
The beauty of instruction by a professional is that they first teach safety skills: how to save yourself and how to behave around pools, lakes. Too many young children, particularly minorities have never received such instruction. I believe this hails from the parent’s inability to swim and their fear of the water. Growing up, this wasmy situation. Neither of my parents could swim nor did they allow my siblings and I to getanywhere near water except for our nighttime hygiene ritual. Therefore, I have been a vigilanteabout my children taking swim classes at a young age. I would suggest that we forego the latestexpensive Nike tennis shoes and invest in aquatic lessons for our children. Check outwww.ymca.com for the most current schedules. Preventing accidental drownings is money wellspent!
These beautiful summer months are also not the time to abandon one of the most important safety rules: wearing seat belts. In the US, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among the 5-34 year olds. It has been shown that seat belt use decreases the chance of injury or death by 50 percent, yet millions of adults choose not to wear them consistently.
Another concerning situation that I witness all to frequently is the number of children who are not properly secured in their vehicle or who are riding in the front seat. Children age 5 and up need to be in a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly: the strap laying flat on the chest and not the neck, and the lap band securely fastened over the waist. Finally, children younger than 12 should never sit in the front seat. The impact of the airbags if deployed could cause serious injury or death.
Second summer safety rule:
Wear your seat belt at all times and keep children in the proper restraining device.
Furthermore, our teen drivers need to be reminded of important safety precautions as well. All of my friends with teen drivers are constantly sharing with me the recent fender-benders or tickets for which their teens have been involved. Teens are easily distracted and setting up ground rules before they hit the road are essential.
Rule number 1: NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING!
Instant messaging and Facebook updates can wait. Seven teens age 16-19 died every day in 2010 from motor vehicle accidents. In 2011, about one million teenagers drank alcohol and then got behind a wheel to drive. And the scary thing about that statistic is that often times adults knew the teen had been drinking. Parents be careful about which parties your teen attends. Not all parents share your belief systems. Unfortunately, some of these parents are allowing alcohol to be served, notice the teen is intoxicated and say nothing about!
Third summer safety rule:
Have open dialogue with teens about avoiding distractions while driving such as loud music, friends in the car, and the dangers of drinking and driving.
Proper skin health and hydration are also important components of summer precautions. During the warm months, individuals need to drink plenty of water to combat the potential dehydration from the heat. Please remember that caffeinated beverages contribute to dehydration. The other overlooked medical concern is sun damage. People of color are lulled into a sense of false security regarding skin health due to the melanin in their skin but skin cancer does not discriminate.
Therefore, fourth summer safety rule:
Sunscreen is for everyone!
Summer is a great time for all but the goal this summer is to make it a safe time as well!
Yours in Service,
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
SLUCare Family Medicine
yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
