Summer Safety

Hilliard Pediatrics, Inc. - Dr. Tim Teller, MD


Sun Exposure


  • Please use sunscreen on exposed skin whenever you will be out in the sun. This helps reduce the chances of skin-aging and skin cancers.
  • In general, the higher the number of SPF, the better protection from the sun. It is recommended to use at least an SPF of 30. Reapply as instructed on the package.
  • Children can start safely using sunscreen at 6 months of age. An infant younger than 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun so they will not sunburn. Sunscreen does not protect young infants less than 6 months of age.
  • It takes at least ½ hour for the sunscreen to work. It is best to apply the sunscreen while still at home before you are dressed and outside. Ideally, put it on while your children are not fully dressed so that you make sure you get all the areas that might get exposed to the sun.

Insect Bites


  • Warm weather months are mosquito season. Mosquitoes need standing water to make more mosquitoes. They are often much more active in the morning and in the evening.
  • Mosquitoes can carry a number of diseases, including West Nile Virus. Although the chances of being bitten by an infected mosquito are very small and the chances of becoming seriously ill from the infection are small, do what you can to avoid being bitten.
  • To avoid mosquito bites, avoid going outside during the peak hours, use a DEET- containing insect repellant if you are outside during peak hours, wear long shirts and pants when outdoors during peak hours, wear light colors, and do not let water stand in your property (play pools, planters, puddles) for more than 4 days. For infants, use mosquito netting on playpens or strollers. The Avon® Skin So Soft product is not as protective as DEET-containing products in scientific studies.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics says: Studies show insect repellants with a DEET concentration of 30% are more protective that lower concentrations, but that concentrations higher than 30% do not provide more protection -- they simply last longer. In response to these findings, the Academy says that a 30% concentration is safe for adults and children 2 months and above, but that 10% can be used for children if parents are concerned about the potential risks or if the threat of disease-carrying mosquitoes is small. The risk from DEET is very low and the risk for disease from the mosquitos is not. Therefore, it is wise to use DEET-containing products to avoid having your children bitten by mosquitos.

Lawn Mower Safety



Tick Bites


  • Most tick bites are harmless. The chances of becoming ill by a germ passed to you from the tick are very small. Even in areas (New England and Wisconsin) where Lyme disease is seen frequently, the chances of a tick passing the Lyme disease germ to you after a bite are only 1 in 100.
  • If the tick is still attached, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the head of the tick close to the skin. Pull the tick off straight out of the skin. Wash the area with hydrogen peroxide and then cover with Neosporin® and a bandage.
  • DEET is a good tick repellant. Using it will reduce the chances of a tick biting you and your family.
  • Your child should be seen promptly if part of the tick remains after you tried to remove it, a rash develops at the site, the area appears infected (warm, red, and tender), or if your child shows sign of illness after the bite (fever, headache, chills, stiff neck, or achiness). The target rash of Lyme disease will usually start 7-14 days (can be 3-30 days) after the tick bite. There will be a red raised bump with a red raised circle around the bump that gradually gets more spread out. If you believe your child has Lyme disease, they need to be seen promptly. The following is a link to more information on Lyme disease: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/Lyme-Disease.aspx

Water Safety


  • Make sure everyone in the family learns to swim.
  • Swim in designated areas that are supervised by lifeguards.
  • Swim with a buddy. A dangerous situation that raises the risk for drowning is when a group of adults is supervising children swimming. It is too easy in a group to think that someone is watching the kids swim, when that can leave them vulnerable to having no one watch them. Make sure there is a designated adult or adults watching the kids.
  • Never leave a young child unattended near water.
  • If you go boating, have your family wear life jackets.
  • Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets around water.

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Last Updated: 06/2019