June 3, 2004

COLLEGE STATION – School's out and kids just want to have summer fun.

But even during this carefree season, keep safety in mind, said Maria R. Gutierrez, Texas Cooperative Extension child health and wellness specialist.

Safety knows no season, but summer has its own set of concerns. Gutierrez offered some tips to help families cope.

WATER SAFETY

The No. 1 factor in water safety is adult supervision, Gutierrez said.

"Never let kids swim alone." That holds true whether swimming at a public pool or a private one, a lake, a river or the ocean. "Don't let the children out of your sight."

Backyard swimming pools should be fenced and have a gate that is kept locked if the pool is not in use.

"Have an approved child-proof safety latch on the pool gate and keep the key (to the gate) in a safe place where kids can't get at it," Gutierrez advised. "Ensure proper supervision whenever children visit a friend's home that has a swimming pool."

People with backyard pools should test the water's disinfectant level and pH frequently to make sure it is within recommended levels. Too much disinfectant or an incorrect pH balance can cause eye, ear and throat irritations.

If the family is planning an outing to a pool, lake or swimming party, "make sure young children wear properly fitted life jackets," she said.

SUN SAFETY

Sunscreen is an important skin-protection accessory whether in or out of the water, Gutierrez said. Any outdoor activity should begin with the application of sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside. Gutierrez said most experts recommend using waterproof sunscreen and applying often.

"You need to reapply sunscreen on an as-needed basis since water activities will dilute their effectiveness," she said.

Applying sunscreen onto large areas of the body, such as backs, arms and legs, is important. But don't forget other parts of the body that will be exposed to the sun, Gutierrez said. "Apply behind the ears, between the fingers and toes, and on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet."

Activities in salt water or in pools with high levels of pH may require more frequent applications of sunscreen, she added. A sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 is recommended.

When summer activities do not involve water sports, protect the skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants in a light-weight, light-colored, tightly-woven fabric such as cotton or some other natural fiber. Man-made fibers are more likely to be hotter than natural fibers because it prevents the flow of air to the skin.

Wear a hat that shades the face, ears and back of the neck, and sunglasses to protect the eyes.

"Stay out of the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. if possible," she said. And drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. One rule of thumb for active children is to drink 5 ounces of cool water every 20 minutes when playing outdoors.

BICYCLE SAFETY

When it comes to safe bicycle riding, "the main thing above all is wearing a helmet and knowing basic biking rules," Gutierrez said. "Learn when and where you are able to ride a bike. Some places are safe and some are not."

When riding bicycles or tricycles, young children may need to be supervised by an older child or an adult.

Make sure the vehicle is in good working condition by inspecting the bicycle chain, brakes, tires and lights.

In addition to a properly-fitting, age-appropriate helmet, children should wear shoes when riding bikes – no open-toed shoes or bare feet. And they should not wear loose-fitting pants that might get tangled in the bicycle chain.

Don't wear headphones while riding a bike either, she warned. Listening to music while riding might be fun, but it also limits hearing, which is a safety hazard.

FOOD SAFETY

"Foodborne illnesses can strike any time of year, but they are especially worrisome in the summer when higher outside temperatures can speed up the growth of harmful micro-organisms in food," Gutierrez said. That's why perishable food left unrefrigerated for more than two hours should be discarded.

But summer is also the time of picnics and other outdoor parties where food is served. "When packing a picnic," Gutierrez said, "pack non-perishable foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grain or vegetable chips, canned or dried meat, hard cheese and peanut butter, and plenty of cool water to drink. If you have access to proper cooling, low-fat milk or yogurt may also be a refreshing change."

Water is the best drink for hydration. Older children and adults might also enjoy diet or regular soft drinks in moderate amounts or other beverages.

Harmful bacteria can be spread by direct physical contact too, which is why washing hands before eating is so important.

"Wash hands under warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday' to yourself," Gutierrez suggested. That's about 30 seconds of hand washing – front and back and between fingers, and clean under fingernails with a nail brush before eating and after going to the bathroom, handling pets or changing diapers.

"A (waterless) hand sanitizing solution is not an alternative to hand washing," she added. "These solutions can be used to augment hand washing but their sole use should not be substituted for proper hand washing."

INSECT SAFETY

Wearing long pants and shirts with long sleeves, in light-colored, light-weight, tightly-woven fabrics can provide a measure of protection from insect bites, as well as protection from the sun, Gutierrez said.

Many insects are attracted by aromas, so using scented soaps, shampoos, lotions, perfumes or colognes is not advised for adults or children. Bright colors can also attract insects, so avoid vividly-colored clothing or flowery prints.

Insect repellent with DEET can be helpful, but be extremely cautious when using it on children, she said. Don't use the product on children if the concentration is more than 30 percent, and don't use it at all on babies younger than 2 months.

And be aware that insect repellent has no effect on bees, wasps or hornets because these insects have a different kind of sensory system.

However, Gutierrez added, "for the most part, if you don't bother bees or wasps or hornets, they won't bother you." That's why children should not be allowed to play in areas where these insects are likely to congregate, including flowering gardens, near pools of still water or close to uncovered food.

For more information on keeping summer safe, Gutierrez recommends the following Web sites:

- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/ for information on a variety of health and safety issues;

- Children's Safety Zone Pool Safety at http://www.sosnet.com/safety/pool.safety.tips.index.html;

- Keep Kids Healthy, a pediatricians' guide to children's health and safety at http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/summer.html;

- Dr. Paul's Child's Health and Wellness Info site at http://www.drpaul.com/index.html and http://www.drpaul.com/factsheets/summersafe.html;

- National Safe Kids Campaign at http://www.safekids.org/index.cfm;

- American Academy of Pediatrics at http://www.aap.org/;

- Medline Plus at http://medlineplus.gov/; and

- Food Safety and Inspection Service from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, publications and activities for children at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Oa/pubs/kidspubs.htm