With warm weather comes an increase in childhood injuries. Emergency room doctors are already seeing a lot.
And with this holiday weekend approaching, they want to offer advice to parents.
News Specialist Carole Mikita has the story.
On beautiful days, many parents probably say to their children, "Go outside and play." But playground equipment, bikes and scooters can all add up to a large number of injuries, many of which are preventable.
As soon as the temperatures rise, on come the summer clothes and out come the bikes and scooters and in-line skates. Kids and recreation go together. Unfortunately they can also be a dangerous combination.
Doctors, particularly those who work in emergency medicine, are asking parents to use good judgment and teach their children.
Joyce Soprano, M.D. Emergency Medicine: "WE ALWAYS REMIND PARENTS, HERE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SAFETY MEASURES THAT THEY CAN TAKE, INCLUDING HELMETS, CARSEATS AND THINGS SUCH AS WRIST AND ELBOW GUARDS IN CHILDREN WHO ARE ROLLERBLADING OR SKATEBOARDING."
Dr. Soprano says the worse childhood injuries they see involve cars -- auto/pedestrian accidents, including children on bikes, are on the rise.
For example, of the kids who came to the ER over the last three months, 179 were there for sports injuries, 90 for bicycle injuries and 49 for car accidents.
Of those who were
examined and admitted to the hospital for surgery or more treatment -- the more serious injuries -- most were there for auto-pedestrian accidents.
The other concern doctors have with children and warm weather is dehydration.
"WE'D LIKE THEM TO GET FLUIDS IN ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN. THE BEST WAY WOULD BE WATER, SOME OF THE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ON THE MARKET, AND PROBABLY LESS OF THE VERY SUGARY DRINKS. AND CERTAINLY ANY DRINKS WITH CAFFEINE CAN CAUSE INCREASE FLUID LOSS AND DEHYDRATION."
And if you are boating or water sking or doing any other sport on the lakes, remember the lifejackets. By law, all children under 12 must wear them.
Besides the lifejackets and helmets and wrist guards, doctors also want us to be aware of sunburn. So remember the sunscreen. It will be sunny at least part of the weekend.
