Some amusement park rides are not amusing. Every year about 9,000 children under the age of 14 years get an extra ride – to the emergency room. Many more mishaps are treated at first aid stations, by private physicians or by parents. Rides intended for children younger than four years of age account for about […]
4th of July Fireworks Safety
July 1, 2016 by
Watching fireworks is a traditional family activity all over the world and great fun. But setting off fireworks should never be a family activity and is anything but fun for the thousands of people injured each year. Moreover, all fireworks, professional-sponsored ones and the so-called backyard types, are associated with little known hazards that may […]
Should Children Miss School to Visit Disney World?
June 26, 2016 by
Taking children out of school for family vacations is illegal in many (probably most) school districts in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Most school districts have specific policies regarding absences for reasons other than illness. Some districts allow a limited number of days (usually fewer than four) for such activities – if permission […]
Children getting lost / Prevention / Reuniting
May 25, 2016 by
Do your kids know when to hug a tree? 1. When planning family travel and outdoor activities, include telling young children what to do if they lose sight of you. (Avoid the word “lost;” It seems to scare children.) Generally, young children panic when they don’t see you and realize that they are in an […]
Update: Zika virus/infants and children/travel
February 12, 2016 by
(Last week’s article is repeated at the end of this article. It may be helpful to read that article first.) February 11, 2016. To stay current with the latest on the Zika virus you’ll need to constantly process new and often conflicting reports peppered with words and phrases such as “possibly”, “apparently” and “the latest information […]
Halloween/Children/Health and safety
October 17, 2015 by
For kids, Halloween means trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, carving pumpkins, and listening to scary stories. For pediatricians, Halloween means informing parents that pirate-type baggy costumes can catch fire if children come too close to jack-o’-lanterns lit with candles, that carving pumpkins is not child’s play, and that face paints may cause rashes. 1. Halloween is a […]
Children/Sandy beaches
August 24, 2015 by
“No need ever to wear shoes in our resort,” says the ad for an idyllic, upscale, family-friendly tropical beach resort. Alas, if only true! Footwear – plus other precautions – is essential at all beaches, at home and in the tropics, with tropical beaches requiring some extra precautions. Call it sand pollution. Researchers have known […]
Update: protecting kids from the sun
August 1, 2015 by
(After you read the article, test your knowledge. Look at each picture and ask yourself what the parent could have done better to protect the child from the sun. Answers are at the end of the article.) Just when you thought that you knew all you have to know to protect your kids from the […]
Infants and young children/Sunglasses
July 19, 2015 by
Hey Mom! Make room in your already bulging diaper bag for one additional item, sunglasses. For your infant. The earlier children begin to wear “shades” the less likely they are to have cataracts and other eye problems when they become grandparents. 1. Any old shades won’t do. Infants’ eyes are especially susceptible to the sun. […]
Swimming/Children/Intestinal illnesses
June 14, 2015 by
You need not travel halfway around the world to acquire “travelers’” diarrhea. A short trip to your neighborhood recreational water facility may suffice. But if indeed someone does become ill, don’t panic. Hold off on treating. Most cases get better by themselves, while medication may cause harm – especially for children. 1. All recreational water […]
