Name: OKM
4 x 9.8"
Customer Name: FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM
Ad Number: 052922NWR9621
www.freemanhealth.com/pediatrics
SponSor Content
By Dr. Kelly Gorman,
Freeman Health System
Pediatrician
Summer vacation – a time for fun
and relaxation. It's also a time for
sunburns, skinned knees and bumps
and bruises galore. Of course, we want
our children to learn and explore their
world, but sometimes we also wish
those explorations didn't include "does
gravity still apply when I try this?"
(Spoiler alert: Yes, it does. Always.)
So how do we keep our little
adventurers safe without limiting their
curiosity? Here are some things to keep
in mind:
✓
Bicycle safety: Make sure your
child has and wears a helmet
that meets Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) standards. All
helmets meeting these standards are
labelled as such. The helmet should
fit well (doesn't move around on the
head or slide down over the wearer's
eyes when pushed or pulled). Helmets
should be worn squarely on top of the
head, covering the top of the forehead,
and chin straps should be adjusted to fit
snugly.
✓
Playground safety: Choose a
playground that fits your child's age
and abilities. Most playground injuries
happen when
children fall off
the equipment
and onto the
ground, so steer
clear of hard surfaces
like cement or asphalt.
While grass is a better
ground covering, it's still
not a shock-absorbing surface.
Choose playgrounds covered with
wood chips, mulch or rubber mats.
✓
Pool safety: Drowning in real
life doesn't look like it does
on TV and in movies – it happens
quickly, and victims often lack the
energy to splash or shout. The speed
and silence of drowning make water
safety all the more important. When
kids are swimming, make sure a sober,
undistracted adult is watching the water
at all times. When it's not swimming
time, the pool should be secured by
fence that cannot be climbed over or
squeezed through. Additionally, don't
leave toys in the pool area that may
tempt a curious child to break into the
pool unsupervised.
✓
Sun safety: The best way to stay
safe from harmful UV rays is to
cover up and stay indoors during the
hottest parts of the day (10:00 am –
4:00 pm). Our second line of defense
against the sun is using broad spectrum
mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 15
or higher. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes
before going outdoors and reapply after
swimming or sweating. Do not use
spray sunscreen or combination product
with sunscreen and bug spray mixed
together. Remember that the sun's rays
reflect off surfaces like sand, water and
concrete, so sun protection is especially
important in those types of areas.
For more summer safety tips,
visit healthychildren.org for more
American Association of Pediatrics
recommendations.
Visit freemanhealth.com/pediatrics
for more information about pediatric
services at Freeman Health System.
Staying Safe
While You Have
Fun in the Sun
8 • JuNe 2022 • www.OfficialKidsMag.com
