RIYADH, 28 May 2003 — Summer is the time of year when many people slip into a relaxed mode; the days are longer, children are off school and a long-awaited family vacation may be imminent. But summer also means more children being rushed to the local emergency room for broken bones, near-drownings and other serious injuries. Pediatricians caution parents and guardians not to overlook common sense safety measures that could prevent such accidents and possibly save the life of a child.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, a consultant pediatrician at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, told Arab News that the number of accidents involving children tends to increase during the summer months. “During summer, there is increased incidence of traumatic injuries as well as drowning and near-drowning accidents,” said Dr. Al-Turki, who specializes in pediatric intensive care.
Children are likely to spend more time in swimming pools during the hot summer days, and according to Dr. Al-Turki, there are several simple measures around the swimming pool that can lower the risk of injuries and deaths. Fences, 5 ft high, should completely isolate the pool area from the house and yard to prevent children from getting in unsupervised; gates leading to the pool should be self-closing and self-latching, with the latches mounted near the top of the fence or at a height children cannot reach them.
“Education (including basic CPR) in addition to appropriate pool fencing could prevent up to 80 percent of drowning in young children,” he said. Toys should also be removed from the pool area at the end of swim time, he added.
Dr. Al-Turki also pointed to the misconception among some parents that swimming lessons are enough to prevent small children from drowning. “Swimming lessons in children under four do not make them drown-proof and may provide a false sense of security,” he said. Inflatable swimming aids are also not a substitute for life-vests.
He added that school-aged children should be taught to swim but nonetheless prevented from swimming in unsupervised circumstances.
Dr. Al-Turki also advises parents of traveling children to seek medical consultation well in advance of their departure. Such consultation, he said, would allow parents an opportunity to obtain a realistic assessment of risks, determine immunization measures, and receive instructions for dealing with disease during travel.
“Recommendations should be reviewed with a physician at least four to six weeks before departure to ensure proper scheduling of vaccinations and medications,” he said. In addition, children traveling alone should have a copy of their medical information with them at all times.
According to Dr. Al-Turki, most travel-related health problems result from ingestion of contaminated food or water. “In particular, children should avoid unpasteurized milk, milk products such as cheese, and uncooked meat or fish,” he said. “Foods of particular concern include salads, uncooked vegetables, and unpeeled fruit.” He added that fish, especially reef fish, red snapper, and barracuda are also cause for concern because they may contain toxins. Ice should also be avoided, he said, and tap water should not be used for brushing teeth. Boiled water, beverages containing boiled water and carbonated drinks are generally considered safest.
In addition to illness, physical injuries also pose a serious risk for children during travel.
Hotel rooms will likely not be childproof and can expose young children to several dangers. Parents should examine the room for safety hazards and take appropriate measures.
Plastic covers should be used to cover electrical outlets, and any long window cords (a strangulation hazard) should be tied up out of reach of children.
Some hotels set out complimentary items such as matchbooks or small sewing kits (containing needles) that may be well within reach of children and should be immediately removed.
Some hotels may provide cribs and other baby gear that may not meet the latest safety standards. For instance, parents should check to see that the mattress inside the crib is firm and tight fitting and that there are no missing or broken components. The space between the crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches. Windows and doors leading to balconies, especially on higher floors, should be locked. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), falls from heights pose a major threat in urban areas and “are more common during the summer months because windows are open and children are more likely to be playing on fire escapes, roofs and balconies.”
Children who are not properly restrained in motor vehicles during travel also risk serious injury. “Motor vehicle accidents are one of the major causes of serious disability or loss of life during travel,” said Dr. Al-Turki.
“When possible, child safety-restraint seats should be taken on the trip,” he said, but added that he was not aware of any local regulations requiring car safety seats for young children.
AAP guidelines require children to be properly restrained in appropriate safety seats and always placed in the back seat: “It is the safest place in the car because it is farthest away from a head-on crash (the most common type of crash).”
In addition to other hazards, the summer heat itself can pose a health risk. This is especially true in the Kingdom where daytime temperatures can soar during peak summer.
Places like Riyadh have a high temperature of more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit virtually every day from May until September.
Children should be kept well hydrated and prevented from playing directly under the sun. Young children should never be left alone in a hot car, even with the air conditioner running.
The intense summer heat can also spoil foods that are not properly stored, therefore when traveling with food items, the AAP advises parents to follow a simple rule: “Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.” Perhaps the best advice for parents is to closely supervise their children and to never underestimate children’s ability to place themselves in a dangerous situation.
“Most of the illnesses that develop in traveling children are related to behaviors that can be modified with proper advice and supervision by parents,” said Dr. Al-Turki.