Summer safety tips for parents

Water safety, sun protection, bug bites, and dehydration tips: Parents can use these tips to enhance their peace of mind

Spending time in the sun and water during summer is one of life’s joys, but without proper precautions, it can lead to a variety of health and safety concerns for children. The most common issues include drowning, sunburn, illness from bug bites and dehydration.

Swimming and water safety

“Drowning is by far the most severe water-related safety concern, so summer is a good time to review water safety,” points out B. Jill McCabe, MD, FAAP, Medical Director of the Children’s Emergency Room and Hospitalist Program at Inova Loudoun Hospital. She recommends teaching children to swim around the age of 4.

Young children should also have an adult within arm’s reach at all times, and older children and teenagers should practice the buddy system.

Sun safety: Avoid sunburn and skin damage

To protect your kids’ skin from harmful UV rays, carefully apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher every two hours and reapply after they have been in the water. “People get the majority of their sun exposure during childhood,” adds Dr. McCabe. “The damage done can put them at risk for skin cancer throughout their lives, even if you don’t see anything now and regardless of skin tone.”

Tick protection

Dr. McCabe also recommends using an insect repellent that includes DEET to ward off pesky and potentially dangerous bugs such as ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease. Check your children for ticks when they come back inside from playing outdoors — particularly in hidden areas like the armpits and scalp — and remove them right away if you find any.

Avoiding dehydration

Dehydration is a concern for children who play sports or attend summer camp. Dr. McCabe recommends that children drink one bottle of water per hour, and to alternate with drinks that contain electrolytes if they exercise for more than one hour.

Accidents happen: Know your nearest urgent care and ER

Kids are kids and accidents happen. In the event of an injury or emergency, know where to go:

• Urgent Care (click to see Inova Urgent Care locations)
• Emergency Room (click to see Inova Emergency locations)

Inova dedicated pediatric Emergency Rooms:

EASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY: Inova Fairfax Hospital / Inova Trauma Center for Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Gallows Road, Falls Church)

LOUDOUN COUNTY: Children’s Emergency Room at Inova Loudoun Hospital (Riverside Parkway, Leesburg)

WESTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY: Children’s Emergency Room at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax, VA)

What’s the difference between urgent care and the emergency room?

The emergency room treats injuries that are serious or that may be life-threatening. The conditions and injuries below should be evaluated and treated in an emergency room:

• Severe bleeding due to injury or trauma
• Severe burns
• Chest pain
• Electrical shock
• Fractures that are open or angulated

Call 911 immediately if you have a medical emergency.