Health&Wellness Magazine June 2014 | Page 6

6 & June 2014 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net | Like us @healthykentucky Summer Health & Safety Issues By Jamie Lober, Staff Writer It is easy to look forward to the good times of summer, but it is important that you do not forget to take some basic precautions to ensure that you are healthy and safe. While some information may sound like common sense, our community could benefit from a few extra reminders. “Do not leave your kid in a hot car because last year nationally there were almost a quarter more deaths than the year before,” says Dr. Susan Pollack, preventative medicine and environmental health physician with UK Healthcare. There were 43 deaths reported nationally — a huge increase. Luckily, in Kentucky, there were none, something Pollack attributes to “people educating families never to leave their child in a car alone and to call 911 if they see a child.” It can be hard to understand how someone might forget a child but it does happen. “There may be something different in your daily routine and your child could go to sleep in the backseat and you may forget them,” says Pollack. Parents may take kids for a drive when they do errands, planning to leave them in the car, but the weather can be deceiving. “You think it is cool outside and not a big deal, but even with windows cracked it is much hotter than it would be outside with a breeze.” Dr. Pollack reminds people to be proactive and let others know what they can do: “These are opportunities for prevention. The message from my point of view is that the number one cause of death in Kentucky is injury and most of those deaths can be prevented.” It all comes down to empowering parents. “There is so much you cannot prevent for your kids but this is something you can do.” Drowning is another big risk, especially in May when people start opening their swimming pools. Again, take measures to protect yourself. “You need 4-sided fencing for your pool because 3-sided does a great job of protecting your neighbors but your own child can walk out of the house and fall in the pool,” says Pollack. There are a lot of above-ground pools in Lexington but if you take away the ladders it is harder for kids to fall in so don’t leave ladders lying around. Keep an eye out at all times. Pollack says, “Always supervise kids in water because kids love water even when they cannot swim. Wear a lifejacket when you go boating and teach your child to swim after they are four or five years old.” Be especially wary of other drowning risks: “When it rains a lot and the creeks come up, kids get swept away,” says Pollack. It is still possible to spend time outdoors and be safe, as long as precautions are taken. For instance, make sure your child wears a helmet if they are riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades. Start forming the good habit when your child is young. “It is much easier to get a toddler to get used to wearing a helmet than trying to start later,” advises Pollack. Remember also that most small children do not really understand traffic. They may be in harm’s way and not realize it. Kids should ride on the sidewalk. Take charge as a parent whether it means putting sunscreen on your child or holding his hand when you are walking to