By Sara Savat
There’s not much Dr. Tony Scalzo hasn’t seen in nearly 30 years of pediatric emergency medicine, and that wealth of experience causes him to worry annually about kids’ health in the summer.
Scalzo, an emergency room doctor and professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Saint Louis University Medical Center, recently listed six common dangers he says children frequently encounter during summer. They are all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trampolines, bicycles-inline skates-skateboards, drowning, car accidents, and heat and dehydration.
“In the summer, (emergency rooms) see a much higher incidence of injuries caused by accidents and sports,” says Scalzo. “Kids are going to be kids and they are going to get hurt, but many of these accidents could be prevented by proper parental supervision.”
1. All-Terrain Vehicles. While children can get hurt doing anything from climbing trees to playing on the monkey bars, Scalzo says ATVs are more likely to cause serious, life-threatening injuries. ATVs are more dangerous because they are motorized and have a lot of momentum. It’s also easy to lose control of them, which can lead to the heavy ATV falling on the driver. It’s absolutely necessary to wear a helmet, Scalzo says.
2. Trampolines. Every summer children come into the emergency room with broken bones and serious gashes caused by falling off a trampoline or falling on the metal springs. Scalzo recommends installing protective netting around the trampoline that will prevent the most serious accidents.
Ready to ride ... but safely!
3. Bikes, Inline Skates and Skateboards. Each year, more than 580,000 bicyclists and 100,000 in-line skaters and skateboarders are injured. The majority of these accidents can be prevented with proper use of the proper safety gear. Wearing a properly-fitting helmet prevents 85 percent of head injuries, yet only 11 percent of children ages 11 to 14 wear helmets. Wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and shin pads are also a good idea for skaters. Bike safety tips include testing the bike’s brakes, making sure tires are secured tightly and properly inflated, wearing reflective material, and using a light when riding at dusk or dawn.
4. Drowning. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among young children and can occur in the bathtub, swimming pool, while boating, or even in small amounts of water, such as in a large cooler. Children should never be left unattended near water and should always wear a life jacket when near a pool or boating. Home swimming pools should be protected with fencing on all sides and have securely locked entrances. Splash alarms can add an extra level of safety, but nothing can substitute the importance of parental supervision.
5. Car Accidents. Being properly restrained in a car is imperative. However, because families take more road trips during the summer, more injuries caused by children not wearing seat belts are reported during this time of year. Even if children get antsy during long car trips, Scalzo says it is never safe to allow them out of the appropriate booster or car seat. Instead, make more frequent stops to let them burn off their energy.
6. Heat and Dehydration. Every year children die or become very sick from being left inside a car. Heat and dehydration can be very dangerous for children. Scalzo says children should not be left in the car for even a short period of time because the car can heat up quickly. Keeping children well hydrated, especially when they are playing outside in the heat is also important. However, parents should avoid giving infants water because it dilutes the salt in their blood and can lead to respiratory problems and seizures. For infants, Scalzo recommends offering an extra bottle on hot days.
Editors Note: This article was written by Sara Savat, a member of the public relations department of Saint Louis University (SLU), and is based on a recent interview with SLU physician Dr. Anthony Scalzo. SLU supplied this article and is responsible for its content. Its publication is part of The Post’s Sunday Contributor series, for which guest authors are invited to offer submissions.
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