Summer time is fun time, but it’s also the season when accidents and injuries among children reach their peak.

    Consider that 2.7 million children age 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms across the nation during the summer months each year, according to Safe Kids USA.

    Keep your children safe this summer by recognizing some of the most common summer injuries, understanding how to prevent them and knowing how to act in an emergency.

   

Sunburn: Protecting children from sunburn is critical to their health and well-being, especially later in life. A large portion of the sun damage that triggers skin cancer in adults occurs during childhood. The best way to prevent sunburn is to avoid prolonged, direct contact with the sun. Children should cover up with loose, light-fitting clothing, along with a hat and sunglasses. Don’t let children walk out the door without wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

    Rarely do children need emergency treatment for sunburn, which typically can be treated with an aloe vera ointment or other topical ointments specifically for burns. However, if the skin is blistered and peeling, it is recommended you seek medical attention.

   

Heat-related Conditions: Heat-related conditions fall into three areas: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat cramps are characterized by muscle pains and spasms that indicate your body is dehydrated and overheated. They can be prevented by drinking plenty of fluids and taking frequent water breaks during outdoor activities. If your child experiences heat cramps, he or she should stop and rest in a cool area.

    Heat exhaustion is an intense feeling of fatigue that if allowed to continue could lead to heat stroke. With heat exhaustion, blood flow increases to the skin, shifting from the organs and resulting in mild shock. Symptoms may include a slightly elevated body temperature, headache, nausea, flushed skin, heavy sweating, dizziness and vomiting. Heat exhaustion generally occurs with prolonged physical activity on hot, humid summer days. Remind your children to stay hydrated and take regular time-outs when outside playing.

    Heat stroke is the most dangerous, severe stage of heat-related illness and requires immediate medical attention. If left untreated, heat stroke can be fatal. With heat stroke, the body loses its ability to regulate its temperature and stops sweating. Temperatures can rise so high that people begin to lose normal brain function. Signs of heat stroke may include high temperature, lack of sweating, drowsiness, confusion and delusions. Skin may be hot and red. If your child shows signs of heat stroke, call 9-1-1, remove him or her from the heat, and quickly cool the body by covering the skin with cool water by using sponges, towels or compresses.

   

Poison Ivy: Though most cases of poison ivy can be treated at home with topical cream and antihistamines, sometimes a rash is so severe it requires a trip to the ER. If itching is unbearable or the rash is widespread or infected, a doctor can administer medication to provide relief. The danger in poison ivy lies in its oil. Washing the oil off your body within 15 minutes after exposure may help prevent an allergic reaction.

   

Stings and Bites: Unless your child is allergic, bee stings are more uncomfortable than anything else. However, if your child has an allergic reaction that causes trouble breathing, tightness in the throat and/or swelling of the face, call 9-1-1 and get to the nearest emergency department. To remove a stinger, do not use tweezers. Instead, cover the affected area with a baking soda paste and scrape out the stinger. A credit card works well for this. (This same method can be used if your child has been stung by a jelly fish. Don’t use fresh water; this triggers the stingers to sting again.)

    When removing ticks, never use alcohol or a lit match. Instead, use tweezers and be sure to grasp the head of the tick and not the body. Squeezing the body and agitating the tick will cause it to regurgitate its stomach contents, increasing the risk for Lyme disease.

   

Drownings: Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children under 14 in the United States, claiming nearly 800 children’s lives each year, according to Safe Kids USA. The prevalence of drowning increases in the teenage years, when it is often connected to alcohol use.

    To prevent drownings, always closely supervise your children when they are around water, whether the smallest pool or the biggest lake. Remember, toddlers can drown in just inches of water. Ensure swimming pools are surrounded by fencing, and keep rescue equipment and a telephone poolside. If your children cannot swim, be sure they wear a life jacket when around water. All children should wear life jackets on boats. Finally, remind your children, especially teenagers, never to swim alone and never to swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

    In near-drowning incidents when a child survives, it is critical he or she receives immediate emergency care, even if the child is awake and alert. Even the tiniest amount of water in the lungs can trigger a delayed, asthmatic-like state that could lead to death.

    University Medical Center at Princeton’s Emergency Department sees more than 38,000 patients per year, including more than 6,000 children. Starting in July, physicians from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will be providing services for children at UMCP through an exciting new partnership, including consultations for emergency care whenever necessary.

    Additionally, with UMCP’s Fast Track system, patients with minor emergencies are usually treated and released in 90 minutes or less.

Craig A. Gronczewski, M.D., is board certified in emergency medicine and is the chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Princeton HealthCare System.

To find a physician affiliated with Princeton HealthCare System, call 888-742-7496 or visit www.princetonhcs.org.