Peninsula Pediatrics

Category: Seasonal Safety

Protecting Children from Winter Injuries

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Despite the cold, many children find the winter season exciting, especially when they get to play in the snow. Snowball fights, making snow angels, and building snowmen are activities that bring joy to kids. Some also enjoy winter sports like ice skating, sledding, skiing, or snowboarding. While winter activities can be fun and beneficial for children’s health, they can also cause injuries if proper precautions are not taken. It’s important for families to be aware of the common types of winter injuries and how to prevent them.

 

One major risk is exposure to cold temperatures, which can lead to frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite occurs when the skin and sometimes the tissue below, freezes. The most susceptible parts of the body to frostbite are the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below normal, which can be life-threatening. To prevent both, make sure your child does not spend a long time outside in the cold, especially if the temperatures are freezing or there are windy conditions. It’s also important that your child dresses warmly, with layers, hats, gloves, and warm socks. 

 

If your child gets frostbite, bring them indoors immediately. Avoid rubbing the affected area or placing anything hot on the skin. Instead, place the frostbitten areas in warm water for 20 to 30 minutes or use a warm washcloth. If the pain or numbness doesn’t go away after several minutes, call the pediatrician.  Hypothermia, on the other hand, is a medical emergency. If you suspect that your child has hypothermia, call 911 right away and bring your child indoors. Remove any wet clothing and replace them with warm clothes, or wrap your child in a blanket. If they’re not breathing or their pulse is weak, perform CPR.

 

Winter sports like ice skating, sledding, skiing, and snowboarding can cause injuries if safety guidelines are not followed. Children should only go ice skating on approved surfaces and never alone. Advise your child to skate in one direction and encourage them to wear protective gear like a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. For kids who enjoy sledding, it’s essential that they do so properly – always feet first or sitting up and never lying down. Only steerable sleds that are structurally sound, free of sharp edges and splinters, and have a well-lubricated steering mechanism should be used. Children should avoid crowded areas and sled on slopes that are free of obstructions like trees. The slope should also not be too steep or have an incline that is more than 30 degrees. 

 

For skiing and snowboarding, kids should be properly trained by a qualified instructor and be supervised by an adult. Wearing a helmet is important to protect the head from potential injury. It is also recommended to wear goggles for eye protection. As with sledding, don’t let your child ski or snowboard down steep slopes or slopes that are too icy. 

 

In general, when it’s snowing or icy, kids need to be extra careful outside, as slippery surfaces can lead to falls. Wearing proper footwear with adequate traction can prevent slips. If your child does fall and experience a sprain or bruise, we suggest using the R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) to reduce swelling and pain. Keep the injured area rested without bearing any weight on it. Apply an ice pack to the area for 20-minute sessions several times. Additionally, wrap the area with a bandage and keep it elevated to promote drainage.

 

If your child has a serious injury, such as a fracture or concussion, please call our office. We hope your family stays safe and enjoys the rest of the winter season!



Cold and Flu Season

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The sick season is here, and we’ve seen an increase in the number of patients with the common cold and flu. These respiratory infections often spread through close contact with sick individuals or by touching your face after coming into contact with contaminated surfaces. Fortunately, there are steps to take to protect your family and reduce the risk of illness this season. 

As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we highly encourage families to vaccinate their children against the flu. Babies and younger children are particularly at risk of developing severe complications from the flu, which may require hospitalization. Since a baby’s immune system is still developing, it is more challenging for their body to fight infections. The flu vaccine strengthens your child’s immune system and helps protect them from the virus. Children should receive their first flu vaccine at six months of age. If your child is under eight years old and receiving the flu vaccine for the first time or has only received one dose previously, they will need two doses four weeks apart for full protection.

In addition to the flu vaccine, there are several preventive measures you can follow to keep your kids safe from getting sick. Remind your children to practice good hygiene such as washing their hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially before eating or touching their face. It’s also important to disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Make sure to wipe down toys, tables, doorknobs, and other areas your kids come into regular contact with. Keep your kids away from anyone who is ill, including other family members in the household. Extra care should be taken when visiting crowded public spaces, such as airports, where germs are more likely to spread.

Even though there is no cure for the common cold or the flu, there are ways to help ease your child’s symptoms and make them feel more comfortable if they do become sick. Getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids is essential. For congestion, you can use a nasal spray to loosen and help get rid of mucus. A cool mist humidifier or a warm bath can also be effective for relieving congestion. If your child has a sore throat, you can provide them with herbal tea mixed with honey. However, this should be only for children over one year of age. Honey is NOT safe for babies under the age of one. The recommended amount of honey for children between one and five is half a teaspoon. Kids ages six to eleven can have one teaspoon, and for children over twelve, they can have two. If this isn’t sufficient in soothing their throat, you can give your older child a cough drop, but make sure to follow the product instructions. 

If your child has a fever, you can give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen. But it’s important to follow the correct dosage based on your child’s age. We recommend following these guides for the right dosage: acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If your child’s fever is above 104°F or you have an infant under 3 months with a fever, seek medical care. 

In most cases, the cold and the flu will improve with home care. If your child’s symptoms persist or get worse, please call our office. We also advise calling the pediatrician if your child is under 3 months or if they have chronic health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, that put them at a higher risk of complications.  

 

Sun Safety for Children

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Sun safety is important for all months of the year, even in winter, but it’s especially important during the summer season when the days are longer and children spend more time outdoors in warmer weather. While getting some sunlight is beneficial and provides the body with Vitamin D, boosts mood, and regulates sleep, too much exposure can cause sunburn and skin cancer and damage the hair and eyes. Read on for our guidelines to protect your children from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

It’s important for babies under 6 months to avoid direct sunlight as their skin is more sensitive. When they are outside, keep them under the shade, i.e. an umbrella or the canopy of their stroller. For older children, have them use a liberal amount of sunscreen on all areas where the skin is exposed. Sunscreen should be applied even on cloudy days as up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can still get through. Make sure your children apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside as it takes time for it to absorb. Sunscreen should also be reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating, even if the sunscreen is labeled as water-proof. 

When it comes to choosing the best sunscreen, it is recommended to use one with a “broad-spectrum” label, which means that the sunscreen protects the skin from both UVB and UVA rays. You should also choose sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. It’s best to avoid sunscreen that contains the ingredient oxybenzone as there are concerns of mild hormonal properties.  

Even with sunscreen, children should not spend long periods under the sun as sunscreen does not provide 100% protection. Try to limit sun exposure during the peak hours which is usually between 10am and 4pm. You can also dress them in clothing that covers most of the skin, though it’s best to keep clothes loose and lightweight so your child isn’t overheated or uncomfortable. Hats are particularly useful to wear to prevent hair damage from the sun. It’s also important that your child wears sunglasses with 99% UV protection to keep their eyes safe. 

If your child ever does get a sunburn, it’s important to treat it immediately. A sunburn can appear 6 to 12 hours after exposure. If you see one, apply a cool compress or ice pack to the affected area. Keep your child out of the sun until the sunburn is fully healed. Most sunburns will heal after a few days with basic treatment. However, if the sunburn is more severe, it can take a few weeks to heal. In the meantime, you’ll want to make sure that your child stays hydrated to replace lost fluids. If your child experiences pain or extreme discomfort, you can give them acetaminophen (or ibuprofen for children older than 6 months) to help them feel better. 

If the sunburn becomes infected or causes blisters, fever, chills, light-headedness, or headaches, call our pediatrician right away.  For any other questions or concerns about summer safety, you can also contact our office.