Known as “trauma season” among public health and medical professionals, summer is a time when serious injuries and unintentional deaths increase dramatically among children. Statistics from a Safe Kids U.S. Summer Ranking Report from May 2007 show that 40 percent of all injury-related emergency room visits and 42 percent of all injury-related deaths among children happen between May and August. However, many of these injuries can be prevented with a few simple precautions.
“I know a fun-filled summer day can turn into tragedy within seconds when an accident occurs,” said Dr. Maureen Maciel, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and the acting Chief of Staff at the Shriners Hospital for Children — Tampa, located on the campus of the University of South Florida. “Shriners Hospitals wants to provide families with simple ways to reduce the risk of childhood injuries so kids can enjoy a safe summer.”
As experts in the treatment of pediatric orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries and burns, Shriners Hospitals for Children provides critical, surgical and rehabilitative care to children, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Shriners Hospitals for Children – Tampa urges parents and caregivers to remind their kids of these simple precautions to help keep them injury-free this summer:
• Swing on a swing set sitting down.
• Slide feet first, one child at a time.
• Do not push or shove others on the playground.
• Always swim with an adult or a “buddy.”
• Wear a life jacket if not comfortable or experienced in the water and on a watercraft.
• Never let children play on or around lawn mowers.
• Do not allow them to play near fire pits, campfires or BBQ grills.
• Fun at the beach always requires sun protection, plenty of water, and shade breaks. Be sure to provide children with plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Also, pay close attention to keeping beach umbrellas and tents secured to prevent serious injury that can occur when these items are dislodged by wind.
“Sustaining a serious injury can be a life-altering event for a child,” said Dale Stauss, chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children. “We see patients every day with injuries caused by accidents, and we are committed to raising awareness about how to (keep children safe).”
For additional safety tips, fliers and activity pages for children, visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/SafeSummer. Should an injury occur, the physicians and staff of Shriners Hospitals can help. To find out more about the treatments available, visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org. To make an appointment, call 1-(888) 665-5437.
About Shriners Hospitals
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. With 22 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Shriners Hospitals provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
More than 50,000 children have received orthopaedic specialty care in a family centered environment at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Tampa since its opening in October 1985. The hospital continues to focus on providing the highest quality pediatric medical care to children regardless of the families’ ability to pay and relies on the generosity of donors to deliver its mission. The Tampa location is a major referral center for complex and highly specialized orthopaedic care for children throughout Florida and south Georgia. Visit ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/Locations/Tampa for more information.
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