Playing Safe This Summer
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BY PILAR BRADSHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P. | EUGENE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES
UMMERTIME BRINGS A MUCH-NEEDED break from a challenging school year and more time to enjoy the season with our kids! The risk of COVID-19 is decreasing in Oregon as more adults are being vaccinated; however, young children still are not approved to receive the coronavirus vaccine and COVID is now ranked in the top 10 causes of death in American children. With that in mind, I encourage families to follow these summer safety tips:
In addition to taking precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus among children, providers at Eugene Pediatric Associates remind families to keep basic summer safety in mind:
• Keep unvaccinated kids from different households socially distanced and masked when they are playing together inside and encourage outside play as much as possible.
• Outfit kids with a properly-fitted life jacket if they are in a boat (floaties are not adequate protection).
• Unvaccinated children playing at the pool, park or beach should stay at least 6 feet away from people they don’t live with. When not in the water, those children 2 years and older should wear masks. • Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded areas if you have unvaccinated kids.
• Make sure an adult is within arm’s reach of a young child that is in or near a swimming pool or around any body of water. • Keep backyard pools empty or gated when not in use.
• Make helmets a priority for children (and adults) when bike riding or skateboarding. • Be sure to use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher when outdoors, and be sure to reapply often if kids are swimming. If you have questions about summertime safety and COVID-19, check the Centers for Disease Control’s website, or visit us at EugenePeds.com. ✦
• Rethink air travel with unvaccinated children unless it’s an urgent trip. • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. • Keep kids home when they are sick. • Get your unvaccinated child tested if they become sick with symptoms of COVID-19, or if they are in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
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