It’s the school summer holidays!
The days are longer, the sun is shining (hopefully not at 40 degrees!) and your kids are staying active and having plenty of adventures. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors, head off on a camping trip or try a brand-new activity.
But whilst you’re enjoying this time, make sure you keep an eye on your children’s health and safety. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
Use sunscreen
Whenever your children are likely to be in the sun, apply a high SPF sunscreen at least 30 minutes beforehand.
By doing so, you’ll help protect their sensitive skin from sunburn and help reduce their risk of developing skin cancer when they get older.
Look for a product designed for children, ideally in a spray bottle as this makes it faster and easier to apply to those wriggly young bodies. We love Malibu Kids Sun Lotion with SPF50 200ml.
Get them to drink plenty
Encourage your kids to drink plenty of water when it’s hot outside to reduce their risk of getting dehydrated or suffering from sunstroke.
This is especially important for kids who are likely to be running around and burning lots of energy whilst in the sun.
We recommend that you keep a jug of iced water in the fridge and consider adding slices of fruit for added flavour so they’re much more likely to drink up. Wherever possible, avoid high sugar drinks like fruit juice and pop that are bad for their teeth and can cause future health problems.
Keep an eye on those snacks
Everyone loves to enjoy a delicious ice cream on a sunny day, but try not to give in too often. Instead, stick to healthier options like fresh fruits and veggies, breadsticks and hummus, rice cakes, natural yoghurt and muesli or homemade low-sugar options.
No problem with a treat now and then but don’t overdo the biscuits, crisps, sweets, chocolate and ice cream, their health and teeth will suffer. It’s just not worth it!
Brush up on first aid
With all that active time spent on the trampoline, scooter or bike or in the playground, your kids are more likely to have accidents and spend hours waiting at A&E.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that it’s bad to be active- quite the opposite. But you should take a few steps to ensure they stay healthy and you can deal with any issues pronto, without necessarily ending up at the hospital. Here are a few tips:
● Get yourself a first aid kit. This will come in handy for cuts, grazes or other minor injuries. Head to your local pharmacy or buy one online here.
● Learn basic first aid skills. Many local authorities offer free courses or you can brush up on your skills online here.
● Visit your local pharmacy. We can often deal with the problem right here so you can avoid A&E completely. If you’re not sure if we can help, give us a ring and ask.
This summer, help keep your kids healthy by using sunscreen, ensuring they drink plenty, giving them healthy snacks and taking care of any injuries that happen. Remember that we can deal with many minor health issues or injuries so you don’t have to go to A&E.
If you’d like help or advice on any of the topics we’ve mentioned here, pop into your local pharmacy. We’re always very happy to see you!
Need more help? Pop into your pharmacy for advice.
