Parkland experts offer end-of-summer safety tips
Keep your kids healthy, happy as vacation season closes
While Labor Day marks the unofficial end to the summer vacation season, the holiday weekend also provides a final weekend for swimming, camping or heading to the lake to soak up some sun on the water. But health and safety experts at Parkland Health say parents need to be mindful of, and try to prevent, potential injuries and illnesses related to end-of-summertime outdoor activities.
“It’s been a long, hot summer and as we welcome cooler weather, we have to remember that our area is still full of bugs that can ruin the end of the summer fun,” said Lizbeth Petty, Public Health Education Manager with the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC) at Parkland. “From fire ants to mosquitoes, wasps, spiders and snakes, there are plenty of biting and stinging critters active in the warm weather. Parents need to patrol areas where kids are playing and eliminate breeding and hiding areas for pests if possible. Apply mosquito repellent, especially at dawn and dusk. Teach your kids to recognize and avoid poison ivy, oak and sumac. And keep the Poison Center’s phone number handy in case of emergency.”
To receive free expert advice on any type of poisoning, drug overdose, chemical exposure, insect bite or sting, call the NTPC, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-222-1222.
For those who will be taking to the sidewalks, parks or out for a ride in the country, a helmet is an essential piece of equipment for anyone on wheels.
“Helmets protect children from serious brain injuries and can be lifesaving, so they should be worn whenever kids are on bicycles, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards and skates,” said Courtney Edwards, DNP, MPH, RN, CCRN, CEN, TCRN, NEA-BC, Director of Trauma Community Outreach in the Rees-Jones Trauma Center at Parkland.
Edwards stresses that it’s equally important for adults on wheels, especially motorcycles, to wear a helmet. On average, one motorcyclist dies in a crash on Texas roads every day. In 2024, 581 riders lost their lives and 2,534 were seriously injured in crashes, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. In 2024, 279 people were treated in Parkland’s Emergency Department for injuries from motorcycle crashes.
Another end-of-summer hazard is the family grill. Sarah Scoins, MSN, RN, CNS, CCRN, ACCNS-AG, Burn Outreach and Injury Prevention Educator at Parkland, stated, “People forget that a grill remains very hot even after it’s no longer being used. Never let children near the grill,” she advised. “Kids can sustain a severe burn from a hot grill long after the hot dogs have been eaten. And, especially for those grills such as those with hot coals, it is especially important to make sure there is a bucket of water to douse any flames should it be necessary.”
And speaking of food, Parkland Registered Dietitian Melissa Mendez said barbecues and picnics often have an unintended consequence – food poisoning. “Be sure to check the internal temperature of meats and other foods on the grill to ensure they are cooked to the appropriate safe temperature,” Mendez said. “And avoid leaving foods out on the picnic table or in the car that require refrigeration. In our Texas heat, foods can spoil very quickly.”
In addition, Mendez said it’s important to stay hydrated as summer ends. “Water should be our number one drink. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, it’s important to take the time to drink water,” she said. “There may be many other drinks available, but our bodies need good ole water.”
The bottom line, Parkland experts say, is to enjoy the end of summer fun, but do so safely.
For information about health services at Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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