Kids Travel Doc

Caution: New car odors may be hazardous for infants. An update.

A newborn in your home and a new car in your garage are events worth celebrating. But celebrate them separately. Resist the urge to take your baby for a spin in your new car to show baby and car off to your neighbors. New car odors may be hazardous for an infant’s wellbeing – and not particularly healthy for the rest of us.

1. New car odors consist of gasses emanating from the 100 or so plastic products found inside cars. Products include most everything: seat covers, steering wheels, armrests, carpets, drink holders, sun visors, and dashboards, to mention just a few. All are made of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, when new, emit vapors that are toxic to humans, especially to newborns and young children.

2. Not known is how hazardous the odors are. In animal studies, very high levels of VOCs inhaled over prolonged periods of time are linked to cancer and other serious illnesses, says the US Environmental Protection Agency. However, these facts cannot be accurately extrapolated to infants. Infants spend limited time in new cars and aren’t exposed to the high levels of vapors used in the studies. Nevertheless, researchers suggest that parents (1) minimize the time infants inhale the vapors and (2) rid cars of the vapors.

3. Toxic levels of vapors decrease gradually. In one study, the day cars left a dealership the toxic vapor levels were about thirty times what is considered safe. Safe levels were reached in about four months. To be cautious, consider cars safe after being in use for six months and when no odor is detectable. Insignificant amounts of VOCs may remain for three years and can become troublesome if the interior of the car becomes extremely hot.

4. Methods to lower odor levels. Whenever possible, park outside, even overnight, with windows open. Avoid parking in small indoor garages. Every week or so, wipe the car’s interior with a damp microfiber cloth and vacuum upholstery and flooring with a machine that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, available at car washes and auto supply stores. When driving, run the vents on high, using the “fresh air” setting to bring outside air in.

5. Allow new cars that have gotten hot to cool down before infants and children enter. When possible, park cars in the shade. Temperature inside cars parked in the sun on hot days can reach 190 degrees Fahrenheit (88 degrees Centigrade). Heat leaches VOCs out of plastics; the higher the temperature, the more leaching. After cars are parked in the sun, move them into the shade, turn on the AC, open all doors and wait until the cars are cool and odor-free before allowing infants and children in. Consider purchasing solar window shades.

6. Use heat to leach out toxic odors. Intentionally park your car in the hot sun. Let it stand for a couple of hours with the windows closed. Then move it into a shady place and let it stand for additional hours with the doors open. If the sun is uncooperative, substitute the car’s heater for the sun. Do this outdoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

7. Don’t make your old car smell like a new one. Car air fresheners are available that duplicate the odor of new cars – and may contain some of the same toxins as new cars. Manufacturers of car air fresheners don’t have to list the ingredients of their products. (Ditto for room air refreshers.)  Many air fresheners merely disguise odors without neutralizing them. This includes substances often used for this purpose such as baking soda, vinegar and charcoal. You need industrial-strength odor eliminators do this. These are available at auto supply stores.

8. Do new car smells affect older children and adults? The common custom of slowly, deeply and repeatedly inhaling the vapors to better enjoy the aroma of new cars is akin to glue-sniffing, with similar unhealthy affects, as the two have similar ingredients, says the Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper. Immediate symptoms include sore throats, headaches, dizziness, and nausea, depending on the sensitivity of the individual. Little is known about long-term effects, if any.

9. New cars are becoming “healthier.” At the urging of government regulators, mostly those in Europe, automakers are putting more effort into using materials with fewer and less toxic VOCs. Automakers are also increasing the use of entirely natural soy-based materials, while installing better ventilation and filtration systems to get rid of the vapors. Many new car dealers can supply information about this.

10. Miscellaneous. No information is available on the effects, if any, of VOCs on the fetuses of pregnant women or infants of breastfeeding mothers. However, researchers suggest pregnant and breastfeeding women should limit their exposure. Various VOCs and VOCs-neutralizers may cause respiratory-type allergic symptoms, especially in allergy susceptible children. Many websites discuss the VOCs levels in specific car models. VOCs may be toxic for pets. For additional information, see https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-New-Car-Smell

Backpacks / Children / Safety / Health

Backpacks here. Backpacks there. Backpacks everywhere, and for almost every reason. Toddlers wear them for the sake of wearing them, often empty and in the shape of cartoon characters. Elementary school-age kids pile everything they have into them. High school kids use them as fashion statements, often slung over one shoulder, a style that tends to cause backaches. (And now, there are bulletproof ones for children to use as shields in case of a school gun shooting incident!  See the web.)

Here what you should know.

1. Loads on backs should not exceed 15% of a child’s body weight. Lesser loads, about 10 % or less, are recommended for very young children, backpack beginners, long trips, going uphill, climbing stairs, walking on tough terrain, and in hot weather. If your child’s backpack is too heavy, discuss with school staff if loads can be lightened.

2. Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly often lead to bad posture and back problems. In the US, about 14,000 backpack-related injuries occur yearly. Approximately half of the cases are in children and teenagers. Improperly used backpacks can strain muscle and joints, causing upper and lower back pain and neck and shoulder pain, sometimes severe. (However, there is no evidence that these problems will result in scoliosis or other permanent deformities.)

3. Choose function before fashion. Buy backpacks with shoulder straps that are wide, contoured, and padded to prevent straps from digging into the shoulders. Straps should be adjustable so that the backpack rests snuggly against the back, can be put on and taken off easily, and doesn’t interfere with arm movement. Backpacks should be no wider than the child’s body.

4. Waist straps help keep backpacks in place and transfer some of the weight from the shoulders to the back and hips. When straps are too loose, backpacks dangle uncomfortably. Ideally, the backpack should rest two inches below the waist. Padding in the back of backpacks protect wearers from objects, especially ones with protruding edges, increasing comfort. The lighter the backpack, the more weight can safely be placed in it.

