All children should learn to swim at an early age. However, there is no consensus as to the optimum age to start; guidelines vary from six months, and sometimes even younger, to four years. In addition, there are health issues to consider regarding placing infants in public pools. ♦ The number of young children taking […]
Children/travel/common mishaps
August 25, 2016 by
When traveling with children safety is no accident, especially when you’re overseas. At home, you intuitively sense hazardous situations. Away from home, you must retrain your brain to be on the lookout for hazards in new surroundings and during unfamiliar activities. 1. When checking into a hotel room, crawl around on your hands and knees. […]
Family Outings/Lightning strikes
August 9, 2016 by
Your family is picnicking in a rural park about a half hour from where you parked your car. A thunderstorm sneaks up on you. What do you do? 1. The risk of being struck by lightning in the US is small: one to two per million people per year. However, this adds up to more […]
Caution at amusement parks
July 11, 2016 by
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 […]
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 […]
Is Travel Safe During Pregnancy?
March 13, 2016 by
The uproar regarding pregnant women visiting Zika-infected countries bolsters the opinion that travel during pregnancy is never without some risk. The fetus, the littlest traveler of all, the hitchhiker, so to speak, seemingly safely and comfortably imbedded in the uterus, is susceptible to many travel-related conditions and illnesses. Travel further complicates pregnancy by removing women […]
Are leashes appropriate for children?
February 28, 2016 by
Some years ago a reader wrote “I place a leash on my toddler at airports and amusement parks. Strangers have complimented me for safeguarding my child and cursed me out for humiliating her… ” What did I think? Thinking back, my reaction to seeing kids on leashes was merely amusement, neither humane or humiliating. Does […]
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 […]
Zika virus/Infants and children/Travel to infected countries
February 2, 2016 by
Should families with infants and young children postpone travel to countries where the Zika virus is currently circulating? February 1, 2016. Travel with infants and young children to such areas appears to be safe. There are no restrictions. Presently both the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend restricting travel only […]
