Written by: Andrea Carneiro • June 17, 2015• In the Community

Safe and Sound

How to keep your kids healthy, happy and ready for summer

Between sun, sand, water and heat the summer months can be prime time for safety tips, especially for those in Miami. In an effort to get families summer-ready Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children’s Hospital) recently launched “Please Don’t Leave Me,” a campaign to prevent heatstroke in children. “Heatstroke can happen to anyone, anytime and anywhere, especially in South Florida,” said Malvina Duncan, RN, Safe Kids of Miami-Dade County and Injury Prevention Coordinator at Nicklaus Children’s. “A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adults’ body, making a little one much more susceptible to heatstroke. That is why it is imperative that caregivers never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.”

In addition, the hospital also held a swim safety event in conjunction with Miami-Dade Parks and Miami-Dade Fire Ocean Rescue as well as leads Safe Kids of Miami-Dade, a program (and website: safekids.org) dedicated to providing safety information and tips for families around the country… and county. Missed the events? Here are some of the summer safety tips you may have missed.

HEAT STROKE

On an 80 degree day, the temperature inside of a car can rise 19 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, making the inside of a vehicle a dangerous place for sleeping children. In fact, on average, a child dies of heatstroke inside a vehicle every eight days. In an effort to combat this, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids of Miami-Dade are providing free hanging tags for car rearview mirrors to prevent caregivers from leaving young children in a hot car. “Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is an advocate for all children across South Florida and beyond. Together, we can make a difference and protect our precious children and babies by sharing this message and making safety a priority,” said Dr. Narendra M. Kini, President and CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Other tips?

Keep cars locked so that children cannot get in on their own and be accidentally trapped.
Remind yourself of a sleepy infant in the backseat by placing something in the backseat that you will need at your destination (think purse, wallet or phone).
Always take action if you see a child alone in a car. Calling 911 could save a life.

SWIMMING

Water is everywhere in South Florida. And, sadly, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages one to four. So how to prevent accidents?

Always give children in and around open bodies of water your undivided attention.
When there are several adults present take turns being a “water watcher” to prevent lapses in supervision.
Always teach children to swim with an adult. Make sure that they know to never go near or in water without an adult present.
Learn CPR. Most local hospitals, fire departments and community centers offer free courses.
Educate kids about the dangers of drains and suction outlets and be sure they understand to never swim near either one.
Install door or window alarms to alert you should a child wander into a pool area unsupervised.

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Last modified: June 17, 2015