July 31 Is National Heatstroke Prevention Day.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and SafeKids.org are asking you to help raise awareness about the dangers of kids and cars through a concerted day-long social media conversation on July 31.

Here’s what NHTSA and SafeKids.org have to say, “As summer temperatures rise, the dangers for kids left in hot vehicles increases exponentially. NHTSA and SafeKids are reaching out to state and local safety partners and to parents, as well as other caregivers asking all, if possible,  to tweet and post on Facebook every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Eastern Time. @NHTSA.gov will be using the hash tag *#heatstroke *on all its social media posts and asks you to do the same.”

Sample posts for Facebook

>> No child should die of #heatstroke from being left alone in a hot car!

>> If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If the child is in distress due to heat, get that child out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly by spraying the child with cool water or with water from a garden hose (an ice bath isn’t necessary nordesirable). Visit www.safercar.gov/heatstroke http://www.safercar.gov/heatstroke ] for more information.

Sample tweets for Twitter

>> A child’s body absorbs more heat on a hot day than an adult’s does. Where’s Baby? Look before you lock! #heatstroke

>> High body temperatures can cause a child permanent injury or even death. Where’s Baby? Look before you lock! #heatstroke

>> 10 minutes is all it takes for a car to reach deadly temperatures w/ a child locked inside. www.safekids.org/heatstroke [ http://www.safercar.gov/heatstroke

>> Remember to never leave your child alone in a car – even for a minute! Please RT www.safekids.org/heatstroke [ http://www.safercar.gov/heatstroke ] #heatstroke

>> San Francisco State Univ.: In 52% of cases, a child was “forgotten” by the caregiver.Where’s Baby? Look before you lock! #heatstroke

>> Did u know? In more than 29% of cases, kids got into vehicles on their own. Where’s Baby? Look before you lock! #heatstroke

>> Want to help us prevent #heatstroke deaths of children in hot vehicle? Visitwww.safercar.gov/heatstroke [ http://www.safercar.gov/heatstroke ]

Forward this email to your followers/readers and encourage anyone interested in child passenger safety to join our conversation on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/NHTSA ] and Twitter [ http://www.twitter.com/@nhtsagov .

Health Day News recently reported the following health safety tips for parents sending their children to summer camp.

Regular hand washing and proper hygiene are essential to avoiding common summer-camp health issues such as lice, pinworm and bathing-suit dermatitis, according to a former summer camp physician.

Dr. Alfred Scott Lea, now a professor of infectious disease at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, stated that making sure cuts and abrasions are clean is particularly important around lakes and rivers, where bacteria can cause potentially dangerous wound infections.

“Some of what kids encounter at camp and parents must endure — from colds and viruses to broken bones — is often just part of being a kid,” Lea said in a university news release. “But parents can take steps to help make their child’s summer as healthy and painless as possible. A little prep work, such as packing the right essentials and communicating with the camp nurse, can go a long way toward avoiding the most common problems.”

Lea suggested other ways to prepare children for potential health hazards, including:

• Focus on prevention. Be sure to pack essentials such as sunscreen and bug spray. It’s important to plan ahead for children who are on medications or have special needs, Lea said. “A lot of children need to bring medicines to camp for asthma, [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder] and seizures, just to name a few,” he said. “Make sure the nurse knows how to administer these medicines and be sure to supply extra just to be safe. Also alert camps to dietary needs.”
• Voice concerns. Parents also should speak directly to the camp director to discuss any worries they may have, Lea said. “If you’re especially concerned about any activities or possible injuries, talk to the camp about what they’re doing to make safety a priority,” he said. “Worrying about a child horseback riding is normal, but you might feel better when you know your child will be wearing a helmet.”
• Be realistic. Parents should also recognize that not all camp injuries are preventable, Lea said. “Put 300 little kids in 20 cabins, encourage energy and competitiveness, and things happen,” he said. “Kids fall. Baseballs fly astray. Boys have sword fights with golf clubs. No amount of preparation can stop kids from being kids.”

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers more camping health and safety tips

The lazy days of summer are a great time to keep the love of reading going in children. What follows is a list of books suitable for reading by children ages 4-8.

