Did you know that most accidents that put children in the emergency room during the summer and festive season are preventable? Unfortunately, many common and fun family activities during the summer months can quickly take a turn for the worst and end in injury.

We chat to a leading paediatrician and Paed-IQ BabyLine CEO, Dr Iqbal Karbanee for his top summer risks that are preventable and how parents can keep their children safe:

Wheelie toys

Bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other wheelie toys are fun for kids but shouldn’t be used near moving traffic. Traffic-related accidents are amongst the highest preventable accidents for children. Protective gear like helmets or shin or knee pads can go a long way in preventing injuries, whether only scrapes and bruises or more severe. If you live in a neighbourhood that does not have a bike lane where kids are less at risk, then make the effort to go to a public park or elsewhere so that children are not exposed to unnecessary danger from moving vehicles.

Drownings

Drownings are known as silent killers because children are unable to shout for help and they are amongst the most common preventable accidents that can happen in seconds. Drowning can happen in a few centimetres of water. Life jackets are a must if you want to boat, canoe, jet ski, SUP with your kids or even just spend time near a body of water. Never leave a child unattended near water and consider hiring a lifeguard to keep watch over the kids in the pool if you are having a gathering or party with several children in attendance.

Fires

Wood fires are common in South Africa during summer, but they are dangerous to children if unattended, as children are naturally curious and may want to see what happens when they throw things in the fire. The smoke also poses a danger to young respiratory systems as they are still developing, even more so if your child suffers from asthma or allergies.

4 Top Tips

1. Put fireplace tools and accessories out of a young child’s reach and keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
2. It may seem obvious, but never leave children unsupervised with candles, paraffin burners, or outdoor wood fires.
3. Always ensure children are in the company of trustworthy responsible caregivers and ensure paraffin stoves are out of reach and on safe work areas.
4. If an accident does happen, never apply any butter or other food onto a burn.

Trampolines

Trampolines are great ways for kids to use up excess energy, but they are simply too dangerous. Children’s bones are still developing and experiencing an injury, whether through a broken or fractured bone, can set them back developmentally. Serious injuries related to the brain or spine can also occur. If you are gifting your child or children a trampoline over the festive season, or if you already have a trampoline at home, always make sure there is adult supervision and that there’ only one child at a time on the trampoline. Kids under the age of 6 shouldn’t be allowed to jump.

Playgrounds

Playgrounds and parks are good to get kids to play outdoors, but be careful of hot slides and poorly maintained equipment that may have rusty nails or sharp hooks. Hot equipment can burn bodies and sharp objects can tear the skin, which may require tetanus shots. Also, remember to put sunscreen on your child of no less than SPF 50 when spending time outdoors. The CANSA Association of South Africa suggests that exposure to UV radiation received as a child increases the risk of melanoma later in life.

Dog bites

Dog bites are a major cause of preventable traumatic injury in children. Too often what starts as a peaceful or exciting family day out, turns into a horror story involving a dog attack, with the victims mostly being children who can sustain severe injuries. Teach your children to not go near a dog who is off a leash or without a muzzle, and to not put their face close to the dog’s, even if it is a trusted family pet. If the dog runs up to the child or a family on the beach or elsewhere, children should not reach out to pat the dog, even if it looks cute.