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TICKS:
What should I do if I find a tick on my child?
First, don't panic – two things are on your side:
- The risk of developing Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is only about 1 to 3 percent.
- Ticks can’t transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease until they attach and begin to feed, which makes them engorged. This can take up to 48 hours, so if you find a tick that isn’t engorged, your child may be less likely to contract Lyme disease.
All you need to do is remove the tick and watch for symptoms. See these resources for information:
Here’s how to remove the tick:
- Remove the tick using a fine-tipped pair of tweezers. Grasp the body of the tick and pull in an upward motion until the tick comes out. Do not squeeze or twist the tick’s body. Put the tick in a bottle.
- Take note of the size and color of the tick, as well as your estimate of the time it has been attached and whether or not it is engorged.
- It’s not necessary to take your child to a doctor after a tick bite, but if you have questions or want a consult, see your child’s pediatrician.
A small bump or redness at the site of a tick bite that occurs immediately and resembles a mosquito bite is common. This generally goes away in 1-2 days and is not a sign of Lyme disease.
Poison Ivy and other plants that have similar irritants may be hard to spot in early spring especially if they are dried vines on trees. They still have the resin present and can cause irritation. If you think you have had contact and have developed a rash, try applying calamine lotion and OTC hydrocortisone cream or ointment. Take OTC antihistamines for relief. If the rash is spreading and you are concerned, call to make an appointment to see us.
CDC: Poisonous Plants
CDC: Poisonous Plants PDF
Poison Ivy Treatment
WATER SAFETY:
Summer brings along with it many fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. One of them is swimming. Whether your child swims in a pool, lake, pond, or ocean, there are several steps you can take to ensure your child’s safety while maximizing the summer fun. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury in children. Children ages 1-4 years old are at greatest risk of death by drowning.
*Never leave children alone in or near water, even for a moment. An adult, preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR, should be at arm’s length, providing “touch supervision”.
*The safest fence around a pool is one that surrounds all 4 sides of the pool and completely separates the pool from the house. If the house serves as the 4th wall, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and pool. Make sure that all gates open out from the pool.
*Keep rescue equipment such as a Shepard’s hook (a long pole with a hook on the end) and a portable telephone by the pool. Choose rescue equipment that does not conduct electricity, such as those made from fiberglass.
*Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties” or “swimmies”. They are not a substitute for approved life jackets and can give parents and children a false sense of security.
*Avoid entrapment. Suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer under water. Do not use a pool if there are missing or broken drain covers. Ask the pool owner if the pool or spa drain is compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act. Ask your pool service representative to update your drains or other suction with anti-entrapment drain covers.
*Never swim alone! Even good swimmers need buddies.
*Make sure your child knows never to dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
*Never let your child swim in canals or any fast-moving water.
*Children should wear life jackets on boats, docks, or near bodies of water. They will follow your example. Whenever you are on a boat, everyone should wear a life jacket.
Pool Safely
*Dry Drowning or Secondary drowning: Neither is an actual medical phrase and it seems to be based on a fear that a child can unexpectedly succumb to respiratory problems some unpredictable time after swimming. This fear has been exacerbated by media reports dramatizing events without fully explaining them. The concept that “dry drowning” is based on post-obstructive pulmonary edema, has truth to it. The concept that it can sneak up on a child unexpectedly is misconstrued. The reality is that if a child suffers a submersion injury, they will have symptoms such as cough, rapid breathing, or shortness of breath. Complications may take hours to evolve but they won’t emerge unpredictably without warning and they won’t start days later as had been reported in the media.
Dry Drowning and Other Swimming Safety Myths
IF A SUBMERSION INJURY IS SUSPECTED THE FAMILY SHOULD SEEK CARE IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY.
SUN SAFETY :
Everyone loves warm sunny days but no one likes sunburn. Here are some tips for keeping your family safe from the harmful effects of too much sun.
*Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or stroller canopy. For babies younger than 6 months, use sunscreen on small areas of the body if protective clothing and shade are not available. For babies older than 6 months, apply to all areas of exposed skin but be careful around the eyes. Choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
*When possible, dress your children in cool comfortable light weight clothing that covers the body.
*Wear a hat with an all-around 3 inch brim to shield the face, ears and back of neck.
*Limit exposure between 10am and 4pm when UV rays are strongest.
*Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection.
*Use a sunscreen with “broad spectrum” on the label. That means it will screen out both UVA and UVB rays. The SPF factor should be at least 15. 15-30 is fine for most people.
*Apply enough sunscreen to cover the entire body 15 to 30 minutes before going out so it has time to absorb into the skin. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel.
*A note about the chemical Benzene: recently an online pharmacy/laboratory has detected trace amounts of a chemical called benzene that has been linked to blood cancers such as leukemia in many sunscreens. The company has appealed to the FDA to recall these products and the FDA is investigating.
*How to soothe mild sunburn: Have your child take frequent cool baths or showers. Use a moisturizer with aloe vera, or apply hydrocortisone cream to any areas that are particularly sore. Consider giving ibuprofen. Have your child drink extra water. Do not apply any creams with "-caine" (like benzocaine) in the title as these may cause skin irritation. Protect sunburned skin as it heals by wearing tightly woven clothing that covers the area.
CALL OUR OFFICE FOR ANY SUNBURN IN A CHILD UNDER 1 YEAR OLD. FOR OLDER CHILDREN, CALL OUR OFFICE IF THERE IS BLISTERING, PAIN OR FEVER.
Healthy children.org: Sun Safety
BUGS AND INSECT REPELLENTS:
Insect bites are a common result of summer fun. Here are some suggestions preventing the very common occurrence of insect bites.
*Dress your child in light colored, loose clothing that covers the body. Tuck pants into socks to help avoid ticks.
*Avoid the hours of dusk when there are more insects present.
*Check your child’s body all over every night for ticks. Deer ticks are very small (the size of the head of a pin), dog ticks are larger. See “What should I do if I find a tick on my child?” on our Health FAQ's located under the FOR PARENTS TAB.
*DEET is considered the best defense against biting insects. The amount of DEET varies in products so it is important to read labels. The amount is usually between 10-30%. More than 30% DEET does not offer additional protection. The duration of action is 2-5 hours depending on the concentration. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a concentration of 10% DEET for children with a maximum of 30%. DEET is not safe to use in children under 2 months old. DEET has been shown to repel ticks as well as other biting insects.
*Picaridin, citronella, eucalyptus oil, and soybean oil are often found in non-DEET insect repellents. They have a duration of action comparable to 10% DEET, lasting 2-8 hours depending on the concentration. There are currently no studies that show they repel ticks.
*Only apply insect repellent to the outside of clothing and on exposed skin.
*Avoid reapplying unless necessary.
*Spray repellent in an open area to avoid breathing it in.
*Never spray repellent directly in a child’s face. Instead spray a little on your hands and rub it on their face. Avoid the eyes and mouth.
*Do not use products that contain both DEET and sunscreen. The DEET makes the SPF less effective and can over expose your child to DEET because the sunscreen needs to be reapplied.
*Wristbands soaked in chemical repellents, garlic or vitamin B1 taken by mouth, or ultrasonic devices are not effective insect repellents.
*Wash your children’s skin with soap and water to remove any repellent when they return indoors, and wash their clothing before they wear it again.
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