All the World

by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee

In an oceanside community, friends and family celebrate the smallest pleasures of the beach and life. A 2010 Caldecott Honor Book.

All in a Day

by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Nikki McClure

The author of the Henry and Mudge series captures the magic of a day in childhood that seemingly goes on forever.

Birds

By Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

A young bird watcher is enthralled by the many colors, shapes, and sizes of her avian neighbors. Henkes is the author of the well-loved Lilly series.

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

By Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague

The ninth book in the zany How Do Dinosaurs… series, this book tells how, even when little dinosaurs mess up, there are many reasons why their parents still love them!

I Spy Fly Guy!

Written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold

In Arnold’s hilarious series about a pet fly, Fly Guy is hauled away by mistake to the local dump and Buzz must find a way to save him. A 2010 Geisel Honor book.

The Lion and the Mouse

Written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Set on the African savannah, Pinkney beautifully illustrates the retelling of Aesop’s fable of the lion and the mouse. 2010 Caldecott Medal winner.

Little Mouse Gets Ready

Written and illustrated by Jeff Smith

Little Mouse is learning to put on his own clothes and is ready for adventure. Young children will love how Little Mouse’s challenges mirror their own. A 2010 Geisel Honor Book.

My Abuelita

By Tony Johnston, illustrated by Yuyi Morales

An eccentric and flamboyant grandmother shares the stories of her life with her young grandson. A 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor book.

Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors

By Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

A woman and her dog enjoy the changing seasons in a series of colorful poems and illustrations. A 2010 Caldecott Honor Book.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Written and illustrated by Grace Lin

Minli, a Chinese girl, lives in a poor village. When she buys a magic goldfish and joins a dragon that cannot fly, she embarks on an adventurous quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. A 2010 Newbery Honor book.

Source: http://www.schoolfamily.com

 The following tips, on summer safety for children, are from a press release by SecuritySystemReviews.com

Summer is a time of outdoor activities and fun, but it’s also a time to maintain a high level of safety and security for children.

The  following water safety tips come from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment.
• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult – preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR – should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”
• Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
• Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach. Consider alarms on the gate to alert you when someone opens the gate.
• If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence surrounding a pool, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and the pool. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing the pool. Drowning victims have also used pet doors to gain access to pools. Keep all of your barriers and alarms in good repair with fresh batteries.
• Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook — a long pole with a hook on the end — and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.
• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children and parents a false sense of security.
• Children ages 1 to 4 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, there is no evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses can prevent drowning in babies younger than 1 year of age.
• The decision to enroll a 1- to 4-year-old child in swimming lessons should be made by the parent and based on the child’s developmental readiness, but swim programs should never be seen as “drown proofing” a child of any age.
• Avoid entrapment: Suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer underwater. Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers. Ask your pool operator if your pool or spa’s drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act. If you have a swimming pool or spa, ask your pool service representative to update your drains and other suction fitting with anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices or systems. See PoolSafely.gov for more information on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
• Large, inflatable, above-ground pools have become increasingly popular for backyard use. Children may fall in if they lean against the soft side of an inflatable pool. Although such pools are often exempt from local pool fencing requirements, it is essential that they be surrounded by an appropriate fence just as a permanent pool would be so that children cannot gain unsupervised access.
• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.
• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.

Boating Safety

• Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water.

• Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted.
• Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should not be used as life jackets or personal flotation devices. Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection, and to set a good example.
• Adolescents and adults should be warned of the dangers of boating when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and even some prescription medications.

Open Water Swimming

• Never swim alone. Even good swimmers need buddies!
• A lifeguard (or another adult who knows about water rescue) needs to be watching children whenever they are in or near the water. Younger children should be closely supervised while in or near the water – use “touch supervision,” keeping no more than an arm’s length away.
• Make sure your child knows never to dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
• Never let your child swim in canals or any fast moving water.
• Ocean swimming should only be allowed when a lifeguard is on duty.
• Teach children about rip tides. If you are caught in a rip tide, swim parallel to shore until you escape the current, and then swim back to shore.