By: Shanna McGinnis, MD
After a blustery cold winter, a week away to a warmer locale could be the perfect cure for the wintertime blues. But before hitting the road for Spring Break, check out these tips to help keep your family safe during your travels and at your destination.
First, ensure that your children are restrained in the proper child safety seat. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), infants and toddlers should remain in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2. Children age 2 and older should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they outgrow the manufacturer’s recommended weight or height allowance, although there is some newer information suggesting rear-facing car seats until age 3-4. Older children who have outgrown forward-facing seats should use a booster seat to ensure proper positioning of the vehicle seat belt until they reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches. Even after kids outgrow booster seats, they should not ride in the front seat of the vehicle if under 13 years old.
Next, remember to protect your child’s skin from the sun; apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes prior to heading outdoors and choose one with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 15. Waterproof sunblocks are ideal and should be re-applied every 2 hours. If your child has never used sunscreen in the past, it is a good idea to test a small area for allergic reaction before applying it all over. Sunglasses, brimmed hats, and light-colored cotton clothing are also good tools to prevent sun exposure. Infants under 6 months should avoid direct exposure to sunlight. If your family chooses to head to a colder climate to ski or snowboard, sun protection is still a must. The sun’s rays reflect off snow and may cause sunburn, even in sub-zero temperatures.
Discuss water safety prior to your trip. Once the kids hit the beach, it will be more difficult to give these important and potentially life-saving instructions. Kids, and adults for that matter, should never swim alone, even if they are experienced. Children of all ages should be monitored closely whether in pools, lakes, or the ocean. Although inflatable swim aids or “pool noodles” are fun and can even assist in floating, they should not be used as a substitute for supervision. Additionally, when boating, these devices can never take the place of approved life vests. If going to the beach, especially for the first time, teach your children about the potential dangers of rip currents or riptides. Due to waves and currents in the ocean, swimming is more difficult and will cause more fatigue. Let your child know that fighting or swimming against a rip current will only make matters worse. They should swim parallel to the shore. Require frequent breaks and furthermore, educate yourself on the meanings of the beach warning flags. The flag legend and other helpful tips can be found at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.
As mentioned before, some families choose a cold weather destination for a Spring Break of skiing and snowboarding. Monitor local temperatures and prepare your kids to take frequent breaks indoors. Dress in multiple thin layers ensuring ears and fingers are covered; these areas are prone to frostbite. Invest in ski or snowboard lessons by a qualified instructor. Just like swimming, always supervise children closely and insist that they wear helmets. The best way to ensure that your kids are compliant with this rule is to be a good role model and wear a helmet, too. Finally, avoid areas that are crowded, have lots of trees, or slopes that are too challenging for your children.
Whether heading north or south, keep these tips handy so your family will have a safe and fun-filled Spring Break vacation.