2023-08-12 00:14:43
Parents and children arrive in the summer tired and wanting to enjoy themselves, but protection and surveillance measures cannot give way even on vacation. Thus, you have to be very aware of the little ones when they bathe in beaches or swimming pools, and observe other precautions in different areas such as food to avoid risks that can be important.
The Spanish Association of Primary Care Paediatrics (AEPap) has issued a series of recommendations so that the summer passes in the best possible way and, above all, safe and without health problems.
Take extreme precautions in the water
According to the National Drowning Report (INA), issued by the Spanish Rescue and First Aid Federation, in 2022, there were a total of 37 deaths from this cause in children and adolescents between 0 and 17 years of age.
One of the age groups in which the highest rate of accidents occurs is between 11 and 17 years of age, in the midst of adolescence, when they often carry out risky behaviors such as diving in inappropriate places. The other is between 0 and 3 years.
“In older children, risk activities must be taken into account and in small children, constant vigilance and supervision must be provided in the vicinity of aquatic spaces. We must be extremely vigilant in places where there are no lifeguards, since almost 80% occur when there are no such personnel and half of the cases occur between July and August”, says Dr. Pedro Gorrotxategi, Vice President of the AEPap.
In children who are beginning to swim, surveillance must be exhaustive. In fact, even if they have a security system, the responsible adult must be placed at a distance of no more than one arm from the child. It must be borne in mind that in just a few seconds an accident can occur that could be fatal.
With respect to the protection system to choose, “the best security system is, without a doubt, the vest, as long as it meets quality standards,” says Dr. Gorrotxategi. In this sense, it is necessary to ensure that it is approved for the age of the child and that it complies with all applicable European regulations.
healthy habits in summer
Although on vacation we relax more and our routines can be affected, we must not give up healthy eating and habits in the family. In fact, summer is a favorable time to play outdoors, which is a great ally against the problem of childhood obesity and the sedentary life of many children and adolescents. The only precaution is not to expose yourself to the sun between 12 noon and 5 p.m., which is the period with the highest incidence, and always do so with adequate protection factors, greater than 30 and ideally 50.
In addition, “the summer months are a good time to learn healthy lifestyle habits and it is time to prepare recipes as a family, promoting a healthy, fun and appetizing diet”, highlights Dr. Teresa Cenarro, vice president of the AEPap and coordinator of the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group. Thus, we must prioritize the consumption of fruits, vegetables and vegetables on a daily basis.
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The decalogue of healthy summer
The Spanish Association of Pediatric Primary Care through Family and Health has proposed, as every year, its decalogue for a healthy summer. These are his key points:
1. Water is the ideal drink if you are thirsty. When it’s hot, it’s best to drink water frequently.
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