Keep Your Child Safe Over Spring Break

Spring break is like a mini summer vacation. When the weather is warm enough, it's a great time for your child to enjoy outdoor adventures.

For peace of mind for you and your child, keep these safety tips in mind:

  • Pay attention to beach warnings. Be cautious of rip tides, wave warnings and beach conditions.
  • Only enter the water when a lifeguard is on duty. Swim only in designated areas.
  • Know what's in the water. Poisonous waters snakes, jellyfish, alligators, crocodiles and sharks pose dangers to swimmers. Learn the hazards of the area where you're swimming.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Reapply sunscreen regularly to avoid sunburn. Apply insect repellent after sunscreen.
  • Seek shelter if a storm hits.

For your older children, you can't always monitor their spring break activities. Here is some advice before they go off with friends:

  • Sobriety is ideal. If your young adult children decide to engage in day drinking, advise them to take their time and drink plenty of water. Alcohol can work faster on some folks than others, so staying hydrated and drinking alcohol slowly is safer.
  • Keep an eye on their drinks. Strangers may be friendly at the clubs and beaches, but they're still strangers. Avoid drugging by watching their beverage cups.
  • Eat protein before having alcohol.
  • They need to know where they are and use the buddy system for safety.
  • Follow safety recommendations. Wear seat belts. Follow boat safety rules.

Debra Mulligan, MD, joins host Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how you can keep your child safe during spring break.

Keep Your Child Safe Over Spring Break
Featuring:
Deborah Mulligan, MD
deborah Mulligan Dr. Deborah Mulligan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco, Medical Doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles and completed pediatric emergency medicine training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

As Director of the Institute for Child Health Policy and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Nova Southeastern University, she reports directly to the Chancellor. The Institute is a resource for communities, policy makers, public and private agencies, professional organizations, foundations, and academic institutions.

To be an optimal reserve, the ICHP at NSU conducts professional training and education, demonstration projects, engages in translational community-based participatory quantitative and qualitative research, developing evidence-based public policy, participating in and serving as a venue to nurture community-based advocacy and research.www.nova.edu/ichp.

The work emanating from ICHP has been recognized through coveted federal agency awards such as the SAMHSA Excellence in Community Communications and Outreach (ECCO) Gold award. Board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, past experience as physician executive includes role of Pediatric Services Medical Director for nation's fourth largest safety net hospital system serving a county of 1.6 million residents.