May
Newsletter
Don't forget sunscreen wears off. Reapply if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off
Be Sun Safe
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. See the tips to protect your skin:
Shade- Seek shade under an umbrella, tree, or shelter
Clothing- When possible wear long sleeves and pants
Hats-Wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck
Sunglasses-Protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts
Sunscreen-Place broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days
Pedestrian Safety
Summertime means lots of fun outside for our kids. Here are some safety tips to help them be safe pedestrians:
Look left, right, left when crossing a street
Put headphones, phones, & devices down
Use sidewalks, paths, and crosswalks
Under 10 should cross the street with an adult
For more tips, visit Safe Kids Worldwide.
In the U.S., unintentional pedestrian injuries are the 5th leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 5-19 with teenagers experiencing twice the death rate of younger children.
(Safe Kids Worldwide, 2021)
Mosquito Awareness
As warmer temperatures return, so do mosquitos. It is important to protect your family & yourself from mosquitos as they can carry dangerous diseases.
Prevention is Key! Keep in Mind the 4 D's:
Drain: Drain any standing water in your yard weekly. Mosquitos breed in water!
DEET: Apply insect repellants containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus whenever you are outside.
Dress: Wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts & pants while outdoors. Apply insect repellant to clothing as mosquitos can bite through clothing.
Dusk/Dawn: Limit time spent outdoors during dawn or dusk as mosquitos are most active & feeding during these times.
At Home Mosquito Bite Relief:
Wash the area with soap & water - avoid scratching as it can lead to infection
Apply ice for 10 minutes to reduce swelling & redness - repeat as needed
Create a baking soda & water mixture to help with itching
Use over the counter anti-itch or antihistimine creams to relieve itching as well
(CDC,2020); (St. Louis-MO Gov, 2020)
Hot Car Warning :
Never leave a child in a closed vehicle. The temperature inside the vehicle can be much hotter than the outside temperature. Cracking windows does little to stop the warming of a car once it has been shut off.
A child's body heats up 3-5x faster than an adults. Children can die of heat stroke very quickly.
Did you know?? A car can heat up around 20 degrees in as few as 10 minutes!
For more information: https://www.kidsandcars.org/
Staying Safe in the Heat
Summer activities and exercise are great ways to keep kids active and healthy. Be sure to take heat safety into account when planning your time outdoors. A heat index (at or above 90 degrees F) can pose significant health risks such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke. Help protect your family from the heat by:
Staying hydrated and be sure to have water readily available when outdoors
Dress children in one-layer of lightweight, light-colored clothing
Plan for extra rest time
Take breaks in air-conditioned spaces. Public places like libraries, or stores can be an option if the home is not air-conditioned
Use water to cool off, such as swimming pools, water-misters or a cool bath
Healthy Summer Nutrition
It is incredibly important to drink more water during the summer. Here are some ideas for refreshing fruit infused water!
For All Options:
5 cups water
cup ice cubes optional
Honeydew, Cucumber, and Mint:
1/2 cup honeydew cubes
1 cucumber thinly sliced
10 fresh mint leaves torn
Blackberries, Orange, and Ginger:
½ pint blackberries
1 orange thinly sliced
1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger peeled
Pineapple, Coconut, and Lime:
1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
1 cup coconut chunks, fresh or frozen
1 lime thinly sliced
Watermelon, Kiwi, and Lime:
1 cup watermelon cubes
1 kiwi diced or cut into circles
1 lime sliced into circles
Grapefruit, Pomegranate, and Mint:
1 grapefruit thinly sliced
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
10 fresh mint leaves torn
Instructions
In a large pitcher, place the desired combination of fruit or herbs. Add ice and fill container with water. Add additional fruit or herbs to garnish, if desired. (Culinary Hill, 2021)
Important Information from Parkway Health Services
Important forms can be found here: Health Forms
Current illness guidelines can be found here: Illness Guidelines