Sidewalk Safety -Please make safety part of your child's daily routine by always following the instructions of the crossing guard and using the crosswalk. -Under no circumstances should any student be discharged from a running vehicle pulled over to the curb on the St. Mary's School side of Myrtle St. This creates a safety hazard not only for your child, but for other children, the crossing guard and other vehicles on the road. Please park your vehicle safely and use the crosswalk. -Students should always exit their vehicle onto the sidewalk, never directly onto the street. -These safety practices apply to students in all grade levels, Pre-K thru Grade 8. -These safety practices apply during every season and during every type of inclement weather. During a snowy winter, parking can become difficult due to sidewalk accumulation of snow and snowbanks. Please use the parking lots if this becomes a problem, and allow for extra time if necessary.
American Academy of Pediatrics Sun Safety Tip Babies under 6 months: The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area. Young Children: Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays. Older Children: The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave. Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating. Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly. For more detailed information on Summer Sun & Water Safety, please visit the following website: www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx
American Academy of Pediatrics Bug Safety Tips Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child. Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom. Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints. To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail. Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen effectiveness may be decreased, and sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but insect repellent should not be reapplied as frequently. Insect repellents containing DEET are most effective against biting insects such as mosquitoes, which can transmit West Nile Virus and other viruses. The current CDC and AAP recommendation for children over 2 months of age is to use a maximum concentration of 30 percent DEET. DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age. The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. Ten percent DEET only protects for about 30 minutes – inadequate for most outings. The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so carefully read the label of any product you purchase. Children should wash off repellents when they return indoors and clothing should be laundered before being worn again. Insect repellents containing Permethrin are most effective against ticks, which can transmit Lyme Disease. Permethrin should be applied to clothing only, never to skin. For more information please visit: www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx
"Report: Energy Drinks Never OK for Kids" (CNN) -- "Most children and adolescents do not need sports drinks according to a clinical report published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The report also finds that energy drinks are never appropriate for children or teenagers-- water should be the primary beverage choice. Researchers have linked energy drinks to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure as well as some sleep disturbances and anxiety. 'For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,' Dr. Holly Benjamin, from the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, and co-author of the report, said. 'Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don't need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay,' she said. 'It's better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.' " Copyright CNN 2011
From the American Academy of Pediatrics - Motor Vehicle Safety While the rate of deaths in motor vehicle crashes in children under age 16 has decreased substantially – dropping 45 percent between 1997 and 2009 – it is still the leading cause of death for children ages 4 and older. Counting children and teens up to age 21, there are more than 5,000 deaths each year. Fatalities are just the tip of the iceberg; for every fatality, roughly 18 children are hospitalized and more than 400 are injured seriously enough to require medical treatment.
New research has found children are safer in rear-facing car seats. A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.
In a policy published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online March 21), the AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 10 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” Dr. Durbin said. “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.” For more detailed information on vehicle safety please visit: www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx