Now that the heat of summer is upon us, I wanted to remind all of our families about the importance of sun safety.Repeated, prolonged exposure to the sun causes premature aging of the skin and also leads to a significant increased risk of skin cancer later in life.During the hottest part of the day, from 10AM to 4PM, skin can become damaged in a matter of minutes though symptoms will not show for several hours after the burn has already occurred.Therefore, waiting until your child’s skin is pink or hurting is waiting way too long.
In order to lessen the risks of being in the sun, I advise patients to avoid sun exposure during the mid afternoon whenever possible.The use of sunscreen is a MUST.In general, an SPF of 15 to 30 that blocks UVA and UVB is sufficient and should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow for maximum effectiveness and should be reapplied every four hours.“Waterproof” sunscreens will only be effective for about 30 minutes of water activity.After this, your child should be dried off and have sunscreen applied again.
The use of these simple measures can not only keep your summer activities and vacations free from the pain and inconvenience of sunburns but will also help keep your child healthy for years to come.
You can’t prevent accidents, but you can help prevent injuries. Riding bicycles is great exercise and fun. However, bicycle wrecks are a leading cause of injuries in children, especially injuries to the head. Most bicycle accidents occur within one or two blocks from a child’s house, so it is important that children – and adults – wear helmets every time they ride. Children should be taught to wear helmets from the time they are toddlers riding big wheels and tricycles. This will get them into the habit of using helmets when they get older. Actions speak louder than words, so set a good example for your youngster by always wearing a helmet yourself.
Winter is Here! As temperatures fall, we all want to stay warm. Babies and young children are generally comfortable at the same air temperatures as adults; there is no need to set the furnace higher than usual. Infants and children are also comfortable when dressed in the same number of layers of clothes as mom and dad, although I recommend an undergarment such as a Onsie when the weather gets really cold
Please remember that infants and children can lose 50% of their body heat through their head. Covering your baby’s or child’s head when going outdoors in cold weather is a must for keeping them warm. Don’t forget to cover the hands and feet as well to prevent cold injury to young fingers and toes!
It’s not too late to get your child’s flu shots. We have not seen any seasonal flu infections yet but anticipate it soon. Although the number of H1N1 flu infections has dramatically decreased over the last 4 – 6 weeks, the CDC speculates it may peak out again.It takes 2 weeks for the flu shot to take full effect and protect your child, so we recommend scheduling your child’s flu shot as soon as possible to prevent flu infections. H1N1 is recommended for children ages 6 months to 24 years and seasonal flu for ages 6 months – 18 years, unless they have an egg allergy. Also, families with babies in the home need flu immunizations to protect themselves and the newborns in the home.
