Summer safety tips for kids

Q: As the mother of two rambunctious preteens, what are some summer safety tips I should know?

"Most kids will want to splash through summer at pools, lakes, rivers and beaches," says Seth Kravitz, M.D., a board-certified specialist in Pediatrics and managing physician of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic - The Vintage in northwest Houston. "My most basic safety tip for parents is to teach your children to swim!"

Dr. Kravitz urges kids and teens to avoid sunburn, injuries and insect bites this summer by taking simple precautions.

Protect against sunburn - it can lead to skin cancer. "Minimize exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UVA and UVB rays are strongest. Slather on sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30. Apply 20 minutes before exposure and again every two or three hours," he says. "Dress kids in light-colored clothing such as a new, white T-shirt and include a brimmed cap."

Practice water safety. "Head and spinal cord injuries can occur when diving into shallow areas," he warns. "Check the water's depth by getting in gradually - feet first - and never dive into aboveground pools, they usually aren't deep enough.

"To prevent swimmer's ear, put a few drops of a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar in each ear after swimming," Dr. Kravitz advises. "Add insect repellent to your outdoor activities to help prevent West Nile virus or other forms of viral encephalitis spread by infected mosquitoes.

"Don't let summer fun get interrupted with a visit to the ER. With caution and common sense, most injuries are preventable," he concludes.