Josyann Abisaab

Summer is a time when children have more time off and more time to explore and to enjoy.  At the same time, emergency room doctors like Josyann Abisaab see a great deal of avoidable injuries in the summer.  Keep these tips in mind as you enjoy your summer with your children.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among young children.  Children shouldn’t be left unattended while in a bath, pool, lake or other body of water and home swimming pools should be protected and securely locked.

Since people drive more during the summer, there is an increased rate of car accidents.  Make sure that children are always buckled and that they are always in the age-appropriate car seats while traveling.  Heat and dehydration also cause a great deal of E.R. visits.  Never leave a child in the car and keep kids well hydrated during the summer.

During the summer, there are a number of “typical” accidents that emergency room physicians like Josyann Abisaab see repeatedly.  Planning ahead and paying attention to these danger areas can help to limit your exposure to the E.R. this summer.

Outdoor grills cause a great deal of accidents during the warmer months.  It’s important for the grill to be thoroughly cleaned before it is used and for all tubes leading into the burner to be checked before usage.  Don’t use the grill in a closed area such as a garage, carport or porch, or near a surface that can catch fire.

Drowning is, unfortunately, a common issue during the summer months.  Avoid alcohol when swimming or boating and wear a lifejacket if you are going onto a boat.  Keep your eye on your children at all times around water and never let anyone that you know swim alone.  Certainly, all children should be taught to swim when they are old enough to do so.

Did you know that vehicle crashes are the number one cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children under 14? Most of these accidents actually occur close to home, often when parents don’t bother to buckle a child since they are only driving a short distance.

ER doctors such as Josyann Abisaab will advise that you absolutely never turn on the engine to the car until everyone is buckled in – no matter how short the trip will be. In addition, air bags can kill and seriously injure children and children under 12 should always ride in the back. This is particularly true if the car has a passenger-side air bag.

Similarly, it’s essential to know which car seats to use for your children, and to use them correctly. Children who are under one and weigh less than 20 pounds need to be in rear-facing seats. The seat can be turned around when the baby is one and weighs between 20 and 40 pounds. Once your child reaches 40 pounds, he can be in a booster seat, and should remain so until he is approximately 80 pounds.

Certainly, emergency room doctors like Dr. Josyann Abisaab see children who have swallowed serious choking hazards. As a parent, it is very important to child-proof the house and to check each room for choking dangers. Make sure, when you purchase toys, that you only purchase items that are age-appropriate.

Obviously, if you have older children, this poses a problem. Keep toys with small parts far out of reach of small children and teach your older children about the dangers that their toys can pose to their small siblings.

One interesting idea is to purchase a parts tester which you can get at most toy stores for only a few dollars. These will test objects for you to see if they are small enough to pose a choking hazard.

When you enter a room, look around for choking hazards. Make sure you know CPR and that any caregivers that you hire or take your children to know CPR as well.