As the weather turns warmer here in the Portland Metro area, we hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and getting to play outside with your children! Unfortunately, injuries, bumps and bruises are a part of childhood.  Thankfully most are minor.  When it comes to safety for your children, you already know the basics: buckle up, wear a helmet, learn to swim and look both ways when crossing the street. Read our tips below to prevent more significant injuries, both indoors and outdoors!

Burns

Every day, over 300 children ages 0 to 19 are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries. There are several things we can do to make our homes safer and prevent these injuries.  Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home, on each floor of the home and near the rooms that everyone sleeps in.  Test your alarms monthly and use long life batteries. Involve your kids in planning an escape plan in case there is a fire and establish a safe meeting place.

Be sure to never leave food unattended while cooking in the oven or on the stove. Always supervise children when they are near or using the stove, oven or even the microwave.

Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This will protect infants and young children who aren’t able to get out of water that is too warm. Always test the water before your child does.

Poisoning

It’s not just chemicals in your home that can be dangerous to children.  Everyday items, such as household cleaners and medicines can be poisonous to children as well.  Children often investigate and try to eat or drink anything they can get a hold of. 

To help prevent poisonings, it is important to keep medicines and toxic products in their original packages and out of children’s reach. Safely dispose of any unused or expired medications by mixing them with coffee grounds or kitty litter before throwing them away. Before giving children any medication, be sure to read the label carefully and follow instructions from their medical provider.

It is important that everyone has memorized the number for the poison control center.  Post it near your home phone and save it in your cell phone: 800.222.1222. Call them immediately if your child has ingested something and is awake and alert. If they are unconscious or not breathing, call 9-1-1 right away.

Drowning

When your children are in or near water (including the bath tub), the best way to prevent drowning is close supervision of children (within an arm’s length). Everyone should know the basics of swimming and CPR. 

Be sure swimming pools are surrounded on all sides with a fence that has a self-closing gate and a self-closing latch that is out of reach of children.  

Life jackets should always be worn in and around oceans, lakes, and rivers. Under Oregon Law, children 12 or younger are required to wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket while a boat is underway.  We recommend that children wear life jackets on the dock as well.

Road Safety

Ensure your children are in the correct car seat for their age and weight. Read more about the updated car and booster seat guidelines on our blog: https://sunsetpediatrics.com/new-car-seat-guidelines/.

Once kids are older, be sure they always wear a seat belt. Be a good example and always wear your seat belt as well.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the US. Talk to your teen about the 8 danger zones of driving; driver inexperience, driving with other teen passengers, nighttime driving, seat belt use, distracted driving, drowsy driving, reckless driving and impaired driving. Find out more about what parents can do on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/parentsarethekey/danger/index.html.

Stay safe on the roads even as a pedestrian.  Whenever possible, cross the street at a designated crosswalk or intersection.  Carry a flashlight at night and wear reflective clothing.

Falls

Kids will inevitably fall, but we want to minimize risk of falls causing serious injuries. At home this can be done by installing gates and railings near stairs and guards on windows.  Supervision is key. Make sure to watch your children whether you’re at home or out to play.

Sports Safety

When kids play sports, make sure they use the correct gear that fits them well and is in good condition for whatever sport they are playing. Be sure that their school’s program and coaches are teaching athletes proper technique and have a plan in place for any injuries, especially concussions.

For sports that require helmets, make sure the helmet fits properly, is well maintained, age appropriate, worn consistently and is appropriately certified. The CDC has a free HEADS UP Concussion and Helmet Safety app that will help you learn how to spot a possible concussion and what to do if you think your child has a concussion.

Since many sports are played outside, it is especially important to monitor children for heat related illnesses. Be sure they drink plenty of water and are wearing the appropriate clothes for the climate.

Playground Safety

Playgrounds are a very fun place for children!  Be sure playgrounds have soft material underneath such as sand, wood chips or mulch.  Make sure your child is only using equipment that is correct for their age. Be sure the playground equipment is in good condition, is not rusting or broken and there are guardrails to prevent falls.  Lastly, be sure the ground is free of tree stumps, rocks, branches and other things your child could trip or fall on.

