Here are the 5 activities that an emergency pediatrician forbids his children to do in the summer

Swimming in the pool, in the sea, days spent at summer camp or in the park… Children love summer because of the many activities they can try. But be careful because some of them represent a real danger to their health. An emergency pediatrician tells the media Today the five activities he forbids his children from doing in the summer.

Making fireworks at home

On the occasion of various national holidays, fireworks are set off everywhere. This type of spectacle, very pleasant to watch, should not however be reproduced at home. This is still too often the case, as deplores Dr. Brent Kaziny, medical director of emergency management at Texas Children’s Hospital.Every summer, children come to the emergency room with injuries related to fireworks and unsurprisingly, these tend to spike around July 4th.” he explains.

These injuries range from minor burns to third-degree burns, to the hands, but also to the face or eyes. Not to mention sometimes the loss of fingers or a hand. Dr. Kaziny also warns parents about magic candles, often lit at birthdays or weddings.They should know that sparklers can reach temperatures in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (the equivalent of 1093 °C, editor’s note). That’s the equivalent of the temperature of a soldering iron.”. Not to be put in the inexperienced hands of children, therefore.

Walking around a pool (or swimming) without supervision

Children love to have fun in the water in the summer. But parents must remain vigilant even before they are inside a pool or lake. Indeed, the risk of drowning is present from the moment they are near a body of water, especially if it is not secure.

Children should never be left in or around a pool unsupervised, says Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency physician at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital.Don’t walk away, even for a second, because that’s when everything happens.” she warns. She also recommends that someone constantly supervise children, before and during their swimming.

Swimming in rough seas or oceans

Before going to the beach, it is advisable to monitor the weather conditions to know if there is a risk of swimming, by an orange or red flag, but also of counter-currents and rip currents, for example. If the ocean seems too rough or the current too strong, Dr. Martin recommends that parents rule out the idea of ​​letting children swim, especially if they are young or not yet good swimmers.When children swim in the ocean, they must be accompanied by their parents or closely supervised.” adds Dr. Kaziny.”And the best thing to do to protect them is to teach them to swim.”

Another safety tip from Dr. Martin: teach children to swim out of a rising tide, which means swimming parallel to the shore and never against the current. Good to know because “even the strongest swimmers can fall into this trap” she notes.

Exposure to the sun without protection

Sunny days are nice, but they can also be a source of serious sunburn in children.It is important for parents to take steps to protect children from too much exposure to ultraviolet rays.” note the doctors.

“Every summer we see very bad Sun burn in children, especially infants” explains Dr. Martin, with second-degree burns that blister and damage the skin. More seriously, a history of one or more sunburns during childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer in adulthood. Sun protection is essential for children and adults throughout the summer, therefore, the specialists remind us.

Cycling without a helmet

Bicycle accidents can be serious, especially if children do not wear helmets. “Older kids often don’t think they need a helmet because they’re good cyclists and aren’t afraid of falling.” explains the specialist. “But when it happens and they hit their head or injure their brain… it can be devastating injuries with lifelong consequences.”. It is therefore essential for young people (and adults!) to wear a helmet every time they ride a bike, even near home or over a short distance.

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