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Dr. Angela M. Simpson is board-certified in
both pediatrics and internal medicine. She completed her residency
training at the University of Rochester in New York, after receiving
degrees from Brown University and New York Medical College. She
currently practices in Fall River, Massachusetts. She is the proud
aunt of PRC kids Mia and Emmett Hanson.
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Keeping Your Kids Healthy This Summer
The snow has melted, the clouds have cleared, and the sun is finally
here to stay for the summer! Don't let poison ivy, bug bites, and
sunburn interfere with your family's fun this season
Poison Ivy
Exposure to poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac can make for an
extremely itchy summer! The rash that occurs within one to two days
of exposure to any of these plants is typically red with blisters in
streaks or patches, and lasts up to two weeks.
Treat at home with:
Cool soaks or an ice cube massage, followed by air-drying
Oral benadryl (over the counter) dosed every 6 hours to decrease the
itching
1% Hydrocortisone cream (over the counter) to affected areas up to 3
times per day (don't apply on face)
Call your doctor if:
Rash is on face, eyes or lips, or if rash is extensive over the body
Rash lasts longer than 2 weeks or any area looks infected with
yellow pus or spreading redness.
Prevention is key!
Avoid plants with 3 large, shiny, green leaves
You have one hour to wash off exposed areas with soap and water.
After that, the oils are absorbed, and a skin reaction will likely
follow within one to two days
The fluid in the blisters of the rash is not contagious. The rash is
not spread by itching. However, anything with poison ivy oil or sap
on it (including shoes, clothes, and pets) is contagious for about
one week. Wash all of these with soap and water to prevent further
exposure
Bug Bites
Bites of mosquitoes, chiggers, and fleas can cause itchy red bumps,
varying in size from a dot to a half-dollar.
Control the itch with:
Calamine lotion or a baking soda paste
1% Hydrocortisone cream (over the counter) up to three times per day
for severe itching (do not use on face)
The good and bad of DEET Insect Repellant
DEET (Diethylduamide) insect repellant is great at preventing bug
bites. However, it can be absorbed across the skin and into the
bloodstream. High concentrations in the bloodstream can cause
seizures. Use precaution when applying DEET insect repellant
Use DEET products formulated specifically for kids (contain 10% or
less DEET)
Apply repellant mainly to clothing and shoes. One application
lasts four to eight hours, so there's no need to apply more than
twice per day. Don't apply to hands, as kids constantly have
their hands up near their eyes and mouth . Avoid putting
repellant on sunburned areas, as it is more easily absorbed there
Sunburn
Sun exposure and sunburns that occur during childhood can cause skin
cancer later in life. Every blistering sunburn that a child has will
double the lifetime risk of developing malignant melanoma (the most
serious type of skin cancer).
Lather up with sunscreen!
Use sunscreen on a child who will be outside >30 minutes during the
day
Use SPF 15 or greater on all kids (higher in fair-skinned whites)
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow time to
penetrate the skin
Re-apply every three to four hours, and after swimming
If one area (such as the nose) has been repeatedly burned throughout
the summer, apply zinc oxide to protect it from all of the sun's
rays
Don't forget a hat, and sunglasses with UV protection
Babies and the sun
The skin of infants is thinner and more sensitive to the sun.
Keep babies out of direct sunlight, especially for the first six
months
Use longer clothing and a hat to limit exposure
For the first six months, sunscreens formulated specifically for
babies can be applied sparingly if the sun is unavoidable.
Don't underestimate the strength of the sun!
Children with a tan can still get a severe burn from the sun
70% of the sun's rays can get through the clouds. Your child can get
burned even if it's cloudy out! 30% of the sun's rays can
penetrate a cotton T-shirt
Have a happy and healthy summer!!
Water Safety
By: Angela M. Simpson, M.D.
Many families enjoy spending the summer at the beach or around the
pool. But remember, kids of all ages are at risk for drowning. "You
can't be too careful with your kids around water," says Dr. Nidhi
Kapoor, a physician specializing in emergency medicine.
Children under the age of one year most commonly drown in bathtubs,
toilets, and buckets of water. Babies, who have not yet achieved the
developmental skills of neck control, propping up, or rolling over,
can drown in just a few inches of water. Toddlers most frequently
drown in swimming pools. Adolescents often drown in ponds, rivers,
and other natural bodies of water, about half the time while
intoxicated.
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children
ages one month to 14 years, according to the National Center for
Health Statistics. In 2002, over 1,100 children died from drowning.
For every death due to drowning, an estimated four people are
hospitalized and 14 individuals require an emergency room
evaluation. Complications in survivors include lung injuries, brain
damage, cardiac arrest, electrolyte imbalances, hypothermia, and
multiple organ system failure.
Timing is crucial in drowning accidents. The longer a child is under
water, the worse the outcome. Submersion times over 10 -15 minutes
can cause serious brain injury and/or death. Children that receive
immediate resuscitation at the scene of the accident have a better
chance to recover than those that do not.
Although drowning rates have decreased over the past 20 years, an
estimated 80% of drowning accidents remain preventable. Here are
some ways to keep your children safer around water:
Supervise children at all times around water. A small distraction of
a few minutes may be all the time needed for an accident to occur.
"I've had cases where parents turned away from their child just for
a few seconds, and by the time they turned their attention back, the
kid is already at the bottom of the pool," says Dr. Kapoor. Don't
assume you'll hear splashing or struggling if a child is drowning.
Most drownings are silent. Dr. Kapoor's advice: if you need a
bathroom break while your children are swimming, get them out of the
pool and bring them with you. If the phone rings while your kid is
in the tub, don't leave the room to answer it.
Set up layers of barriers between your child and the pool. Close and
lock all windows in the home that allow access to the pool area.
Swimming pools should be appropriately fenced and locked. Fences
should be at least four feet tall, and have a self-closing, latching
gate. Open gates are involved in about 70% of drowning cases
associated with fenced-in pools. When not in use, pools should be
fitted and maintained with pool covers.
Teach your child to swim. But remember, swimming skills don't make a
child 'drown-proof' under all conditions. "Even kids that know how
to swim can get overwhelmed or tired under certain conditions," says
Dr. Kapoor.
Show your child how to check water for depth before diving. Careless
or reckless diving can put a child at risk not only for drowning,
but also for head and neck trauma.
Warn teenagers that water activities under the influence of alcohol
or drugs are dangerous. "Drugs and alcohol can alter a teen's
perception and abilities, and this puts them at higher risk for
drowning," says Dr. Kapoor.
Learn CPR if you have a pool or if you bring children to a pool.
Rescue and resuscitation efforts from a by-stander may be the
difference between life and death in a child after a drowning
accident.
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