Summer Safety

By Anya Roychoudhury, MD, FAAP

Loudoun Pediatric Associates

More Child Health and Safety Articles

Summer Safety

Summer is a great time for kids and their families to have fun in the sun, but it is important to have summer safety at the forefront of your plans. When most of us with children think of summer, the first things that come to mind are sun and swimming. In this article, you will find a few safety tips put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to safely enjoy your summer.

Did you know that 80% of lifetime sun damage occurs before the age of 18 years? Skin cancer is a growing risk in the United States and careful parents can play a huge role in helping to reduce their child's risk of sun damage.

You can help protect your child by providing sun protection at all times, even on overcast days. The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Stay in the shade when possible. Minimize sun exposure from 10 AM 4 PM when the sun is the strongest and limit outdoor activity when the UV index is seven or higher. Have your child wear a hat with a three-inch brim or bill facing forward, sunglasses, and cotton clothing with a tight weave.

The next step in sun safety is choosing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher with UVA and UVB protection. The most common mistakes are not applying enough sunscreen and not reapplying frequently. Be sure to apply sunscreen liberally at least 20 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Use extra caution around water and sand as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

For babies under six months old, the AAP recommends avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats. If adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to exposed areas, but avoidance of the sun is the safest.

Once your sun safety tips have been applied, it is time for some fun in the water. Teach your child the basic rules to water safety drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in children, resulting in approximately 1,500 deaths per year and 2,600 near-drowning events.

Never leave a child alone in or near the water, even for a moment; whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing “touch supervision.” Teaching your child to swim is important, but never view this as “drown proofing” for any child. Advise your child to avoid pool drains and do not use a pool if there are broken or missing drain covers.

With a little planning, summer safety becomes second nature for most families. Please reference the American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org, and search for “summer safety tips” for more details on how to have a safe summer and enjoy.