Summertime Dangers and Prevention from A Pediatrician Mom
Dr Jen Trachtenberg for Everyday Heroes Kids
“Dr. Jen is one crazy good pediatrician who is great at rearing healthy kids. I trust her in all things kid-like. She keeps it real and you can relate to her just like her patients and parents do. She is the Dr. Mom to many.” — Dr. Mehmet Oz
Sunday July 19, 8pm EST — REGISTER FOR A VIRTUAL CPR masterclass taught by Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, board certified pediatrician along with Dr. Ruben Cohen, board certified oral surgeon and certified CPR specialist. View details for this course below the article.
Summer is a great time to spend with the kids experiencing outdoor activities, however as a pediatrician, I see all too often accidents that often can be avoided. I wanted to give you some real practical tips and advice to make your days safe, yet fun for the whole family.
Sun burns
A sunburn not only may be painful, but increases the risk of skin cancer in adulthood. Often times burns occur when its cloudy and you may think sun protection is not necessary. Instead of risking it, I recommend putting sunscreen on infants 6 months of age and older, before you get them out the door- this way you are more likely to get better coverage on their skin. Use broad spectrum UVA/ UVB sunscreen with spf of 30. I prefer mineral based (zinc oxide/titanium oxide over chemical sunscreens) for their sensitive skin and less toxicity. Use creams, lotions, or sticks instead of sprays and aerosol that often leave unprotected areas and can irritate eyes and airways. Most importantly apply liberally using at least a full ounce for the body. Even so, I often hear “I did all this Dr Jen yet my baby still got red.” The culprit forgetting to reapply. This is a must do every 3 hours and always after swimming. Remember also hats, sunglasses, avoiding direct sun with umbrellas and shady trees.
Heated Cars
One of the most tragic accidents is a child being left in a locked car in the summer time. Temperature can quickly soar well over 100F in less than an hour causing heat stroke and even death. Even for a moment, never leave a child in the car to run in for a quick errand. More often it’s accidental with a child left unknowingly in the back seat strapped in their infant carrier. Here are some tips that should become automatic when leaving your car. Check the front and back seats before you lock it. Put your purse or phone by the car seat so you don’t forget to check when you get out. Always lock your car when its empty,so kids can get in without you knowing and keep the keys out of their reach. If you ever see a child alone in a locked car, you should call 911.
Drowning & Water Safety
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children, with the highest rates in children from infancy to 4 years old. Even just a few inches of water can cause unintended drowning in bath tubs, buckets and toilets. Toddlers by their very nature are at high risk because they are often curious, may wander unsupervised and lack of barriers in place for drowning prevention. You may be surprised but adolescents have the second highest rate of fatal drownings, especially in oceans and lakes because they overestimate their skills, their often impulsive behavior, decrease the risk of danger and use of alcohol/ drugs. As a mom of a special needs son with autism, a reminder one must be even more vigilant around water as they may not understand the inherent dangers or risks. For all children a multi-layer approach is necessary. Swim lessons for kids over age one can help prevent drowning. Flotation devices like swimmies on arms or tubes are for fun and not safety- only a life jacket gives full protection. I always recommend an adult be a designated “Water Watcher” even if a life guard is present. For non-swimmers and beginners use the within arms length touch when supervising. Always remember, even with older children you need your full attention without distractions of cell phones, texting, or doing chores. Prevention using a 4 sided fence, 4 feet high with a locked gate around your home pool is recommended. Inquire about pool safety practices when visiting other people’s home. Lastly all parents should learn CPR. Calling 911 and staring this life saving procedure can make all the difference to a child’s future.
Pediatrician Jen Trachtenberg, MD — known to her patients as Dr. Jen — is a nationally renowned parenting expert, board-certified pediatrician, and has maintained a successful private pediatric practice in New York City for over 20 years. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, and mother of three children. Dr. Jen has appeared numerous times on NBC’s TODAY show, CNN, and Fox News, contributes regularly with health and parenting topics, including child development, autism spectrum disorder, newborn care, nutrition, childhood obesity, vaccines and sleep issues to Parents Magazine, Romper.com, Today.com First for Women Magazine, NY Times-Parenting, Fatherly, The Bump, Your Teen Magazine, US Weekly (Celebrity Baby Expert), Care.com and Good Housekeeping She has published two parenting books, The Smart Parent’s Guide to Getting Your Kids through Check Ups, Illnesses and Accidents (2010), and Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children (2007) and now her one of a kind, video parenting manual Pediatrician In Your Pocket (2017).
Dr. Jen’s mission is to maximize the potential that is within every child. Her lifework as a pediatrician and parenting expert emphasizes the importance of a child’s emotional, behavioral and physical well-being, while focusing on improving social and environmental factors to reduce the risk of chronic disease in adulthood.
As a pediatric authority in the care and treatment of children from birth to young adulthood, Dr. Jen is passionate about helping moms and dads be the best parents they can be, which has lead her to the creation of the video series Pediatrician in Your Pocket. She is proud to be the expert in this essential one stop parenting series created for new parents. Her easy to follow parenting tips educate new parents with everything they want to know and may not know they’re missing. Dr. Jen is there for you with expert advice 24/7 any time day or night for busy parents on the go.
During her free time, Dr. Jen enjoys reading, yoga, pilates, nature walks, bicycling, and swimming. She lives on Long Island with her husband and three children.
Follow Dr. Jen: www.dr-jen.com
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/Dr.JenTrachtenberg/
Twitter — https://twitter.com/AskDr_Jen
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/askdrjen/
Register for Infant & CHILD CPR + BASIC First Aid VIRTUAL Masterclass Sunday July 19th 8 pm EST-
Accidents are the number one cause of death in children. Are you confident knowing what to do if your child is choking, not breathing, or having a true emergency?
If your answer is no or you’re just unsure, this class is made for you. Whether you’re a new parent, grandparent, or babysitter, I will help decrease your anxiety and stress by guiding you step-by-step through an easy to understand format of all you need to know to better respond during an emergency.
This masterclass is taught by me, Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, board certified pediatrician along with Dr. Ruben Cohen, board certified oral surgeon and certified CPR specialist.
You will learn:
Dr. Jen’s Top Choking-Prevention Tips
The Essential Items every parent should keep in their medicine cabinet
How to correctly perform Heimlich Maneuver on children and adults
Specific procedures for CPR for infants as well as children
Basic safety and first aid
FEEL FREE TO VIRTUALLY BRING YOUR PARTNER/COMPANION!
I recommend bringing a doll or stuffed animal to practice on. 😊
Register Now — Don’t Miss out on this Life Saving Event in the comfort of your own home!
Sunday July 19, 8pm eastern
Link to register https://www.dr-jen.com/infant-child-cpr-first-aid
www.ehkidshealth.com — connecting families to all pediatric professionals in health, mental health and education with the goal of saving time, money and stress and encouraging earlier intervention for better outcomes in kids.
