First 5 LA Gives Tips on Protecting Babies and Toddlers During Hot Weather

LOS ANGELES----------Summer is a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together, but the hot season can also put babies and toddlers under 5 years of age at greater risk of injury.

Summer brings with it higher risks of drowning, exposure to extreme heat and sunburn, as well as other dangers. First 5 LA, a child advocacy and public grant-making organization, urges parents to make sure they take steps to safeguard their children's safety during the summer and provide adequate supervision of their youngsters.
  
"We want to make sure that families are equipped with the information and skills needed to protect their children from summertime accidents," said Evelyn V. Martinez, executive director of First 5 LA.  "We strive to make summer safety a priority and to reach out to Los Angeles County families with this important message."

To help protect youngsters during the hot weather, Martinez reminds parents and caregivers to always supervise young children and offers the following summer safety tips:

Prevent danger from hyperthermia or "extreme heat"

Never leave children unattended in an enclosed vehicle. Even with the windows down, summer month temperatures can rise 20 degrees within 10 minutes. A child's body temperature increases three-to-five times faster than that of an adult, making kids especially vulnerable to hyperthermia or heat stroke.

• Make sure all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading, including sleeping babies. As a reminder that your infant or toddler is in the car, place the child's diaper bag or backpack in the front passenger seat with personal items that you will be sure to take with you, or place a purse or briefcase in the back seat near your child.

• Tie a ribbon on your steering wheel - in an area that will not interfere with your driving - or on a key chain, car door handle or anywhere that you will see it to remind you to take your child when exiting the car.

• Always lock a vehicle. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Teach your child that a car is not to be used as a play area.

• Apply sunscreen with at least 30 SPF (sun protection factor) on your child's skin 15 minutes before going outside and apply again every two hours, especially right after your child has been in water or is sweating.

• Encourage children to play in the shade as much as possible, especially during peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Make sure your child wears lightweight clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that offer 100 percent UV (ultraviolet) protection.

• Keep babies younger than 6 months of age out of direct sunlight.

• Swim with your child in calm water without waves, and always know where the nearest lifeguard is before getting in the water.

• Don't completely rely on flotation devices like life vests or floating baby seats to keep children safe; they can shift position, lose air or slip out from under a child.

• Never leave children unattended near water as kids can drown in just a few seconds, even if they know how to swim. Remember to supervise your children near bathtubs, toilets and larger buckets of water.

• Playground equipment often warms up in the sun and can burn a child's skin. Before your child plays, touch the metal bars and surfaces to make sure they aren't too hot.

• Check playground equipment for rusted parts and loose splinters. These hazards could pinch your child's skin.

• Be careful on slides. Make sure your child holds the slide's rails when climbing the ladder or sitting at the top. Also look for split or cracked plastic that could break if your child sits on it.

• Only use products that are approved for children; follow the instructions carefully and wash off the repellant once your child is back inside.

• Avoid using scented soaps or lotions on your child because perfumes can attract insects.

• Dress your child in light-colored clothing - it doesn't tend to attract bugs.