School's Out, Summer's Here....

Summer's here and with that, it brings a complete different set of safety rules to the table. Here in New England, summer means longer days, warmer days and plenty of bugs. It also means sunburns, ticks, misqutoe bites and water activities. Each of these are items which can be prevented, if you take a few precautions.

Mom Central has joined with The Clorox Company and the MommyDocs to offer the following summer survival tips from MommyDocs.

• Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide "broad spectrum" coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child--daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don't forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.

For my girls, they know that before we go out, it means we need to apply sunscreen. I keep sunblock in my van, in bags, and near each door of the house. I know I lapse on reapplying sunscreen and occasionally forget, but a little vitamin D is also good for the body. I think many parent's biggest lapse (myself included) is to apply sunscreen on cloudy days. The suns rays are just as strong even when you can't see the sun.

• Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellant. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old.
  

We have two types of insect repellent around the house, depending on our activity. For everyday use in our heavy mosquito filled yard, I use Skin so Soft from Avon. It's gentle on the skin and keeps the misquote's at bay. This is expecially important as Moe is highly sensative to insect bites and we live in areas where West Nile Virus is present as summer wears on. When we are trekking through the woods on one of our many hiking adventures, I use an insect repellent with DEET. I've already pulled two deer ticks off of us this summer, we don't need any more. I remember one of our first hiking forays, there was a location on the path that was non-navitable so we had to tread through some underbrush. We left that section of woods covered in ticks. There were no fewer than 50! covering our legs, shirts and shoes. They were, however, dog ticks and not carriers of Lyme Disease.

• Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted "swimmers," after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it's a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.

Like many American's, we have a kiddie pool that the kids like to frolic in when the weather gets hot. Each night, we empty it and set it up to dry. I have to admit, I haven't disinfected it, but I remember growing up, my mom using bleach on our pool all th time. I also remember the sting of our eyes as there was always a little bleach mixed in the water. Supervision is a must, but I admit, as a parent of three little one's, occasionally I am out of sight. However, I insist at times like that, that the girls are in verbal contact with me at all times.

• High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.

For sports, I got the girls some reusable sports bottles. On really hot days or days where were are outside for long periods of time, I make the girls fill up their bottles and keep them at their side. I also encourage frequent water breaks. It's imoprtant to keep hydrated and for parents to know the warning signs of heat related illnesses.

• Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away.

My girls do not yet know how to spot plants that will make them itchy, but they are learning. So far, we've been lucky to make it through the previous summers itch free. But I always keep hydrocortizone cream and Calamine Lotion on hand for such emergencies!

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend and don't forget to swing by MommyDocs to brush up on some warm weather safety tips.