Vol. 31, No. 2
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| HealthBeat |
| Extreme skateboarding safety |
Risky stunts and irregular riding surfaces such as railings and steps can increase the risk of skateboarding injuries. Skateboarding safety is the topic of this month’s Kohl’s A Minute for Kids, brought to you by Kohl’s Department Stores and Dayton Children’s.
Tom Krzmarzick, MD, director of the Regional Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center at Dayton Children’s, regularly treats children for injuries sustained while skateboarding.
He points out that many factors affect skateboarding safety, from the size of the board to the clothing worn to knowing one’s limits.
Before your child heads to the local skate park – no skateboarding in the street allowed – be sure you talk to him or her about ways to minimize the risk of injury.
Dr. Krzmarzick joins the experts with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in offering these safety tips:
Skateboarding safely
- Check the area for holes, bumps, rocks and debris before riding.
- Never ride a skateboard in the street.
- Pick a skateboard appropriate for your child’s size. A qualified skateboard dealer can help
you make the right selection. - Check the skateboard every time it is used for loose or broken parts.
- Wear approved protective gear. Helmets, wrist guards, and elbow and kneepads are recommended.
- Never hitch a ride from a car or a bike.
- Only one person at a time should ride on a skateboard.
- Empty pockets of all hard or sharp objects before riding.
- Do not use headphones while riding.
The best helmet
The helmet that protects your child the best is one that is fitted properly. It can reduce head injury by 85 percent. A bicycle helmet or multisport helmet that meets or exceeds CPSC safety standards is recommended.
A helmet that fits properly:
- Sits flat on the head with the bottom edge parallel to the ground.
- The straps form a “V” around each ear.
- The buckle is fastened snugly. Only two fingers can be placed between the strap and the chin.
- Does not move in any direction when the head
is shook. - Does not interfere with movement, vision or hearing.
A helmet should be replaced at least every five years or sooner if the child outgrows it.
Should young children have a skateboard?
According to Dr. Krzmarzick and the American Academy of Pediatrics, children 5 years old and younger should not ride a skateboard. Children ages 6 to 10 years should be closely supervised when riding.
“Young children are still growing and do not have the physical skills and mental abilities to control a skateboard and make safety decisions,” Dr. Krzmarzick says.
- More skateboarding safety information from
Dayton Children's.
- Listen to our Kohl's Minute for Kids:
Skateboarding: Skating Smarts
- More Kohl's Minute for Kids audio clips.
Would you step in if you saw a parent mistreating a child? If you answered “no,” you’re not alone.
According to Denise Jenkins, prevention specialist at CARE House, “Fifty percent of the population reported that they did nothing when they saw a potential child abuse situation in public because they were unsure how to help.”
Here are some ways you might help:
- Call 9-1-1 if the child is in immediate danger.
- Empathize with the parent. Simple phrases such as “It’s one of those days isn’t it” or “It looks like you need a break” will help to take the blame away from the child.
- Talk with the parent to take the focus off
the child. - Point out distractions to the child.
- Say something positive about the parent and
the child. - Offer to assist the parent.
- Make sure the child is safe if being neglected or in jeopardy.
- Ask for help from someone in authority if the child is in danger.
- Suggest sources of support.
For additional information, contact CARE House, a community child advocacy center for children who have been abused, at 937-512-1670.
Summer is approaching and kids will have more free time. Instead of swimming at the local pool some kids may go surfing … on the internet.
To help keep your kids safe, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers a number of ideas parents and families may want to use.
Remember the basics
- Online information is usually not private.
- People online are not always who they say
they are. - Anyone can put anything online.
- You can’t trust everything you read online.
- You and your children may unintentionally find material that is pornographic, violent, obscene
or racist.
Setting the rules
- Never give out personal information. This includes your name, address, phone number, age, race, gender, school name or names of your friends.
- Never share passwords, even with friends.
- Never meet a friend you only know online in person unless a parent says it’s OK. Also, it’s best if parents go along when first meeting
this friend. - Never respond to messages that make you
feel uncomfortable.
CyberTipline: If you or your children discover anything illegal or threatening online, it can be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
For more information, call 800-THE-LOST
(800-843-5678).
Sun safety tips
Childhood cancers are a top concern at Dayton Children’s. Although skin cancer is not as common in children as in adults, nationwide, more children and teens are being diagnosed. The incidence of melanoma, a particularly dangerous form of skin cancer, has been increasing in children and young adults.
“Good sun protection habits must begin early. Long-term sun exposure as well as bursts of intense sun exposure contribute to the development of skin cancer,” says Julian Trevino, MD, a pediatric dermatologist at The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. Eighty percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18, so beginning sun-safe behavior early in life can reduce one’s risk for developing skin cancers later.
Dr. Trevino and Dayton Children’s offer the following tips to help prevent skin damage:
- Babies younger than 6 months old should be kept out of direct sun. Cover their skin with light clothing and use sunscreen that is safe to use
on infants. - Apply sunscreen of SPF30 at least 30 minutes before going outside. Be sure to use a “broad spectrum” sunscreen which will protect against both long and short wavelength ultraviolet rays.
- All children should wear hats, sunglasses and shirts whenever possible in the sun. Covering up is the best defense against the sun.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
- Be sure to cover ears, nose and the tops of
the feet. - Make sure schools and child care centers know about sun safety. Provide them with sunscreen to use on children before they go outside.
- Skip the tan. Although many believe that a tan makes you look healthy, the darkening of your skin after tanning represents the skin’s response to injury from the sun’s rays. Chronic tanning raises your risk for all forms of skin cancer and will eventually lead to lots of wrinkles and dark blemishes on your skin.
- Teach teens to avoid tanning beds. People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. Even occasional use of tanning beds triples the chances of developing melanoma.
- Examine your child’s skin each month. Note
the size, shape, color and location of his or
her moles. Promptly report significant changes
in size, shape or color of any moles to
your physician.
Dayton Children’s has developed an education curriculum to teach kids about sun safety.
Check out the Sun Safety Curriculum
Summer camps for kids with special needs
The Family Resource Center at Dayton Children’s has compiled a comprehensive list of summer camps for children with special needs. Camps included focus on asthma, blood disorders, cancer, Crohns disease, developmental disabilities, respite, therapeutic, cerebral palsy, arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy and more.
See the complete list of summer camps, or call the Family Resource Center
at 937-641-3700.
Table of Contents |
Health Beat
Extreme skateboarding safety
When a child is in danger
Summer camps for kids with special needs
Features
Looking forward to spring with
Dayton Children's
In-home asthma education program
Spinal surgery keeps Kettering teen...
On Track for College
Neurosurgery
Wallace Critical Care Complex
Beavercreek Testing Center opens
Pediatric specialist joins the Dayton Children's staff
Children's Miracle Network Telethon coming soon
Celebrating 40 years at Dayton Children's
Cool new things on Dayton Children's website
Free online updates from Dayton Children's
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