Bicycle Safety

Kids should always wear safety gear when they are on anything with wheels. This includes always wearing a helmet. Wrist guards, elbow guards and knee pads are also important. 

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.

Almost all children will be infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by their second birthday.  RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.  Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants, young children and older adults.  Each year in the US, more than 57,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized due to RSV infection.  RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.  These infections generally occur during fall, winter and spring with most cases peaking in February.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Reduced appetite
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Wheezing

Help prevent the spread of RSV

People with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days.  Children are often exposed to and infected with RSV outside the home, such as in school or child-care centers. Take extra care to stay healthy:

• Wash hands often
• Keep hands off the face
• Avoid close contact with sick people
• Cover any coughs and sneezes
• Clean and disinfect surfaces
• Stay home when sick

Information from CDC.gov

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.

Stay up-to-date with the latest information on the measles investigation by following the Clark County Public Health page found here: https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation.

As of Monday, January 28th, there are 35 confirmed cases and 11 suspect cases.

Measles & the MMR Immunization

People who have had 2 doses of MMR are considered immune. Sunset typically gives the first MMR vaccine at the 12 month well child check with the second dose being given at the 4 year well child check.

As the current outbreak is confined to a highly unvaccinated specific population, there isn’t an urgent need to receive the second dose. If you are interested in having your child receive the second MMR vaccine, it must be at least 28 days from the first dose. Two doses of MMR vaccine given at or after 12 months of age with at least 28 days spacing between the doses will both count as valid for Oregon school requirements.

If your child is under 12 months old, please contact us to determine if your child should get the first dose of MMR early.

Measles Symptoms

Symptoms typically appear within one to three weeks of exposure and include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Blotchy, red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body

People with measles are contagious prior to showing any symptoms up until four days after the rash appears.

Please call us if you believe your child may have been exposed. It is important to remain at home so as not to infect other individuals.

Contact us immediately if your child develops measles symptoms, even if your child has been immunized. We’ll help come up with a plan to safely see your child without exposing other families.

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.

At the beginning of this year, we learned about two confirmed cases of measles: one in Oregon and one in Washington. Now there is increasing measles activity throughout the Portland/Vancouver area.

If your children have been fully vaccinated against measles (two doses of MMR), their risk of becoming sick is very low. Risk is highest for people who are not vaccinated, unvaccinated pregnant women, infants younger than one, and immunocompromised individuals.

The single best way to protect your kids from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles is to make sure they’re immunized on schedule. MMR is very safe and effective and could absolutely save your child’s life.

Confirmed Measles Cases Continue to Grow

As of 1/25/2019, there are 30 confirmed cases of measles. 26 of the confirmed cases involve children who have not been vaccinated.

Clark Country recently declared this outbreak a public health emergency.They have set up a hotline for people to call with questions related to the measles investigation. The number is 360.397.8021 and is staffed from 9am to 7pm daily.

Exposure locations across the Portland/Vancouver area range from hospitals, medical offices, schools and stores.  See more about specific locations and times of potential exposure.

Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from only those schools identified as possible exposure sites. Students and staff excluded from those identified schools are also excluded from other schools, child care and other congregate settings. Students and staff at schools where measles exposure did not occur are not impacted by exclusions.

Measles Symptoms

Symptoms typically appear within one to three weeks of exposure and include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Blotchy, red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body

People with measles are contagious prior to showing any symptoms up until four days after the rash appears.

Here’s what to do:

Please call us if you believe your child may have been exposed. It is important to remain at home so as not to infect other individuals.

Contact us immediately if your child develops measles symptoms, even if your child has been immunized. We’ll help come up with a plan to safely see your child without exposing other families.

We’re also happy to answer your questions about measles infection or any questions or concerns you have about this information. Another great resource is your county health department:

• Clark County Public Health: 360.397.8182
• Multnomah County Public Health: 503.988.3406
• Washington County Public Health: 503.846.3594
• Clackamas County Public Health: 503.655.8411
• Yamhill County Public Health: 503.434.7525

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.