Healthcare News

Summer in New England means outdoor activities galore. At Derry Medical Center and Londonderry Family Practice we encourage all kinds of physical activities as part of a healthy lifestyle. Just remember to be safe with our quick tips for summer safety:

1. Always wear sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that provides a broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, is water resistant, hypoallergenic and fragrance-free with an SPF of 15-30 minimum. The key with sunscreen lies in its application. For greatest effectiveness, it’s important to apply sunscreen 30-minutes before outdoor activities as it needs time to be absorbed by the skin. Try applying it when getting dressed for the day. Secondly, many people don’t use enough sunscreen. As a general rule, use a child’s handful to cover a child’s body. Older children have bigger hands, so the ratio continues to work to adulthood. Reapply sunscreen throughout the day and remember that sunscreen isn’t a free pass to unlimited sun exposure. Avoid or limit long exposure to the strongest rays of the day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
2. NEVER leave children unattended in or near pools. Keep a life preserver and shepherd’s hook in the pool area to help pull a child to the edge of the pool when necessary. Teach your children safety rules and make sure they obey:
   • Never swim alone
   • Never dive into the water except when permitted with an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
   • Don’t let young children or children who cannot swim use inflatable toys or mattresses in water that is above their waist.
   • Teach your child to swim once he or she is ready (usually around 5 years old).
3. Always wear bicycle helmets. Thousands of children are injured each year due to improper use of bicycles and lacking or insufficient bike helmets. The good news is that with proper precautions, bicycling can be a great first step toward childhood independence and improved motor skills.
   • Always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
   • Ride on the right hand side of the road, WITH traffic.
   • Learn and use appropriate hand signals.
   • Respect all traffic signals.
   • Skateboarders should use protective gear such as helmets, wrist braces, elbow and knee pads.
   • When boating, always wear U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation devices and file a travel plan before leaving on a journey longer than 4-hours.
   • When hiking, wear insect repellant, long pants tucked into socks when possible, and check for ticks at the end of each hike.
   • Watch out for those summer picnic table feasts. The CDC estimates that there are about 76 million cases of food poisoning each year in the U.S. Young children are the most at risk from serious and even life threatening cases of food poisoning. Heat is a dangerous foe for summer foods like salads, meats and even fruit. Keep salads cool by using a cooler packed with ice and don’t leave food on the table longer than the time it takes for everyone to take a serving. When in doubt about a food’s quality, throw it out.