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Assistant
Director
Candice Wagener
candice@learninggardens.com
The
season of summer is a perfect time for a refresher on sun and
water safety!
Let's
talk about the sun first. Ideally, you should plan your outdoor
activities before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m, since the sun is
strongest between those times. Children younger than 6 months
should avoid the sun altogether; if they are going out, they
should be dressed in long sleeves, pants and big-brimmed hats.
Children older than 6 months need sunscreen on any exposed skin.
It only takes a few minutes for young children to burn and this
is the time of life when their skin is more susceptible to permanent
damage which can cause skin cancer later in life.
When
you're choosing sunscreen, try to find one that is free of dyes
and perfumes and test a dab on your child's skin to make sure
they don't break out in a rash. An SPF of 30 is ideal; nothing
higher than that has been shown to be any more effective. The
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reapplying sunscreen
about every half hour since kids sweat it off pretty easily.
Now
for water. Drowning and near-drowning can happen in just seconds.
If you have a home pool, adult supervision is key. Learn CPR,
and make sure to have a phone, life preservers/jackets and a
shepherd's crook poolside. Swimming aids like water wings, inner
tubes and pool noodles do not protect children in the water
and may provide a false sense of security. Secure fencing around
the pool or an automatic pool cover will provide the ultimate
protection.
For
anyone boating this summer, remember that it is a requirement
for children to wear a life jacket whenever they are on the
boat, even for short trips. Adults should also practice "touch"
supervision with their young children, keeping a hand on them
at all times.
One
more item that falls under water is hydration. Make sure your
children are keeping hydrated! Infants are unable to regulate
their body temperature, so make sure you are offering breast
milk or formula regularly, allowing for extra on those hottest
days. For children over one, have water readily available and
encourage water breaks after every hour outside. If need be,
you can offer snacks containing water, like popsicles, but try
to avoid too much sugar. Watermelon is a great alternate snack.
The
most important thing you can do for your child this summer is
to provide close supervision and be a good role model. Now go
have some fun!
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