Keep kids safe this summer
Be wary of fireworks, ATVs
Q: I have heard summer referred to as “trauma season.” This sounds ominous. What does it mean for my children?
A: All pediatricians would agree with your statement. Let us discuss specifically, fireworks, trampolines and bicycle safety and ATVs.
Every year, we hear in the news how dangerous fireworks are for kids and their families, particularly when someone gets badly hurt. Fireworksrelated injuries include burns, loss of fingers, loss of an entire hand, or disfigurement that can last a lifetime. Sparklers can burn at more than 1000°F and account for 10 percent of fireworks-related injuries. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) encourages the public to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and to only enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals. Watching fireworks done by professionals, as a family or with groups of close friends, can be a lot of fun. You hardly go wrong with those, as they are often spectacular and beautiful.
Most injuries that happen on the trampoline occur inside the trampoline and not from falling off the trampoline. When children are jumping on a trampoline, an adult should always supervise them. Having one child on the trampoline at a time is best, as most trampoline injuries occur when two or more people are jumping at a time. Surrounding trampoline with netting offers a false sense of security and does not prevent many trampoline-related injuries. The AAP strongly recommends against the use of home trampolines, and against the use of trampolines by kids. Most people think this advice is too strict, as many kids enjoy this activity safely. Admittedly, this AAP advice is fairly conservative, but it is geared to avoid all preventable injuries, particularly to the head and neck. As a side note, homeowners may want to verify that their insurance policies cover trampoline-related claims.
Bicycle injuries are also common in the summer. Many injuries happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets. Kids and grown-ups should always use helmets. Remember, children learn best by observing the adults around them. When purchasing a helmet, look for a label or sticker that says the helmet meets the CPSC safety standard. A helmet must sit leveled (straight) on the head,
covering the forehead, not tipped forward or backwards. The strap should be securely fastened, but with enough space to fit two fingers between the chin and strap. The helmet should be snug on the head, but not overly tight. One’s skin should move with the helmet when the helmet is moved gently from side-to-side. Always ride on the right, facing the same direction as traffic. Both children and adults need to obey all stop signs and other traffic signals. Children should never ride at night.
In the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of injuries from all terrain vehicles (ATVs). Riding ATVs has become a popular pastime for our young people. However, last year, children made up more than 30 percent of all ATV-related deaths and emergencyroom visits. All these deaths and injuries from ATVs could have been prevented. Most pediatricians think that children who are too young to drive a car should not operate or ride ATVs. Riding double is usually not a good idea, as most ATVs are designed to carry only one person. Added passengers can make ATVs unstable and difficult to control. All riders should wear helmets (motorcycle helmets), eye protection, sturdy shoes (no flip-flops), and protective-reflective clothing. One must also remember that ATVs lack the common safety equipment found on all cars and trucks that are designed for street use. Importantly, ATV tires are not designed to grip on pavement, so operators should not ride on paved roads. Parents should never permit nighttime riding or street use of off-road vehicles.
The purpose of this column is not to discourage activities during the summer. We want our kids to be out there, active, playing, and not get bored in front of a television set. Being active helps them with weight, their physical and mental health, and it is part of normal development. We want them to be safe, as most of the injuries that we see are preventable.
Let us encourage our kids to play and have fun. Just teach them good habits and supervise them carefully!
In the next column, we will address pool safety, car surfing, and car seats. For more tips about how to keep kids safe during the summer, please check this cool website: www. healthychildren.org.