In honor of National Safety Awareness Week, I sat down with our CPR and First Aid instructor, Dennis, to ask what we need to know about safety this spring as everyone heads outside to play! I’ve compiled a list of important things Dennis recommends you think of when doing yard work and preparing to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather:
- Get rid of any standing water. This is a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes! Check old flower pots, lawn furniture, bird baths, etc.
- Mulching. There are dyes in mulch, which you do not want to get on your child’s skin (or yours!). Make sure you don’t allow your child to play in your mulch, and if you are mulching yourself, be sure to wear gloves.
- And when you’re done outside, remember that any chemicals you walk through will enter your home from contact with your shoes. This is especially important with crawling babies who will be putting their hands right in their mouths, but all children play on the floor!
- Speaking of bringing things indoors, make sure your pets are protected from fleas and ticks so they don’t bring these pests into your home.
- His biggest advice: Play with your child. When you play with your child, you know their habits, their interests, and what they can get into. Let your little one be the explorer, and see what they come across! This will educate you more as to what their abilities have become, and will tell you how you need to store your chemicals and childproof your home and yard.
- When you play, make sure that you and your child are well protected from the sun. Infants can be burned by indirect sunlight, so make sure they (really, everyone should be!) are well protected with long-sleeved clothing, sun hats, and sunglasses or sun goggles! At Isis, we recommend iPlay gear, which has sun protection built into its fabric.
- Sunscreen is another important item to take a look at. Use nothing less than SPF 30 (you don’t need anything more than SPF 50), and be sure it is not expired. Dennis recommends putting sunscreen on your child before dressing them, as clothing lines move throughout the day. Follow the waiting period recommended on the sunscreen you are using before going out into the sun with a snack or activity. See our blog post for more sunscreen tips.
- You can also protect your child from mosquitoes with a deet-free bug spray. Mosquitoes are most active at sunrise and sunset, so be particularly aware at these times.
- Make sure you wash away sun screen and bug sprays before bed. Have a fun bath to end your day!
To keep your family safe, make sure you have your CPR training up-to-date. Check out our offerings for Infant CPR and Toddler CPR and Safety.
Co-written by Dennis Finn, EMT-B, BLS 1st Responder and Isis Parenting Instructor, and
Katherin Hudkins, Isis Needham Co-Assistant Manager
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