Bugs and lawn mowing? Sounds like summer! The American Academy of Pediatrics has some tips for families to help keep kids safe from lawn-mower accidents and from diseases transmitted by summer’s least-loved pests.
BUG SAFETY
Do not use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom. Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints. To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently back it out by scraping it with a credit card or your fingernail.
Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.
Use insect repellents containing DEET when needed to prevent insect-related diseases. Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus and other viruses.
The current AAP and CDC recommendation for children older than 2 months of age is to use 10 percent to 30 percent DEET. DEET should not be used on children younger than 2 months of age.
The effectiveness is similar for 10 percent to 30 percent DEET but the duration of effect varies. Ten percent DEET provides protection for about two hours and 30 percent provides protection for about five hours. Choose the lowest concentration that will provide the required length of coverage. The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase. Children should wash off repellents when they return indoors.
LAWNMOWER SAFETY
Only use a mower with a control that stops the mower blades from moving if the handle is let go. Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing. Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas. Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers. Keep children out of the yard while mowing. Drive up and down slopes, not across, to prevent mower rollover. Keep guards, shields, switches, and safety devices in proper working order at all times. Anyone in the vicinity of running lawnmowers should wear polycarbonate protective eye wear at all times.
—Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, July 2014
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