380 likes | 486 Views
BE SUN SAFE!. Presented by Amy Lockmondy Canton Leisure Services. Facts About Sun Exposure. We all need sun exposure for Vitamin D Helps us absorb calcium Doesn’t take much time in the sun to get the Vitamin D needed How much is too much?
E N D
BE SUN SAFE! Presented by Amy Lockmondy Canton Leisure Services
Facts About Sun Exposure • We all need sun exposure for Vitamin D • Helps us absorb calcium • Doesn’t take much time in the sun to get the Vitamin D needed • How much is too much? • Most children get 50%-80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18 • With the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your child’s chance of developing skin cancer
UVA vs. UVB • UVA RAYS • Cause skin aging and wrinkling • Contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma • Make up the majority of our sun exposure • Used in tanning beds • UVB RAYS • Cause sunburns, cataracts, and immune system damage • Also contribute to skin cancer • Enough pass through ozone layer to cause damage • UVC RAYS • Most dangerous but blocked by the ozone layer
Quick Science • UV rays react with melanin • Melanin is first defense against the sun • Melanin is found in different concentrations and colors, so lighter the skin color – less melanin to protect against UV rays • Sunburn develops when the amount of UV exposure is greater than what can be protected against by the skin’s melanin
Who is Most at Risk? • Children with moles on their skin • Children with very fair skin and hair • Children with a family history of skin cancer
How to Protect Your Child • Avoid the strongest rays of the day • Usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. • Cover up • Make sure you can’t see your hand through clothes • Don’t forget hats and sunglasses • Ask about your child’s medication • Certain medications increase sensitivity
Protection Continued • USE SUNSCREEN CONSISTENTLY! • Choose a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher • Make sure the label says both UVA and UVB protection • Apply 30 minutes before going outdoors • Look for PABA free • If your child has sensitive skin, look for a product with titanium dioxide as the active ingredient
Sunscreen Continued • Use sunscreen whenever your child will be in the sun • Don’t forget about ears, lips, hands, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck • Don’t try to stretch out a bottle of sunscreen & apply it generously • Reapply often (approximately every 2 hrs) • Use waterproof sunscreen around water
Sunburn Care • Remove child from sun right away • Place child in a cool (not cold) shower or bath or apply cool compresses several times per day • Avoid creams or lotions that may hold heat inside the skin (like petroleum-based products) or contain numbing medication – use topical moisturizing creams to rehydrate skin and help reduce swelling.
Sunburn Care Continued • Give child ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed, if needed, to reduce pain • Offer child extra fluids for next 2 – 3 days • Make sure all sunburned areas are fully covered to protect your child from the sun until healed.
Call a Doctor if… • Sunburn forms blisters or is extremely painful • There is facial swelling from the sunburn • The sunburn covers a large area • Fever or severe chills occur • Headache, confusion, or feeling faint occurs • There are signs of dehydration • There are signs of infection on the skin, such as increasing redness, warmth, pain, swelling, or pus
THINK PREVENTION! • More than 90% of skin cancers are the result of sun exposure • Remember “Slip Slap Slop” • Slip on a shirt • Slap on a brimmed hat and sunglasses • Slap on a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, and reapply every 2 hours
Dehydration • Sometimes abnormally large amounts of water are lost through long periods of exercise – risk is increased with outdoor exercise • If a child is sweating a lot on a hot day due to intense physical activity, watch for the following:
Signs & Symptoms of Dehydration • dry or sticky mouth • few or no tears when crying • eyes that look sunken into the head • soft spot (fontanelle) on top of baby's head that looks sunken • lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
Signs & Symptoms of Dehydration Continued • lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine) • dry, cool skin • lethargy or irritability • fatigue or dizziness in an older child
Preventing Dehydration • On hot, dry, and windy days, it's important that children drink often. • Those who participate in sports or strenuous activities should also drink some extra fluid before the activity begins. They should also drink at regular intervals (every 20 minutes) during the course of the activity and after the activity ends.
A Tip About Thirst… • Thirst is not a good early indicator of dehydration. By the time a child feels thirsty, he or she may already be dehydrated. And thirst can be quenched before the necessary body fluids have been replaced.
Treating Dehydration • The goal in treating dehydration is to replace fluids to restore the levels of body fluids to normal • An older child who's mildly dehydrated due to overexertion will probably be thirsty and should be allowed to drink as much as he or she wants. • Plain water is the best beverage to drink for the first hour or 2. After this, the child might need drinks containing sugar and electrolytes (salts) or regular food.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke • During hot, humid weather, the body’s internal temperature can rise and result in heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion • Severe thirst • Muscle weakness • Nausea, sometimes vomiting • Fast, shallow breathing • Irritability • Headache • Increased sweating • Cool, clammy skin • Elevation of body temperature to 105o
What to do – Heat Exhaustion • Bring child indoors or into shade immediately • Undress the child • Have the child lie down with feet slightly elevated • If they are alert, place them in cool (NOT COLD) bath water, or sponge bathe the child repeatedly (if outside, use hose)
…Care Continued • If child is alert, give frequent sips of cool, clear fluids (clear juices or sports drinks are best) • If the child is vomiting, turn their body to the side to prevent choking • Monitor their temperature • All these steps should be taken while waiting for help to arrive
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke • Severe, throbbing headache • Weakness, dizziness, or confusion • Difficulty Breathing • Decreased responsiveness or loss of conciousness • Little or no sweating • Flushed, hot, dry skin • Elevation in body temperature to 105o or higher
What to Do - Heatstroke • If a child has a temperature of 105o or more, or shows signs or symptoms of heat stroke, seek emergency medical care immediately • Any unexplained fever over 102o should warrant a call to the doctor • Also call the doctor if your child has trouble looking at light, or sunburned skin looks infected
THINK PREVENTION! • Teach children to always drink plenty of fluids before and during any activity in hot, sunny weather, even if they are not thirsty • Make sure they wear loose, light colored clothing • Only participate in heavy outdoor activity before noon or after 6 p.m. • Teach children to come indoors immediately whenever they feel overheated
Positive Parenting Summer Aquatic Safety
Aquatic Safety • Increase awareness of aquatic dangers • Personal Floatation Devices • Home pool safety • Aquatic safety outside of the home • Goals for the Summer
What is the risk level for a child to drown in a water environment?
In 2000, there were 3,482 unintentional drownings in the United States, an average of 9 people per day. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related death among children under the age of 15. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What can We do to help prevent drownings from occurring?
Learn to Swim Program • The Best way to help! • Lessons learned • Safety around pools • Buddy system • Comfort in the water • Not getting scared • Recovery when stranded in the water • Strength and endurance
Personal Floatation Devices • How to choose a PFD • US Coast Guard Approved • Proper fit • Don’t rely on inflatables & noodles • Reinforcement
Home Pool & Spa Safety • Pool rules (even at home) • Controlled Access of the Pool & Spa • i.e. Fence with secure lock/alarm • Adult supervision at all times • Rescue equipment • “Pool deck is not a play area” • Reinforcement with all caregivers
Other Aquatic Places • Keep a close eye on children • Lifeguards aren’t solely responsible • Know the rules of the facility • Be aware of varying depths and hazards in the pool, pond, or lake
Boater Safety • PFD • All person’s on the boat must have one • Avoid alcohol consumption • Impaired judgment • Increased Drownings • Know all local/state laws • Be aware of the weather
Courses Available to Teens/Adults • CPR / First Aid • American Red Cross of South East MI • Lifeguard Training • The Summit on the Park • American Red Cross
Goals for 2007 Be Prepared Be Vigilant Reinforce the importance of Safety Have a Fun, Drowning Free Summer