Taking care to ensure a great family summer

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 564, 29 November 1994, Page 11 (Supplement)

Taking care to ensure a great family summer

Summer' s a great time for families, but sunshine and water can also cause trouble. The sun is dangerous for young children, especially babies. Sun can damage their skin, causing problems later in life, and young children and babies burn very easily and quickly. Keep your children out of the sun as much as possible between 1 1am and 4pm — the time when the sun is at its most damaging. Remember, too, that the sun's rays can burn even on cloudy days, and is especially harmful up on the mountain where the air can be thinner and reflection off snow can give you a double dose. Just because you're not at the beach doesn't mean you can't burn. When out in the sun, remember to SLIP, SLAP, SLOP! Slip your child into some shade, and into loose fitting clothes, long sleeves are best. " S lap a hat or cap with flaps on your child. Y ou may need to tie it on. Use a hat yourself as children like to copy you.

Slop on some sunscreen before taking your child outside. Put it on any skin not covered by clothes, including feet. And whenever you're near water this summer, always watch your children. Paddling pools, swimming pools, rivers, beaches and even the bathtub, can be a real danger to young children. Never leave children unattended, even for a minute, especially around water. They can drown in just a few inches of water and it only takes a few seconds. Don't expect an older child to take on the adult responsibility of caring for a younger brother or sister. They want to have fun too and are easily distracted. Always watch children near water and take simple precautions. Keep lids on nappy buckets, make sure swimming pool fences are secure, take the phone off the hook during baby's bath time and empty out the paddling pool immediately after use. This advice is supplied by the Plunket Society.