Spring Newsletter 2008

Children are generally not developmentally ready for formal swimming lessons until their fourth birthday.   Also, swimming lessons for infants and toddlers do not necessarily make them safer in or around the water and are not a recommended means of drowning prevention at these ages.  If you want to put your small child in a swimming program, choose one that doesn't make him put his head under water (swallowing too much water can make your child sick).  Also find a program that lets you swim with your child.  Once your child is ready, he should be taught how to swim.  However, remember that teaching your child to swim does not mean he is safe in the water.  Even a child who knows how to swim can drown a few feet from safety.  Also remember that even a child who knows how to swim, needs to be watched at all times.  No one, adult or child, should swim alone.  Older children and teens are also at risk from drowning, even if they know how to swim.  They often drown while swimming in unsupervised places such as water-filled quarries, rivers or ponds.  Alcohol is also a factor in many teen drowning accidents.

Serious spinal cord injuries, permanent brain damage, and even death can occur to swimmers who dive into shallow water or spring upward on the diving board and hit it on the way down.  Keep safe by following these simple common sense diving rules:

Check how deep the water is.  Enter the water feet first, especially when going in the first time.  Never dive into above ground pools; they are usually not deep enough.  Never dive into the shallow end of a pool.  Never dive through inner tubes or other pool toys.  Learn how to dive properly by taking classes.

Some of the most common concerns for parents of adolescents are tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.  The pressure to experiment with these substances can come from friends and peers.  If you suspect your child is using these substances, open a discussion about the dangers involved with using tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.  Here are some key points you should try to emphasize:

Smoking can turn into a lifelong addiction that can be extremely hard to break.  Discuss some of the more undesirable effects of smoking, including bad breath, stained teeth, wrinkles, a long-term cough, and decreased athletic performance.  Addiction can also lead to serious health problems like emphysema and cancer.

"Chew" or "snuff" can also lead to nicotine addiction and causes the same health problems as smoking cigarettes, including cancer.  Mouth wounds or sores can also form and may not heal easily.

If you suspect your teen or preteen is smoking or using smokeless tobacco, talk to your pediatrician.  Arrange for your child to visit the pediatrician, who will want to discuss the risks associated with smoking and the best ways to quit before it becomes a lifelong habit.  Both young and old smokers are often more likely to listen to advice from their doctor than from others.

If you smoke...QUIT.  If you or someone else in the household smokes, now is a good time to quit - watching a parent struggle though the process of quitting can be a powerful message for a teen or preteen who is thinking about starting.  It also shows that you care about your health, as well as your child's.

Alcohol is the most socially accepted drug in our society, and also one of the most abused and destructive.  Even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment, provoke risky and violent behavior, and slow down reaction time.  An intoxicated teenager (or anyone else) behind the wheel of a car is a lethal weapon.  Alcohol-related car crashes are the leading cause of death for young adults, aged 15-24 years.  Though it's illegal for people under age 21 to drink, we all know that most teenagers are no strangers to alcohol.  Many of them are introduced to alcohol during childhood.  If you choose to use alcohol in your home, be aware of the example you set for your teen.  The following suggestions may help:

Having a drink should never be shown as a way to cope with problems.

Don't drink in unsafe conditions like driving the car, mowing the lawn, etc.

Don't encourage your child to drink or to join you in having a drink.

Never make jokes about getting drunk; make sure that your children understand that it is neither fun nor acceptable.

Show your children that there are many ways to have fun without alcohol.  Happy occasions and special events don't have to include drinking.

Do not allow your children to drink alcohol before they reach the legal age.

Teach them never, ever to drink and drive.

Always wear your seatbelt (and ask your children to do the same).

Babies under six months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight.  Remember to move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy.  It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen to infants under six months if there is no way to avoid the sun.  It is best to dress them in lightweight clothing that covers their arms and legs, also using a brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Choose a sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof.  Before covering your child, test the sunscreen on your child's back for an allergic reaction.  Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids.  If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.  Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics - cotton clothing is both cool and protective.  Some newer fabrics for swimming even have UV protection.  When your child is wearing a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield the face.  Sunglasses with UV protection are also a good idea for your child's eyes.  If your child gets a sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, please contact your pediatrician.

The sun's rays are the strongest between 10am and 4pm.  Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.  Remember the sun's damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.  Most of the sun's rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.  When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label, which will block out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays.  Choose a water resistant or waterproof sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, reapplying every two hours.  Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks and the ears and shoulders.  Rub the sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears and hands, and even the backs of the knees.  Most adults would need at least one ounce of sunscreen to cover exposed areas.  Put on sunscreen thirty minutes before going outdoors as it needs time to work into the skin.  Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

An adult should actively watch children at all times while they are in a pool.  Use 'total supervision" which means an adult is never more than an arm's length away at all times.  Remember, supervision by an older child, and even the presence of a pool lifeguard, isn't a safe substitute for adult supervision.  If you have a pool, insist that the following rules are followed:

Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not in use.         

No tricycles or other riding toys at the pool.    

No electrical appliances near the pool.

No diving in a pool that is not deep enough.                              

Empty blow-up pools after each use.

No running on the pool deck.

To prevent a small child from entering the pool area on his own, there should be a fence that completely surrounds the pool or spa.  Combined with the watchful eyes of an adult, a fence is the best way to protect your child and other children who may visit or live nearby.  A pool fence should be climb-resistant and should not have anything alongside it (including lawn furniture) that can be used to climb it.  Pool fences should also completely surround the pool, separating it from the house and the rest of the yard.  They should be at least 4 feet high with no footholds or handholds that could help a child climb over it.  Have no more than 4 inches between vertical slats.  Remember chain-link fences are very easy to climb and are not recommended as pool fences.  A well-maintained gate which is self-closing and self-latching should open away from the pool.  Keep the latches higher than a child can reach.  Children should stay away from steps or ladders (for above-ground pools) or the steps and ladders should be locked or removed to prevent access by children.  Additional protection products, when used with a 4-sided fence, are also important.  Although these are never substitutes for adequate fencing, the list may include automatic pool covers (not floating solar covers), door alarms, doors to the house that are self-closing/self-latching, window guards and pool alarms.