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With warm weather comes more opportunity for pool and beach time, and it’s important to refresh ourselves on water safety around our pediatric patients.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in kids ages 1-4 years. Drowning is the second leading cause of death, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Males have about a two-fold risk over females and African American children are nearly 5.5 times more likely to die by drowning than their Caucasian peers. The good news: drowning is essentially preventable.
When you see the Pediatrician for routine child well checks, some of the topics discussed fall under the category of anticipatory guidance. Anticipatory guidance are things to expect as a child develops along their trajectory and how to manage it. Water safety is a topic often reviewed during in person or virtual doctor visits. Common questions that may come up during a water safety conversation are:
Important Tip: Remember that a young child can drown in as little as an inch or so of water. We can not emphasize enough the importance of direct and uninterrupted supervision, early and safe water exposure as well as prevention measures.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises swim lessons begin as early a year old and many swim facilities offer swim readiness training to toddlers and their caretakers. As affordability may be a concern to utilize commercial schools, you can check your town’s park and recreational facility to discover potential options for discounted pricing for more local community programs. The decision to begin swim lessons may vary for some families depending on the child’s physical and emotional development, but swimming is a life skill and starting in toddlerhood has been shown to reduce the risk for drowning. Infant swim lessons are not recommended due to lack of evidence to support that swim lessons in this age group lower drowning risk.
Young children are naturally curious and move quickly. The majority of drownings occur in settings without appropriate supervision or safety in place. An in-ground, residential pool is required to have a barrier fence of at least four feet high and surrounding three sides of the pool with the house acting as the fourth side. If this is the sole barrier, door alarms should be placed on the doors that open to the pool. It is further protective to have an actual four-sided barrier fence surrounding the pool itself with an automatic locking gate. Additionally, another layer of protection is a pool cover, however these should never be used alone without barrier fencing.
Open bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans, present some of their own unique challenges, including poor visibility compared to a pool, and potentially strong currents. Using a life vest approved by the US Coast Guard is always recommended for children exposed to outdoor water.
Aside from physical barriers, supervision is imperative: direct and constant. Equipment malfunction, such as a broken gate latch or failure of proper life vest use, can lead to more risk, which is then mitigated by your constant presence with the child/children. Never take on water supervision with children while intoxicated and never leave older children to watch younger children. “Touch supervision”, or being at arm’s length of the child, is advised by the AAP. Ideally, getting into the water can be more helpful in acquainting children with safety while also promoting a fun experience.
With these ideas in mind, you can feel more secure about your young water-lovers taking on a healthy and splashingly good summer! For any additional questions or concerns you may have regarding swim safety, scheduling an online doctor visit with My Virtual Physician is a quick and convenient way to reach our Board Certified General Pediatricians, who are happy to help! My Virtual Physician provides parents with high quality medical care via video visit and are able to treat a variety of health conditions. Schedule a virtual visit today!
January is a month when some choose to make new year resolutions. It is a time to reflect on the past 12 months. And look where you want the next 365 days to take you. Time reported that 50% of Americans resolve to exercise more. But is exercise safe for everyone?
Exercise is safe for most people. But, some adults should check with a doctor before starting an exercise program. Those with health problems must talk with their doctor to lower their risk of injury or other harm.
In this post, you will learn about safe exercise and how to reduce your risk of injury.
Research shows that regular physical activity is vital for health. Exercise also plays an important role in disease prevention. New studies show that physical activity boosts mood and makes the immune system strong. Some say, exercise is the best medicine.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently updated the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines provide science-based recommendations to help people improve their health through exercise. Information presents the types and amounts of activity that provide the best benefits.
To determine if exercise is safe, children and young adults need a yearly physical. Check-ups help identify health problems that interfere with exercise or that increase the risk of injury. Through preventative care, doctors can identify breathing problems like asthma or heart conditions.
Also, adults should check with their doctor about exercise if they have:
These conditions can affect the way the body produces and uses energy.
Some movements are more comfortable to perform, and some are more gentle on the joints. Here are a few of the safest exercises to try this year.
Walking is the safest exercise because it is simple. This activity requires no training; you have already been practicing for years! It is safe, you don’t need any equipment, and you can walk almost anywhere. You can walk alone or make it a group activity. Walking only 30 minutes daily increases cardiovascular fitness, bone density, and weight management.
The next exercise, swimming, tops the list of safe exercises because it is “low-impact” on the joints. Swimming gets your heart rate up, builds muscle, and increases endurance. Water activities are great options to get in shape with low risk of injury.
Strength training eliminates contact injuries associated with other sports. The exercises are safe and effective for increasing your heart rate and muscle mass. Push-ups and sit-ups are examples of simple strength training exercises you can try. Use a spotter when lifting heavy weights or attempting new exercises for safety. Spotters also help you get the most out of your workout.
Here are some more tips for preventing an exercise-related injury:
For most people, exercise is safe. And it provides many health benefits. But physical activity can cause injury. If you are wondering what I’m talking about, here are some examples.
Traumatic injury is one type of exercise-related injury to avoid. Trauma is when there is physical injury to the body. A traumatic injury can affect joints, bones, or muscles.
To prevent this injury, ease into physical activity. Do not rush into an exercise without warming up, or work too hard. Doing this increases the likelihood of injuries like strains and sprains increases.
Overuse injury is a second type of exercise-related injury. Exercise stresses the body. When joints or muscle groups work too hard there is an increased risk of overuse injury.
This type of injury can also occur when your body does not have enough rest between activities. For this reason, it is important to get “rest days” in your exercise routine.
If you experience a trauma such as a fall, muscle strain, or contact injury during exercise, consider these interventions.
For strains and sprains, doctors recommend R-I-C-E, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. You should:
For discomfort, adults can take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Look for medications labeled “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory” because these reduce swelling pain.
Braces, splints, and slings support injuries and gives relief while also promoting healing.
To talk about starting an exercise program, or what activities might be right for you, talk with one of our board-certified physicians. You can click below to book an appointment. My Virtual Physician’s caring experts offer services to address your healthcare needs. If you have suggestions for other topics you want to read about, let us know! Don’t forget to follow us on social media!
