Six experts on how to keep kids safe in farms, in the water, and more this summer

Dr Julianne Harte, specialist registrar in public health, encourages children to play outside as much as possible. “There are lots of benefits: Development of motor skills, creativity, and interaction with other children.”

To keep them safe:

• Ensure they’re in an enclosed space, such as a fully-secured garden, where they won’t access roads or farms.
• Be vigilant around barbeques. Tell children not to go near them, and that when you finish cooking, the barbeque will still be warm afterwards and that risk remains.
• Store dangerous equipment safely away, such as lawnmowers, strimmers, rakes, cans of paint. “Lock garden sheds. Never leave containers open; store in their original container.”
• Anything that can collect water should be empty, covered, or inaccessible. “Children are attracted to water and mesmerised by their own reflection. Watch paddling pools and buckets. Be aware of water in friends’ or relatives’ homes.”
• Use play equipment safely and wisely. “Ensure it’s in good condition, with no sharp edges that could catch in clothing. Buy age-appropriate and with the CE mark. Use safety features and ensure it’s safely secured onto the ground and in a safe place, away from walls, trees, and power lines. Supervise children when using. Discourage rough play.”

www2.hse.ie/babies-children/child-safety/outdoors/playing-outdoors/

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke

“Children’s bodies don’t react to heat as adults’ bodies do,” says Harte. “They don’t sweat as much. They find it harder to stay cool when it’s hot.”

Signs of heat exhaustion in children: tiredness, irritability, intense thirst, weakness or fainting, cramps in arms, legs or stomach, no appetite, feeling sick or vomiting, headache, sweating a lot, pale clammy skin, temperature of more than 38°C.

Prevent heat exhaustion by ensuring children have plenty of cold drinks, especially when exercising, take cool baths or showers, wear light-coloured, loose clothing, are in the shade between 11am and 3pm, and avoid active outdoor play when temperature is over 30°C.

“Heat exhaustion can usually be managed at home by cooling the body down quickly,” says Harte:

• Bring child indoors, ideally into air-conditioned room, or into shade away from heat.
• Undress child — remove unnecessary clothing, for example, socks.
• Sponge skin with cool water — to cool quickly, place cold packs around neck and armpits.
• If awake and acting normally, get child to take a cold drink. No caffeine — it increases dehydration.

If child hasn’t cooled down within 30 minutes, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke. “They need emergency treatment,” says Harte, who warns against leaving children unattended in a parked car. “Opening windows isn’t enough to cool a car down.”

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/heat-exhaustion-and-heatstroke-in-children/

Ride-on lawnmowers

At least two children present to Children’s Hospital Ireland each season following ride-on lawnmower accidents.

Catherine de Blacam, consultant plastic surgeon in CHI, Crumlin, says children should be nowhere near ride-on lawnmower machinery or activity, even with adult supervision. “Adults should never allow a child to be a passenger or to sit on their knee on a ride-on lawnmower. The accidents we see happen when a child is riding with a parent and falls off, or they’re following the lawnmower and slip under it. The child gets caught in the moving blades — injuries are devastating and potentially life-threatening.

“The only safe way to mow the lawn when young children are present is to have another adult watch them — indoors.”

• Children should not operate lawnmowers and should never be outside when the lawnmower is in use.
• Teach children to avoid running after or alongside lawnmowers.
• Remember that children, previously given a ride on a mower, may run into the area unexpectedly.
• If operating a riding mower in reverse, check for children behind the mower.
• Never leave running lawnmower unattended.

Farm safety

Over the last ten years, 17 children have died on Irish farms. Adult supervision is key when children are on the farm, says HSA inspector Martina Gormley.

• Teach children about the dangers present on farms.
• Always supervise children closely when on the farm.
• Designate and secure specific area for children to play, away from machinery, livestock and other hazards.
• Keep children away from all farm machinery and equipment — never allow them to ride or operate any. Store keys for machinery out of their reach.
• Keep children out of pens, barns, and fields where livestock are kept. Ensure gates and barriers are secure and cannot be easily opened by children. Show children how to recognise and avoid potentially dangerous situations with livestock.
• Lock all hazardous materials away. Clearly label containers.
• Fence off ponds, wells, and other bodies of water — never leave children unattended near water sources.

Sun safety

Dr Breeda Neville, specialist in public health medicine at the National Cancer Control Programme, says exposure to UV radiation from the sun during the first 10-15 years of life makes a disproportionately large contribution to a lifetime risk of skin cancer. “Three or more instances of severe sunburn before age 20 are associated with between two to four times higher risk of developing melanoma skin cancer in later life.”

Dismissing the myth that ‘Irish sun isn’t real sun’, she urges parents to follow the five ‘S’s to protect children from the sun’s UV rays:

• Slip on clothing: cover up as much as possible — long sleeves, collared t-shirts, long trousers. Wear close-knit, loosely-fitting material.
• Slop on broad-spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays). Apply generously, 20 minutes before going in the sun. Re-apply at least every two hours, more often if child is sweating or swimming. Avoid using out-of-date sunscreen — ingredients degrade. Dispose of once opened 12 months.
• Slap on wide-brimmed hat to protect scalp, ears, face, neck. Use bucket or legionnaire style — not baseball hats and visors.
• Seek shade: keep under one-year-olds in shade. Older children should be out of direct sunlight between 11am-3pm. Avoid draping blankets over buggies/prams — babies get hot very quickly.
• Slide on sunglasses with the UV 400 mark or the CE mark. Darkness of lenses is no indicator of how much protection.

www.hse.ie/sunsmart/

Water safety

Roger Sweeney, deputy CEO of Water Safety Ireland, recommends discussing water safety with children before heading to the beach or on holiday.

• Always ensure constant, uninterrupted adult supervision of children on or near water.
• Stay SAFE — ‘stay away from edges’. “Most people who drown never intended to get into the water — they fell in. Avoid letting children play on river or pond banks — edges can crumble away. Reeds and grass can often hide the edge of a pond or canal.”
• Always swim in lifeguarded waterways. Teach children to swim within their depth and parallel to shore. “The outdoor aquatic environment is completely different to the swimming pool. There may be hidden depths or hazards, potential for entanglement in reeds or branches, or hidden currents. The most common reason why children get into difficulties around the coast is due to rip currents.”
• Remember that rivers have swift currents and deep areas. Only swim where traditionally known to be safe — ask locally.
• Ensure life-jacket fits child properly; ensure crotch-strap is secured.

exa.mn/child-water-safety

Plant safety

Nicola Cassidy, specialist in poisons information with National Poisons Information Centre, highlights three plants that often prompt calls to the NPIC:

• Foxglove (Digitalis/Digoxin): Very pretty and attractive to children, parents should teach children not to handle it. “All plant parts are considered poisonous.”

If children ‘make’ perfume or tea with it — and drink it — it can cause nausea, tummy pain or seriously impact the heart, affecting rhythm and heart rate.

“Symptoms can be delayed. Children need to go to the emergency department and be monitored for at least six hours.”

• Lords-and-ladies (produce bright red and orange berries in summer and autumn): The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals. “If swallowed, this can cause burning sensation, back of the mouth and throat to become swollen, nausea, vomiting, a lot of drooling, and difficulty swallowing. Crystals embedded in skin can cause intense irritation. There’s no safe amount.”
• Laburnum: All parts are potentially toxic, especially pods and seeds. Children can mistake them for peas. Worrying symptoms (may be delayed): tummy upset, vomiting (can be persistent), effects on heart rate and blood pressure, and hallucinations.

poisons.ie

exa.mn/poisons-plants