Summer Safety Part 2

Summer safety is important whether your kids are home for summer, on the road with you or away at camp. If you want to make sure your summer days aren’t filled with trips to the emergency room, you’ll want to keep an eye out for warning signs of common summer bummers. From heatstroke, bee and wasp stings, and other health woes that occur during summer, we put together a guide on summer safety tips.

Summer Safety Tips: Riding Safe

When you and your kids are ready to put your wheels on the road, it’s important to make sure they are protected. Your kids should always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades. And here’s a tip, your young kids will look to you as a role model – so if you’re wearing your helmet, they’re more likely to wear theirs. Investing in a pair of knee or elbow pads will add some extra padding and fewer scraped limbs. And you may want to consider wrist guards if you have kids that tend to fall off their roller blades or skateboards. A sprained wrist is the last thing either of you will want to deal with this summer.

Bicycle Specifics

Make sure everyone in your family is riding a bike that actually fits their size. When going out on family excursions, keep the following in mind:

• Children under 1 shouldn’t ride as passengers on adult bikes.
• Children ages 1 to 4 (or less than 40 pounds) should ride belted and wearing a helmet.
• They ride best in a carrier seat mounted on the bike or in a bike trailer.

Bites and Stings

We know, it’s hard not to instantly want to love and pet every dog we encounter. But it is extremely important to teach your child to be cautious around dogs and other pets. They should not get into the habit of approaching dogs they don’t know. And they need to learn how to not surprise or scare a pet on accident.

In regard to bugs and other creepy-crawlers, check eaves and under decks for bee or wasp nests. Often remind your children not to touch or throw things at these nests. As some general rules, avoid dressing your child in brightly-colored and floral print clothing. And do your best to avoid using scented soaps, perfumes and hair products. No need to cause scent confusion!

Using Repellent

Avoid using insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months. And make sure to use repellent that contains no more than 30% DEET. Use repellent on the outside of clothing and on exposed skin. Avoid putting it on cuts. Do not spray repellent on your child’s face. Instead, spray a little in your hand and rub it on their face. Be careful to avoid their eyes and mouth.

Ticks: Lyme Disease Lesson

The number of Lyme Disease cases has grown this summer. To protect against ticks, especially when playing or hiking in woods or fields with long grass:

• Have children wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Tuck clothing into pants and pant cuffs into socks.
• At the end of the day, check your child’s whole body for ticks.
• If you or your child does have a tick – it’s important to get as much of it out as possible
• A few days to weeks after the infected bite, a “bullseye” rash may appear

Lyme disease may also show symptoms of fever, headache, muscle, and joint pain, or a flu-like illness.

CPA Counseling Wants to Help with Your Summer Safety and Stress!

Counseling can be a helpful tool to help you make mindfulness techniques a part of your daily life. Sharing your summer stressors with your therapist can help you both stay on the same page and keep you accountable in working towards your goals. Therapy and counseling are safe spaces where you can voice your concerns, develop coping and communication skills, and find the support you need.

Remember, therapy is hard work! It can feel extremely uncomfortable and even exhausting. Having a hand to hold and help guide you will only add to your personal success. Cristina Panaccione and Associates Counseling has two locations in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and one in the Robinson area. We are currently accepting a limited number of new patients, so check out our videos to learn more about how we can help you stress less this summer!

* This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please contact a medical professional for advice.

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Marissa Betancourt

Marissa Betancourt has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. After her studies at Chatham University, she became a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has approximately 5 years of experience working with the dually diagnosed population. She works with people who experience depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, and substance use. Marissa uses a mix of motivational interviewing, behavioral therapy, CBT, psycho-education, and gestalt therapy to assist clients with working towards their goals. She is transparent and assertive in the counseling process, helping clients gain insight into past and current behavior. Marissa looks forward to helping you understand your symptoms and working through them at your own pace!