ER Doc Gives Tips for Keeping Kids Safe

Summertime brings with it an abundance of fresh produce, sunshine, and warm weather.  Unfortunately it also carries with a whole new set of potential risks for small children.  As the temperatures rise, so do pediatric emergency room cases as a veteran ER doctor explains. 

Broken bones, head injuries, and severe cuts are among the most common causes of emergency room visits for young kids.  Dr. Tony Scalzo professor of pediatric emergency medicine at St. Louis University School of Medicine states: "In the summer, we see a much higher incidence of injuries caused by accidents and sports. Kids are going to be kids and they are going to get hurt. But many of these accidents could be prevented by proper parental supervision."

Dr. Scalzo has been an emergency room physician for over 30 years and reveals that while kids can get hurt doing almost anything, he provides the 6 most common summertime injuries for kids and preventable tips for parents:

1.       ATV’s: All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) present the most serious injuries because inexperienced drivers often loose control and small children, even if not driving, can easily fall off.  Children must always wear a helmet on an ATV and small chidlren should avoid them altogether.

2.       Trampolines:  Children typically arrive in the ER with broken bones or serious cuts from falling off a trampoline.  It is recommended parents install protective netting around the trampoline or purchase one with the netting already in place.

3.       Bikes, skates, and skateboards: Even though these wheeled rides account for thousands of ER visits annually, most injuries can be prevented with protective gear.  Make sure kids are wearing a proper fitting helmet, wrist guards, and elbow, knee, and shin pads

4.       Swimming pools: Children should never, ever be left unattended near water.  Even coolers pose a potential drowning threat so make sure they are always closed tight and keep small children away.  Always make sure your child is wearing a life jacket when  around water or when boating.  Home swimming pools should have protective fencing with a locked gate, but there is no substitute for parental supervision.

5.       Car accidents: although car accidents can happen at anytime of the year, the number of incidences involving children not wearing a seatbelt is higher during the summer because of increased frequency of road trips.  Always make sure your child is buckled safely into their car seat or have seat belts fastened at all times.  Kids may get impatient so it is better to make more frequent stops to let kids blow off some steam rather than unfasten seat belts while driving.

6.       Heat and dehydration:  Serious or fatal heat injuries to children are often the result of being left in the car on a hot day.  Never leave children in the car even if it is for only a minute because cars can heat up very quickly.  Also, keep children well hydrated especially when playing outside.

Tags: child safety

This entry was posted on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 10:58 pm and is filed under Baby Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.