For kids, summer can revolve around playgrounds, pools, bikes and just being outside. For parents, it can mean a litany of ouchies to take care of — including scrapes, sunburns and dehydration, pediatricians say.
“Kids should play and have every opportunity to use their imagination, but we need to take precautions to keep them as safe as possible," Dr. Danielle Mercurio, a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Here are the top things pediatricians say you should keep an eye on.
It's important to take precautions in warmer weather, especially with younger kids, who are more susceptible to heat illness, Mercurio said. That means keeping a water bottle with them when they're outside, wearing sun-protective clothing and mineral sunscreen and not staying in the sun too long.
Parents also should monitor kids for signs of fatigue and pay attention to the warmth and color of their skin — if it’s red and hot, they probably need to take a break inside or under a shaded area.
You should also know what the three different types of heat illness are, Mercurio said, each more severe than the next.
The first is heat cramps, and the only remedy is giving kids fluids that contain electrolytes — like coconut water or sports drinks — to replenish salts that the body lost from sweating.
The next level is heat exhaustion, which causes nausea, vomiting and feeling weak or anxious. It's typically accompanied by a fever. You can try taking the child into a cooler area, giving them fluids, spraying them with water or putting them in front of a fan to cool them off.
If your child has all of those all of those symptoms and is also acting confused or responding strangely, that's a heat stroke, which warrants a trip to the hospital.
Fireworks are fun and bright, but they're not for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children away from all fireworks.
Even sparklers can be dangerously hot, said Dr. Poj Lysouvakon, the University of Chicago's Pediatric Injury Prevention Program director.
He also says to avoid fireworks shows unless they're sponsored by a government agency and put on by professionals in a controlled setting.
Pools, lakes and other bodies of water are common sites for summertime injuries, Lysouvakon said.
One must-have, he said: A designated adult whose only job is monitoring the pool while kids are in it. If you have an above-ground pool, make sure it's fenced in with 4-foot walls to keep kids out when there aren’t adults around.
Any type of water can be a source of drowning — even an inch can be dangerous for little ones, said Dr. Christina Kratlian at Boston Children’s Hospital. She suggests draining, flipping and deflating inflatable pools after every use.
And if a child is rescued from the water and has experienced choking or difficulty breathing or lethargy, that might mean there is water in their lungs, and that requires medical attention, according to Dr. Danielle Grant from Texas Children’s Hospital.
Kids fall off bikes and fall down on trampolines, and they might come back in with scrapes and bruises.
If your kid is on a bike, they should be wearing a helmet, experts say; make sure it fits correctly and the strap is snug under a child’s chin. Trampoline injuries are common, too, especially when there’s more than one kid on at a time.
Parents should make sure that if kids go to a playground, it “matches the child's age,” Kratlian said. For example, a little toddler shouldn't be in a large swing that doesn't fit them or climbing tall structures. Metal slides can get hot under the sun, so check it before a kid launches down one.
Most scrapes can be taken care of at home by cleaning them and applying antibacterial ointments and bandages, especially if they’re not infected.
But any time there’s a significant fall, especially on the head, take your child to the doctor. Other warning signs include inability to move an arm, leg or joint; big cuts; and redness, puss, heat or streaking around a cut or scrape.
When in doubt, Grant said, call your pediatrician.
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FILE - A child keeps cool beneath misters along the Las Vegas Strip, Friday, June 16, 2017, in Las Vegas. Pediatricians suggest keeping your child hydrated and avoiding prolonged sun exposure to keep heat illness at bay. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — Grayson Rodriguez allowed just two hits over 6 1/3 shutout innings, and Anthony Santander drove in the go-ahead run with a fourth-inning RBI single as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Rodriguez (10-3) was dominant against Seattle’s struggling offense, retiring the first eight batters and allowing just one hit through five innings. The Orioles have won five of their last six games after dropping five in a row.
The Mariners threatened twice, but Rodriguez got an inning-ending double play off the bat of Jorge Polanco in the fourth inning and struck out Cal Raleigh in the sixth to escape both jams unscathed.
“I thought he threw the ball great," manager Brandon Hyde said. “Really good changeup tonight. That start in Houston didn't go well, but ... he's had four or five really good ones. This was right up there also. Really good job of changing speeds.”
Josh Rojas had both hits for Seattle, a pair of singles.
Gunnar Henderson hit a leadoff single in the fourth against Mariners starter George Kirby, and scored to put the Orioles up 1-0 when Santander hit a one-out single to right field.
“They have a pretty good pitching staff," Santander said. “There are some games we don't win by a homer. As a hitter we have to try to not do too much, especially with runners in scoring position.”
The Orioles, who lead MLB with 139 homers, won without a long ball for the first time since May 31 against Tampa Bay.
Cedric Mullins made it a 2-0 game with an RBI single in the seventh that ended Kirby’s day after 6 1/3 innings. Kirby (7-6) allowed two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Rodriguez also went 6 1/3 innings, with four walks, eight strikeouts, and 19 swings and misses from the Seattle lineup, including nine off his changeup.
“That's kind of the foundation of how I pitch is off that changeup,” Rodriguez said. “If I can get that working, I'm pretty confident I can do anything I want with it.”
Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez combined for two perfect innings of relief, and Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 20th save.
Raleigh put a scare into the Baltimore dugout with a booming blast with one on that looked set to tie the game in the ninth, but the ball curved foul.
The loss extended Seattle's losing streak to three games.
“Baltimore has got a good club, we know that,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “These games are going to be tight. We've got to figure out a way to get the big hit late, and that's been a struggle for us lately.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
DH/C Mitch Garver (wrist) was still a bit sore on Tuesday after taking a fastball from Joe Ryan off his right wrist in Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Garver was not in the lineup, but took some swings in the batting cage.
ROSTER MOVE
Seattle recalled C Seby Zavala from Triple-A Tacoma, and optioned LHP Jhonathan Díaz … Seattle signed RHP Chris Devenski to a major league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Tacoma. Devenski was released by Tampa Bay on Monday … On Monday, Baltimore activated RHP Corbin Burnes off the paternity list and optioned LHP Matt Krook to Triple-A Norfolk.
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Dean Kremer (3-4, 4.32 ERA) will pitch Wednesday against Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert (5-4, 2.72).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Baltimore Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser fields a fly ball during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles reliever Cionel Perez delivers a pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby, second from right, is pulled from a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning by manager Scott Servais during a meeting at the mound with catcher Cal Raleigh, second from left, and third baseman Josh Rojas, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles reliever Yennier Cano delivers a pitch during the seventh inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jorge Mateo attempts to turn a double play after forcing out Seattle Mariners' Dominic Canzone at second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, left, and right fielder Anthony Santander celebrate after a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. The Orioles won 2-0. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cionel Perez fields a ground ball barehanded during the eighth inning during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg hits a RBI-single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, left, and catcher Adley Rutschman walk off the field at the end of the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
