ER Doctors Say To Never Let Your Kids Do These Activies This Fall
Now that fall is finally here, there are all kinds of fun seasonal activities for kids to do. And if your children are as accident-prone as mine are, there are some activities you may steer clear of because they also come with unique health and safety risks for your kids.
According to Today and Pediatric emergency room doctors, these are the autumn activities that should be avoided so kids don’t hurt themselves.
- Trick-or-treating without considering car safety – Forget the worries about tainted candy. Dr. Daniel Corwin, ER lead at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, says the biggest danger for trick-or-treating is drivers who can’t see kids and kids who can’t see them. An analysis of 42-years of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows the risk of pedestrian death is 43% higher on Halloween than regular nights.
- Playing sports without protective equipment – Corwin says they see “a huge uptick” in injuries when kids start training for fall sports. Children should always wear the right protective gear, from helmets to guards, and adults need to make sure it fits properly before they play, says Dr. Sage Myers. He’s an emergency medicine physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This goes for practices, as well as games.
- Going to school sick – Fall is respiratory virus season, and there’s all kinds of bacteria, viruses and nasty germs making their way through schools and getting kids sick. Even though it’s hard on parents, keeping kids home when they’re sick is important. Dr. Lisa Gaw, a pediatrician with Texas Children’s Urgent Care, says kids should never go back to school until their symptoms are gone. Those with a fever should stay home for at least 24 hours, or until the fever is gone.
- Unsupervised pumpkin carving – Kids and sharp knives can be a dangerous combination that can end in cuts, stab wounds and stitches. Leave the cutting and carving to the grown-ups and let kids draw designs and scoop out pumpkins, just to be safe.
- Playing with or near fire – Bonfires, campfires and fireplaces are perfect on chilly fall nights, but they come with risks, too.
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