5. Discourage children from wearing backpacks on one shoulder. This fad is now in vogue – and even young children are surprisingly fashion-conscious. Weight should be distributed equally. Numerous compartments simplify weight distribution. Place heavier objects at the bottom, near the center, and up against the back.

6. Tuck in straps. Some backpacks, especially ones designed for young children, have long straps to fit children of various sizes. Long straps may cause tripping, become entangled in branches or get caught in doors.

7. Watch your child for backpack “dysfunction.” The aches and pains resulting from wearing new backpacks are not symptoms of a necessary adjustment period. Investigate before they become worse. Look for red marks on children’ shoulders and ask about tingling or numbness in their arms. Backpacks are too heavy when children have difficulty putting them on, lean to one side while wearing them, or bend forward with their heads down for balance. Doing so can cause children to topple over, especially on stairs. Consider showing your children exercises to build up the muscles used to carry backpacks.

8. Put backpacks on correctly. Children should bend at the knees, not at the waist, while keeping the trunk of the body straight and stable. They should push up using their leg muscles and keep the backpack close to the body. Excessive twisting and turning may indicate that the backpack is too heavy or the wrong model. Some children find it advantageous to place backpacks on a chair or table (depending on the child’s height), before placing them on their backs.

9. Avoid injuring others. Fully loaded backpacks protrude more than a foot (30 centimeters). Bystanders, in the aisles of school buses or on airplanes, for example, have been pushed over when a backpack wearer suddenly turns around. Remind children not to leave backpacks on the ground or floor. In one survey, 28% of backpack-related injuries were the result of someone tripping over a backpack.

10. Consider rolling backpacks. Wheels allow children to roll backpacks where feasible. Handles on wheeled backpacks should be sufficiently long so that children can stand fully upright when pulling them. (Some schools ban wheeled backpacks as being dangerous on stairs and not fitting into lockers.)

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Swimmer’s Ear

On a summer vacation at the beach, five hours from home, your 3-year-old announces that dreaded complaint, “My ear hurts!”

What to do?

1. Chances are you dealing with a swimmer’s ear. Also, think ‘swimmer’s ear’ in younger preverbal children who poke their fingers into their ears or are unusually cranky. Swimmer’s ear is quite common. Symptoms generally begin two or three days after swimming.

2. Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal.The canal extends inward for about an inch (2.5 cm) and ends at the eardrum. Tugging or pressing on the earlobe increases pain significantly if a swimmer’s ear is present. (Children also experience earaches with middle ear infections. However, such infections are far more common in cold weather, are unrelated to swimming, and pulling or pressing on the earlobe does not increase pain.)

3. Swimmer’s ear is caused by bacteria and fungi. These are most commonly found in non-chlorinated recreational water such as lakes and streams, particularly polluted ones, and in inadequately chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs and whirlpools. Backyard kiddie pools are common culprits; such pools are rarely adequately chlorinated. Swimmer’s ear is uncommon in ocean water; salt water retards growth of these organisms. High summer humidity helps these organisms to flourish in the ear canal.

4. “The only object to insert into a child’s ear is your elbow.” This old adage helps prevent many swimmer’s ears. Instruct children not to try to remove wax or relieve ear discomfort with cotton swabs, paper clips, hairpins, fingernails or similar objects. These can damage the delicate skin lining the canal. Abraded skin is prone to become infected. Moreover, trying to remove wax tends to drive the wax deeper into the canal and removes the layer of wax that helps protect the skin from moisture. Clumps of wax can solidify and develop sharp edges capable of damaging the skin.

5. Dry the ear canal as soon as symptoms occur. Use equal parts of rubbing alcohol and acetic acid (vinegar). Mix half and half. Fill the canal. Do it several times a day. Such drops are also available at pharmacies; no prescription is necessary. Hair dryers aimed at the ears are also effective. Keep dryers about a foot (30 centimeters) from ears.

6. Apply drops correctly. Have the child lie on their side and pour the alcohol/acetic acid solution into the ear until the canal is full. Have them lie there for five minutes. Do the other side, if necessary. Do this several times a day. Continue for several days after the pain is gone. Note: do not use eardrops if a child has serious, ongoing ear problems. Consult a physician.

7. Preventing swimmer’s ear. Choose swimming venues where the water is salty or likely to be well chlorinated. Instruct children to keep their heads out of the water where water quality is questionable. Children who have a history of swimmer’s ear are subject to repeat infections. Use drying drops routinely before and after they go into the water.

8. The use of earplugs is controversial. If they fit well, earplugs help keep ear canals dry. However, poorly fitting ones – which most are – allow moisture in, keep the moisture in, and may abrade the skin. Competitive swimmers wear earplugs specifically molded for their ears. Wearing bathing caps for prolonged periods and placing cotton in the ears can also interfere with drying.

9. Seek medical help if pain is severe, there is a discharge from the ear, or symptoms continue. Occasionally, cases of swimmer’s ear require eardrops containing other substances, oral medication, an anesthetic for pain, or steroids to promote healing and decrease swelling. Sometimes debris (such as wax) must be cleaned by a physician in order to allow drops to reach the damaged skin.

10. Miscellaneous. Children with swimmer’s ear can go in the water. They are not contagious to others.  However, they should keep their heads out of the water…  The frequent wearing of headphones may bring on swimmer’s ear.  Headphones increase the temperature and humidity of the canal, create skin abrasions and may introduce organisms… Children who have eczema and other conditions associated with flaky, scaling skin are prone to swimmer’s ear.

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Safe and Healthy Travel	Prevention	Outdoor Recreation	Travel
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