Spring Safety Tips
As the weather improves, we hope to see more kids going outside to play and to stay active. Here are a few tips to keep kids of all ages safe this Spring:
Helmets – Riders of all ages should wear a helmet when riding bikes, skateboard, scooters, etc. to help prevent serious head injury. Helmets should be worn on every ride, no matter how short. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 16―who are too young to have a driver's license―should not operate or ride on motorized or e-scooters.
Lawn Mowers – In the US, more than 9,000 kids go to the ER every year for lawn mower related injuries. Small children should be kept indoors when the lawn is being mowed. Children should never ride as a passenger on a riding lawn mower. Kids should be at least 12 years old to operate a power push mower and at least 16 years old to operate a riding mower. Eye protection and sturdy shoes should be worn while mowing.
Bug and Tick Bite Prevention – Insect repellant containing 10-30% DEET is the most effective and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children > 2 months old. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks can be helpful as well. Be sure to check kids for ticks at the end of the day if playing in the woods or tick prone areas.
Sunscreen – Even though temperatures are not that hot yet, the sun is still ready to give you sunburn. All children > 6 months old should wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15) on sun-exposed skin, especially during peak hours of 10am-4pm. We prefer to keep babies under 6 months old in the shade if possible. When shade and clothing are not adequate, parents can apply a small amount of sunscreen to babies < 6 months old.
References:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/E-Scooters.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Lawnmower-Safety.aspx