Central New York’s warmest months offer countless family-friendly activities. But they also come with several hazards. Family Times recently talked to Sarah Lockwood, director of nursing at the Onondaga County Health Department, about some ways you can keep your family safe this summer. This is what she said:
Sun Safety
- Wear protective clothing (such as hats, sunglasses, and long sleeves).
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Don’t forget to reapply it every two hours – and after swimming, sweating, or drying off.
- Look for shade during the warmest part of the day (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
Heat Safety
- Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, and light colored clothing.
- Monitor yourself – and those around you – for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke (they include heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, and confusion).
- Never leave children or pets in a parked car (even if it’s just for a few minutes).
Water Safety
- Make sure that you and your family have basic swim and water safety skills.
- Always watch children when they’re in or near water.
- Prevent access to a pool when it’s not in use.
- Swim only in supervised areas – and never alone.
- Wear a life jacket when boating, jet skiing, water skiing, or rafting.
- Keep an eye on the weather. If a storm is coming, get out of the water.
Food Safety
- Wash your hands with soap and water before – and after – handling food.
- Keep meat and poultry refrigerated until you’re ready to grill or cook it.
- Separate raw meat from other foods.
- Use a thermometer to make sure your meat is cooked enough to kill harmful germs.
- Refrigerate any leftovers as soon as possible.
Eye Safety for the Summer Months
By Weiss, Savedoff & Ciccone
An eye poke on the trampoline, sand in the eye, a baseball black eye. All common eye injuries for your kiddo (or those young at heart). Those injuries can increase during the summer months.
Additionally, eye safety is frequently disregarded in children’s sports despite eye injuries being the leading cause for blindness among children in the United States. Unfortunately, conventional glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses do not safeguard or prevent your children’s eyes from being injured while being active. However, wearing the correct eyewear can prevent most sports related eye injuries.
The following are the various eye protectors recommended for different sports:
1. Basketball and Baseball/Softball
Children should wear sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses, face guards, and helmets that include padding.
2. Water Sports
Goggles can prevent most of the irritation and infections from bacteria found in lakes, rivers, and swimming pools. However, it is still recommended to wash your eyes with fresh water after swimming.
3. Hockey and Football
Face guards and sports goggles that are made of polycarbonate plastic and include padding around the nose and brow are highly recommended for all contact sports.
4. Soccer and Tennis
Children should wear face guards and sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses and 100%
UV protection.
At Weiss, Savedoff & Ciccone, we take pride in encouraging young people to develop healthy behaviors while still having fun. If your child suffers an eye injury, make sure you get them checked out. The summer months are also a good time to schedule those regular eye exams.
