Summer Safety Tips for Kids Offered by Martin's Point Health Care

From preventing lawnmower accidents to making sure kids drink plenty of water, parents can keep children safe

As school lets out and families begin to relax for the summer, health experts at Martin's Point are advising parents to be aware of a number of risks to ensure that their kids have a safe and healthy summer.

From keeping the sun at bay to using mosquito repellent, Martin's Point Health Care offers the following advice and tips:

• About 10,000 children are injured each year in lawnmower-related accidents. Avoid mower mishaps by not allowing children under 12 to operate walk-behind mowers, sit on or come near riding mowers or power weed trimmers.
  
  
• Poisonous plants are among the leading cause of poisonings for children under 1. Teach children never to eat outdoor plants such as berries, mushrooms, roots or leaves. Keep children off chemically treated lawns that are still wet and away from insect sprays, weed killers, lighter fluid and matches.
  
  
• Many chemicals found in bug repellent can be harmful if overused. Use repellent sparingly and apply in well-ventilated areas, spraying only on shoes and clothes to prevent absorption into the skin.
  
  
• A bad sunburn as a child can double the risk of developing malignant melanoma as an adult. Always use sunscreen when outside and structure outdoor activity in the morning or late afternoon, when the sun's rays are not as strong. Keep infants under six months away from direct sunlight. Protect children's eyes with sunglasses offering both UVA and UVB protection.
  
  
• Active children lose the equivalent of two or more quarts of water daily, and are at risk of dehydration, especially in hot weather. Encourage your child, who should drink six to eight glasses of water each day, to drink water every 15-20 minutes while playing sports or playing outdoors. Make water and juicy fruits accessible to children. Sweet soda and caffeine drinks actually can speed up dehydration.

For additional information, there are a variety of online sources, from the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org to the Skin Cancer Foundation at www.skincancer,org. June also is National Safety Month, and the National Safety Council has additional safety tips on its website at www.nsc.org.

Headquartered in Portland at 331 Veranda St., Martin's Point serves more than 50,000 patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology and mammography, as well as other fields. Established in 1981, Martin's Point accepts patients covered by most health plans and the US Family Health Plan. The organization also has an extensive health education center. For additional information on Martin's Point, visit online at www.martinspoint.org.

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