Summer Tips

Written by: Casie Tavares-Stoeckel, CPNP

Summer is slowly ending, but here in the greater Washington area the warm weather will be sticking around until October.

Here are a few summer tips that can help you stay safe.

The Sun:

• Sunscreen is not recommended for infants under 6 month, sun avoidance is recommended.   Try to use stroller covers, umbrellas and find cover under trees.
• Hats can be more than an accessory.   Hats with a 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck.

Sunscreen:

• Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label; that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.
• Use Sunscreens that are SPF 15-50.   Most children will do fine with sunscreen that is 30-50 SPF.
• Remember that sunscreen is not effective if you don’t reapply. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours after swimming or sweating.
• Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. This is most helpful in areas of the nose, ears, face, and shoulders.

Sunburns:

• If the child is under one, it is best to bring the baby in to be seen for any sunburns.
• Older children should be seen for sunburns that cause pain, blistering or fever.
• After a sunburn, good fluid intake is important. Encourage water, Pedialyte or water mixed with juice.
• Can give Tylenol or Ibuprofen for pain. For infants under the age of 6 M only use Tylenol for pain control.
• Cool water bath can be soothing for sunburns.
• After sunburn heals, good sunscreen coverage for the area that was burned is very important.

Bugs:

• Try to avoid areas of stagnant water or gardens with flowers to reduce risk of getting bit by insects.
• It is now recommended to use insect repellent with DEET. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends DEET up to 30%. This is safe for children older than 2 months.
• Avoid going out in the early morning and late evening.
• When outside in evening, when mosquitoes are most prevalent, wear long sleeves and pants.

Ticks:

• Use DEET repellent to help prevent tick bites.
• Treat All Animals for Fleas and Ticks.
• When in wooded areas, dress your child in long selves, pants and a hat.
• Perform family wide tick checks daily. Remove all ticks that are seen. Can soak ticks in rubbing alcohol to kill them before disposing of them.
• Know the signs and symptoms of tick borne illnesses. ( Such and a bulls-eye rash, fatigue, fever, swelling of the joints)

Reference and More Information

Healthy Children.Org: (https://healthychildren.org)

American Academy of Pediatrics (https://aap.org)