A Weekly Note from Mayor Gary L. Graham
“Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
Summer has arrived. For many families this means spending time outdoors enjoying backyard barbeques, swimming, bike riding and that long anticipated family vacation. These activities are lots of fun, but they also involve a variety of health and safety hazards that can be avoided with the proper precautions. This week’s column will share several safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics that will assist you in keeping your family safe this summer.
Fun in the Sun
Babies under six months: Avoid sun exposure and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats. When adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands.
Young children: Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15.
Older children: Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave. Stay in the shade whenever possible, and avoid sun exposure during the peak intensity hours (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen (about one ounce per sitting for a young adult). Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
Pool Safety
Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
Install a fence at least four-feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through the fence.
Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach.
Keep rescue equipment and a portable telephone near the pool.
Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties”. They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
Children may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under four should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning. Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision”.
Bug Safety
Don’t use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail.
Insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective.
The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children. DEET should not be used on children under two months of age.
The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase.
Bicycle Safety
Do not push your child to ride a two-wheeled bike until he or she is ready, at about age five or six. Consider the child’s coordination and desire to learn to ride. Stick with coaster (foot) brakes until your child is older and more experienced for hand brakes.
Take your child with you when you shop for the bike, so that he or she can try it out. The value of a properly fitting bike far outweighs the value of surprising your child with a new bike.
Buy a bike that is the right size, not one your child has to “grow into”. Oversized bikes are especially dangerous.
Your child needs to wear a helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short or how close to home. Many accidents happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets. Children learn best by observing you. Whenever you ride your bike, you should put on your helmet.
When purchasing a helmet, look for a label or sticker that says the helmet meets the CPSC safety standard.
A helmet protects your child from serious injury, and should always be worn. A helmet should be worn so that it is level on the head, not tipped forwards or backwards. The strap should be securely fastened, and you should not be able to move the helmet in any direction. If needed, the helmet’s sizing pads can help improve the fit.
The health and safety of our residents and their loved ones is very important to me and by working together we can make sure that everyone remains safe this summer. The strong working relationship between City Hall and the residents we serve is yet another example of why O’Fallon is such a great community in which to live.
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