Now that school is over and children are off for the summer, it’s an exciting time for them to be outside relishing all the outdoor activities they enjoy most under beautiful sunny skies with warm weather.
Swimming, bicycle riding, playing sports and many other activities provide great opportunities for exercise and a lot of fun. For kids to take full advantage and get the most enjoyment out of those pursuits, it pays to be as safety conscious as possible. With June serving as National Safety Month, this is a good time to review some effective summer safety tips.
Children and adults alike should never swim alone. Whether it’s a lake, ocean, river or somebody’s backyard pool, most drowning deaths are preventable, many times by ensuring someone is with you at all times. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to prevent drowning it’s a good idea to enroll children in swimming classes between ages 1 and 4. The CDC also recommends that everyone forget the notion that it’s safe for children to use air-filled or foam toys, such as water wings, noodles, or inner-tubes, instead of life jackets. While certainly better than no flotation device at all, those items are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
When cycling, rollerblading or skateboarding, you should always wear a helmet to protect your head and brain. The U.S. Department of Transportation points out that over the course of the past few years, only 17 percent of fatally-injured bicyclists were actually wearing helmets. They go on to say that if a bicyclist wears a helmet, he/she reduces the chance of head injury by 50 percent and the chances of head, face and neck injury by 33 percent.
Summer is also sunburn season and everyone should take precautions against skin cancers by using effective sunscreens. Make sure your product is not outdated and apply it often if you plan on being outside for extended periods. Be sure to limit sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear protective clothing. A tan may look good now, but your skin won’t as you get older.
According to the American Cancer Society, everyone is at risk for skin cancer, but especially people with light skin color, light hair or eye color, a family history of skin cancer, chronic sun exposure, a history of sunburns early in life or freckles. Ultraviolet rays from tanning booths as well as smoking also increase the risk of skin cancer.
Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 that offers broad-spectrum coverage (protects against UVA and UVB rays). If at all possible, babies under 6 months should always be kept out of direct sunlight.
The warm summer months bring with them the risk of heat illness that increases dramatically during exertion and rigorous sports, and with certain health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Alcohol use also increases the risk, as do medications that slow sweat production such as antihistamines.
If you participate in strenuous activities, schedule them for early mornings and evenings when it’s cooler. If you’re outside for long stretches of time, carry a water bottle, drink fluids regularly, take cover under shade when you can, and don’t push your limits. People who play sports should wear light, loose fitting clothes and drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after activity.
If you have concerns or questions about your heart health, the health of someone in your family or are in need of a primary care physician for yourself or someone else, please call 317-880-7666 or visit www.eskenazihealth.edu/doctors.
Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Family Medicine Physician at Eskenazi Health