John P. Bonavia, MD Family Practice Columbia St. Mary’s Port Washington

May 28, 2009

With the warmer weather here, outdoor activities soon will be in full swing. Whether it is hats and sunscreen to prevent sunburn or striving to prevent more serious injuries, parents of young children know that protecting their kids from outdoor injuries is an important responsibility. Here are some tips to help:

1. Prevent motor vehicle or biking injuries.
   Always use proper restraints in vehicles. All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lbs. Young children weighing at least 20 lbs and until at least 40 lbs or 4 years old should sit in forward-facing car seats. Use booster seats for children between ages 4 and 8 or until they reach 4’9” tall, and seat belts for older children. All children 12 and under should be seated in the back seat of vehicles. Never allow young children to play unsupervised near parked cars or streets. Insist on use of bike helmets to decrease risk of head injury.
2. Prevent drowning.
   Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children from 1 to 4 years of age. Just as you must always supervise young children near water in the home such as bathtubs and toilets, close outdoor monitoring is critical. A responsible adult should supervise children swimming or playing near water. Older children and adults should always swim with a buddy. Coast guard approved life-vests should always be worn when boating. Four-sided fences at least four feet high should enclose all swimming pools. Teaching children to swim is also a great idea.
3. Prevent playground injuries and falls.
   Falls are the leading non-fatal cause of injury in children less than 15 years of age. Be sure playground equipment is maintained and there is a soft landing surface below. Make sure your child wears all the proper protective gear when playing active sports such as in-line skating. Supervise closely young children around all fall hazards—inside and outside.
4. Prevent burn injuries.
   Most of us know to install and maintain smoke detectors in our homes, cook with care and supervise young children around cooking surfaces, and set our water heater thermostat to 120 degrees or lower to help prevent burns in the home. Similarly, keeping children away from hot grills and leaving fireworks to the professional can help protect our kids.
5. Prevent dog bites.
   Children ages 5 to 9 sustain the most dog bite injuries. Teach children basic safety around dogs — for instance, not approaching an unfamiliar dog and not disturbing a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies. Young children should not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
6. Prevent bee stings.
   Have children leave an area with aggressive or excessive bees. Having an Epi-pen available for a child with a severe bee-sting allergy when they are outdoors is always a good idea.

The outdoor safety of our children is a concern we all share. I hope this information is helpful as you and your family enjoy the wonderful Wisconsin outdoors!