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Safety in the SummerExperts say the months between May and August are the most dangerous for children -- more than half of all injuries occur during these four months.
Hot Cars: Don't EVER leave your children alone in the car -- not even for a moment. Besides the danger of abduction, the temperature in a car can skyrocket in minutes. What seems like a pleasant 70-degree temperature outside can turn into a suffocating sauna in just minutes -- even if you leave the windows down. Children die every year from suffering heat stroke in hot cars, and it's a particularly nasty way to die. It might be a pain, but please always take your children with you. And, if you see an unattended young child in a vehicle, please call 911, the police or other emergency personnel. Your call could save the child's life. Dehydration: The little ones, especially, forget to drink or to tell you that they need to drink. If you find the children getting peaked and cranky toward the afternoon, it might be because they're tired, or it might be because they're dehydrated. Remember: By the time a person feels thirsty, he's already partly dehydrated, so drink to prevent thirst, not to quench it. Common symptoms of dehydration are crankiness, headaches, aches in the joints and weariness. And don't allow your child to fill up on juice or soft drinks; these are dehydrators. Water or child-appropriate hydrating drinks are best. However, if you or your child has severe dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, reluctant to drink, unable to pee or cry, high fever, lethargy), call for emergency help and have your child sip an electrolyte-replacement fluid (such as Pedialyte). See our Dehydration page for more. Protecting Children Against Sunburn and UV Light: Children's skin and eyes are more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Babies should be protected from direct sun entirely. Toddlers, preschoolers and older children should be covered well in sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) at least one half hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should be reapplied every hour or so, and it should be reapplied after the child has been in water. Don't forget ears, hands, feet, lips and under the eyes. Also, make sure your child wears a hat and sunglasses that protect against UV rays when out in the sun for any length of time. Visit Medem and do a search under "UV rays" for more on protecting a child's eyes from UV rays. Solar Eclipses (not just in the summer, but at any time of the year!): Looking at the sun directly will damage your eyes, and you and your children must have proper protection. Sunglasses, no matter the quality, aren't sufficient protection during an eclipse, and neither is polarized glass. Looking at the sun with the naked eye, or through regular binoculars or telescope will damage your eye, possibly even cause blindness. See NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center for more. Abductions: Remember: As the weather warms up, the dangerous strangers come out. Keep an eye on your children, and refer to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children for help in keeping your children safe from people who would do them harm. Also see the Safer Child Protection Page for guidance on figuring out When is Your Child Old Enough to Be Alone, as well as other tips on protecting your child from abductions. Study: Tanning lamps can double the risk of certain cancers: Tanning beds can double the risk of certain cancers, especially for young people who use the beds, according to a study published in the February 2002, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The authors of the study propose that the beds be off-limits to minors. Electricity: Power lines and electrical equipment are dangerous to children. Children should be taught to stay away from electric substations, power lines that run through trees and any power lines lying on the ground. They should learn to fly kites, and cast fishing lines, away from power lines. All pool equipment and water play should also be kept far away from any power lines. Also teach them what to do in the event of a thunderstorm (see an organization like the National Lightning Institute or the Lightning Protection Institute for guidance).
For More Information on Summer Safety (including sun, lightning, fires, fireworks):
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