The lazy days of summer are finally here! Have you been having fun with your family so far? We’ve been enjoying the nice weather and taking advantage of not having such zany schedules.

My favorite part of the summer is to embody the “lazy” from the “lazy days of summer” motto and attempt to find ways to convince my family to embark upon that journey with me. Far from becoming couch potatoes, slowing down is more of a state of mind…a way to refuel and take some time to just go where the wind blows and unclog our minds from the months of road dust that our more hurried lives had deposited.

The unique elements of the summer are the prefect backdrop for this much needed change of pace, but also need to be considered for their powerful seasonal characteristics. To get you on your way, here are my Lazy Summer tips:

Lube up! The sun is stronger this time of year and puts everyone at risk for burning so lube up everyone liberally (2 months and older) with sunscreen SPF 15 or higher.

Always hydrate. Heat illnesses are serious and can creep on kids and adults quickly. Keep everyone hydrated and if anyone seems overly tired or looks dehydrated, seek care immediately.

Zap those bugs. Biting bugs can carry infection so be sure to use DEET bug spray 10-30% for children 2 months of age and older.

You only have one head so protect it! If someone is in motion on a bike, skateboard or even jet ski, they need to protect the head. Having a “no helmet, no bike/skakeboarding/etc policy” and wearing a helmet yourself goes a long way in reinforcing this rule.

Swim smartly. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all kids 4 and older take swim lessons. However, this isn’t a replacement for adult supervision near water but a way to assist children in becoming more water safe as they get older and stronger.

Unplug! Use the summer to unplug and get outdoors. Untethered by technology, you’ll all see the world differently and find yourselves unwinding in ways impossible to during the school year.

Mowing is for adults. Lawn mowers injuries are incredibly serious and avoidable. Kids younger than 12 should never operate push mowers and kids under 16 should never operate ride-ons. And, kids should never ride on mowers with anyone else…ever!

Move and groove every day! Take advantage the long days of summer to get everyone moving more and every day.  You may even find a few activities that can carry over into the next school year.

Eat for the season. The summer is a goldmine for wonderful, fresh fruits and vegetables that make eating new and exciting, even for kids. Take advantage of that to find new, healthy foods for your family that can carry over into the fall and winter, and help balance out the yummy summer ice cream treats.

Remember to focus on fun and family! Family time can be a precious commodity in the school year so grab it while you can this summer and just go for broke with fun being the only rule.

Here’s to a fantastic summer!

Does your family dream of amusement park rides every summer? This time of year the amusement park ads are in full bloom getting everyone itching to get to their local parks.

There is no doubt that amusement parks can be a great family outing and offer something for everyone – even non-ride people. At the same time, while it’s easy to assume that a clean-looking, well-run park is “safe”, statistics suggest otherwise. Safekids.org recently reported 6500 emergency room visits in 2001 for amusement park injuries in the United States – and the majority of those actually avoidable and due to families and attendants bending the posted rules. Equipment problems do occur but result in a small amount of injuries overall. Continue Reading

Do you know what preparing for a ski vacation and getting your children off to school during the freezing winter months have in common? More than you may think! Not only are the elements the same – ice/snow/wind/cold, but the dangers and the precautions needed are really the same. Yet our expectations for how we dress our children are somehow very different. If your family is anything like mine, they look far from artic warriors when they head off to school but could be mistaken for Eskimos on the slopes.

The vast majority of schools in Massachusetts have fairly strict guidelines for outdoor activities that our children are expected to follow at school. Use this to your advantage and expect them to follow these rules all the time, even at home or when walking to school. So, if the children are expected to wear certain clothing at school before being allowed outside, require the same at home or on the slopes. And, if its too cold for outdoor recess, than its likely too cold to build a snowman in the backyard!

Keep in mind that not all accidents are many variables are out of our control. At the same time, paying attention to the areas we can control will not only reduce the chance of preventable injury but maximize your family’s fun.

1. For sports requiring special equipment, be sure the equipment is well made and fits your child properly. Many outdoor stores do carry a full line of equipment, including used equipment, and can help you outfit your child properly. You may also want to check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site (www.cpsc.gov) to be sure any equipment you are considering has not been recalled.
2. For any winter sport, including sledding, your children should wear a good ski helmet. We only have one brain and it is not as easy to fix as a broken arm. So, if your child won’t wear the helmet, don’t let him participate – the risk of injury is too high otherwise!
3. Don’t forget eye protection – not only from the snow or ice but the sun. Good eye goggles or sunglasses are crucial for winter sports safety and will minimize the risk of injury should your child fall in the snow or be hit with some snow/ice.
4. Keep an eye on the local weather and don’t underestimate the danger that extreme cold can cause. The windchill is the number to pay attention to – that is how cold it feels outside due to the blowing, arctic wind. The more below zero it feels, the faster the wind is blowing, the more dangerous it is to be outside.
5. Avoid the tempation to leave small children in a parked car for even a few minutes when it is very cold – it only takes 5 minutes of extreme cold to cause hypothermia or frostbite. Better to take your children with you than to leave them in a car unattended – even for a few minutes.
6. Dress your child in layers underneath the snow suit to lock in the heat. Thermal clothing is the best but medium weight cotton clothing will work fine as well. Long underwear, turtlenecks and thermal socks are all essential for most outdoor winter sports. If your child gets too warm, she can always remove a layer.
7. Finally, don’t forget the hat – most of our heat is lost from our heads so keep them covered!

Here’s to a fun and safe winter.

(Originally posted November 2003; Updated December 2009)

Technical Names: Urticaria, Angioedema

Nicknames: Hives, welts

(from Pediatric Physical Diagnosis Electronic Atlast, Zitelli and Davis)

What are hives? Raised, red, itchy lesions on the skin that often come and go and can coalesce together in to larger, red, itchy areas. Unlike other rashes, these come and go and move about the skin.

What Causes hives? Hives occur from allergic reactions. These can be to medications but more commonly to something in the environment or a virus. In most situations of hives, we never determine the actual cause.

Some hives are caused by physical changes in body temperature such as exposure to cold, heat or extreme exercise. Some people get hives when they are nervous. Bug bites can cause hives and so can the sun.

Hives occur because the allergen, the thing we are allergic to, triggers the release of chemicals in our cells. These chemicals, histamines, cause the hives and itchiness.

How long do hives last?

Hives can come and go for days to weeks.

Treatment:

• antihistamines: over the counter benadryl or claritin; prescriptions
• antiitchy lotions such as Avreno, Sarna, Calamine

When to Call Your Doctor

• hives associates with drooling or trouble breathing
• hives associated with ingesting food
• hives associated with red eyes or swollen joints
• hives associated with fever

All these symptoms may mean a more serious allergic reaction is occuring – call your pediatrician or 911.

Internet Resources for Parents

Hives Resource Center MedicineNet

American Academy of Dermatology Hives Page

Internet Resources for Teens and Kids

Help With Hives (KidsHealth)

Last year’s record setting snowfall did little to curb our enthusiasm when this season’s first snowflakes fell in early November. With snow barely touching the ground, New Englanders of all ages rushed to find their winter clothes and prepare for endless outdoor adventures. Yards normally covered by grass instantly became white wonderlands adorned with ski tracks, sleds, and a myriad of snow people. And where there is outdoor fun there are always unexpected injuries.

Continue Reading