Search: Provider Services Index (Program Services) > The Nurse Is In From the Nurse Summer is in full swing and we are moving outdoors. This means it is important to follow safety habits in the great outdoors. Child Care Providers must always be diligent with the children they care for. Always wear sunscreen! I know you probably heard that since you were young, but it is so true! Sunscreen helps to protect us from the harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer. It is important to know that many skin cancers are the result of severe sunburns in our childhood and teen years. Apply at least an ounce every two hours. Reapply for sweating or if you get into the water. Wear protective clothing so the rays are less severe. Slip on a shirt. Slap on a hat. Slop on some sunscreen. Do not use sunscreen on children less than 6 months, as it is not proven safe for this age group. Protect yourself from those dreaded bugs! Mosquitoes and ticks can be deadly. The best protection is clothing - long sleeves, long pants. But even with these, it is important to use bug spray if you will be in a wooded or wet area. Use 10-30% DEET only on children older than 2 months. Be careful on the playground. Make sure you check the equipment for the children before they play on it. Just because it is a public playground, does not always mean the playground or the equipment is safe. Beware of tripping, pinching and trapping hazards. They can pinch, hurt, or cause the children to become entrapped. Keep the children off of metal slides that could be hot and may burn them. Be courteous of others at the parks. Watch out for that pesky poison ivy, oak and sumac. Even though this is an inconvenience, in many cases it can be prevented by just staying away from it. Sometimes it can be hard to detect. Stay away from green leafy plants that have leaves of three. Apply medication if needed and provided by the parent and physician. Have a safe, happy, healthy summer Andi Mueller, RN, MSN, CCNC, SDA 14 Reference: AAP Ð Summer Safety Ð Parts 1 and 2 Back to top