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Enjoying Summer Safely
The Sun Is More Fun When Kids Are OK! "There are a number of reasons that have led the [American] Academy of Pediatrics to recommend that no child under the age of 6 use a trampoline," says iParenting expert Dr. John Dorsey, M.D., a pediatrician at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. "That goes for ones with or without sides. The risk of brain and body injuries is staggering. The statistics say that one in five children who use a trampoline will end up in the emergency room. It's a lot like diving into shallow water. It's an accident waiting to happen."
5. Chlorine kills all the germs that can make a child sick. If a pool is chlorinated, it's safe.
True or False
5. False. People often assume that they can't get sick from swimming in pools because chlorine kills all the germs in pool water. However, this assumption isn't completely correct. Although chlorine does kill germs, it has a couple of limitations.
First, if a pool's chlorine and pH levels aren't maintained properly, the chemical can't do its job. So it's crucial for pool personnel to test the water regularly and add chemicals when they're needed.
Second, chlorine takes time to work. It doesn't kill all germs instantly, and certain germs, such as Cryptosporidium, are relatively resistant to it. (E. coli, on the other hand, is very sensitive to chlorine and shouldn't survive for more than a minute or so in a well-maintained pool.) Chlorine alone can't keep a pool safe. Swimmers have to do their part, too, by practicing healthy swimming behaviors. Parents of toddlers have an especially important role to play here, because children of this age are especially likely to have "accidents" in the pool.
6. In the summer months, fruit juice should be the drink of choice for children.
True or False
6. False.