171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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July 2007
Feature Story
Top summer injuries - and how to prevent them
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Sally Webb, MD
Emergency Department |
With a little education and knowledge, most folks can help their kids avoid the top safety hazards this summer, says Dr. Sally Webb, pediatrician in MUSC's Children's Hospital Emergency Department.
Water- and auto-related accidents continue to be leading causes of injury and death in children.
"Boys are more likely to have water safety problems, as are African American adolescents. Also, over half of drownings or near drownings in the adolescent age group are associated with alcohol or drug use," cautions Dr. Webb.
A little prevention goes a long way, she says, to steering clear of the ED.
Below, the top safety issues and what you can do to play it safe with your kids this summer:
Water
Never leave infants or young children unsupervised in a bathtub or even around buckets of water. "Even less than a minute is too much - that can be all it takes," says Dr. Webb.
If you have a pool, fence all four sides at least 55 inches high to keep toddlers from scaling it, and install a gate that closes automatically. Make sure all family members have CPR training. While the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends all children learn how to swim, lessons don't always prevent drowning.
"Counsel adolescents about risky behavior when they're unsupervised around bodies of water," emphasizes Dr. Webb. "Remind them that if there's alcohol or drug consumption, it increases their danger. Never drink and swim."
Always use approved personal flotation devices for water-related activities, including fishing.
ATVs
"Emergency department physicians have seen an explosion in the number of off-road ATV injuries in children here and across the country," says Dr. Webb.
The AAP recommends that children who are not old enough to drive a car should not be driving an ATV. "Most injuries we treat are associated with rollovers," notes Dr. Webb, "because these vehicles are driven by inexperienced drivers."
Wear a helmet.
Insist your teenager take a driver educational program before using an ATV.
Do not allow passengers.
Also worrisome: "These ATVs are frequently used in rural areas, where delay to emergency care is significant," says Dr. Webb. "This compounds the seriousness of injuries."
Car Seats
Use approved car safety seats. Once kids outgrow infant seats, use a booster seat. (For info on car seat safety, see sidebar article below, "What's safest for your kid in the car?")
Follow guidelines when attaching the child seat to the car. "I'm still amazed at the number of times children in collisions are in a car seat which is not properly strapped to the car," says Dr. Webb.
Use a booster seat until a child reaches age seven. "It's proven that this results in a significant decrease in injuries," notes Dr. Webb.
Bicycles
Insist your child wear a well-fitting helmet. "Many children coming through our ED or ICU are still not wearing helmets despite educational campaigns," says Dr. Webb with concern. Studies show just 20 percent of kids wear helmets despite their proven effectiveness in preventing injury.
Take advantage of free helmet programs. The Coastal Cyclists Bicycle Club, along with local government groups, will sponsor a bike safety day for children in September.
Obey the rules of the road. Very young children should not ride on the street, just as they should not be allowed to cross streets until they understand how to do it safely. Sidewalk cycling along a busy street is not safe at any age.
Heat
Do not leave children unattended in a car, especially during summer months. "Every year, infants die as a result of being forgotten or intentionally left by parents who thought they would just be a few minutes," cautions Dr. Webb.
"The inside of a car heats up dramatically faster than the outside temperature. Infants and young children cannot tolerate these high temperatures for more than a few minutes."
Keep cars locked when they're not in use. Inquisitive children often find their way into cars or car trunks and then can't get out.
Drink plenty of liquids and take breaks in the shade or in air-conditioning to cool off.
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