Fall is looming here in Vegas, back to school is almost here. Families are frenetically taking their last vacations and more time is being spent outdoors in our (relatively) comfortable evenings. This means that common sense and safety are at least as important now that folks are travelling more, swimming more, and spending more time outdoors. This means to remember just a few basic things to ensure that your last vacation is a safe one, and that back to school can once more be celebrated with health and well-being:
1. Don't forget the sun screen! Ok, so the kids have been outside all summer. They've run around in the heat, played in the pool, participated in various sports and leisure activities and have had fun all season. Now isn't the time to forget the sun screen! Whether your child is at home or daycare, please ensure that they still have sunscreen on until at least the middle of September! it's simply too hot - it is still the desert! - and our sun is too strong to take chances! Just because it's almost fall doesn't mean that this threat isn't still there!
2. Wear hats. No one wants to get sick the last couple of weeks of "vacation." Light-colored hats, whether brimmed or baseball style, are one of the simplest sunshades. They can protect eyes, prevent future glaucoma or other ailments, and help prevent sunstroke.
3. Hydrate! Drink lots of water. Carry a bottle with you and train your child to do the same at a young age. Whether cycling, walking, playing or hiking, this is not a luxury! If your child gets lethargic, pale, with a cold sweat they may have heat exhaustion. Get them to a cool spot and have them lie down. Give them water to sip, not gulp - this can cause them to throw up. Watch them carefully. Prevent this with proper hydration and summer will end on a positive note.
4. Clean the pools! It's West Nile Virus time, folks and we have had our first Nevada case just last week! Green pools=algae=breeding grounds for mosquitos! Sympoms of less severe West Nile Virus include fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite and an achy back and muscles. Some folks might also develop a skin rash. This almost mimics a cold or light summer 'flu. If the house next door is empty and the pool is stagnant or green, contact the City and let them know!
5. Mosquito repellant: on that note, wear repellant when outside during the evening, camping or on long grass. Even though they are few and appear far between, we do have mosquitoes! Act accordingly!
6. Creepy crawlies: make sure your children wear footwear when outside. We have many stinging/biting critters in the desert. Spiders, red ants, scorpions. Parts of town even have snakes. Then there's the undesirables like cockroaches and the like. I wouldn't want to run over them on bare feet, would you? So keep on the footwear! And when hiking or walking the trails/Wash, always wear sturdy shoes and carry a stick. You never know what you may encounter!
7. Teach your children the rules of the road. Many children walk or ride bikes to school, with bus'ing being as it is in Clark County. Before they hit the road this fall, walk with them at least once. Don't forget - we now have flashing amber lights which may be new to you and them! Instruct them about crossing roads - they may roll their eyes, but it may save their lives! Talk to them about drivers - about blind spots (especially if they are riding bikes to school), about wide turns for large trucks, about the time it takes to stop when you are driving at a particular speed. Tell them not to count on people stopping at crosswalks or flashing lights, even though it's the law to do so. Warn them that not all drivers slow down in school zones. Teach them to think both as a driver and pedestrian, for their own safety! Teach them how to be observant and watch the world around them. Of course, teach them about personal safety and not to approach unknown cars or pedestrians. Give them a "safety code" in case anyone else ever has to pick them up. And have them walk in groups or at least with one other child, for their own safety. If they take a school bus, help reinforce the rules and teach them how to behave - to remain seated, to keep voices low, not to stick arms or hands out the windows, how to enter and exit, to respect the driver and other children and their possessions. in short, how to behave courteously and safely.
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