It’s vacation season once again. Because your child would have more time to play outdoors, you’ve got to be prepared for emergencies. By taking this quiz, you’ll know more about common summer injuries and ailments. And you’ll know what to do just in case.
Ready? Go!
- How do sore eyes spread?
- By staring at an infected person straight in the eye.
- By touching contaminated surfaces then touching the eyes.
Answer: Sore eyes are passed through hand-to-eye contact. It is a viral eye disease which may last for two weeks.
- Sunburn should immediately be treated with:
Answer: Putting butter on a sunburn could cause more harm as this traps the heat around the injured area. It may also lead to infection. The best way is to place the injured area under cool running water.
- ______-colored clothes absorb less heat and are ideal for the summer.
Answer: Light colored clothes deflect heat, unlike dark colored clothes that absorb heat. Thus, wearing light-colored clothes would keep your child cooler this summer.
- If your child is bitten by an animal, what should you do?
- Suck the venom or rabies out of the wound.
- Wash the wound with soap and water.
Answer: Sucking the wound is very unsafe for both you and your child. It could lead to infection and the venom or rabies may enter your bloodstream. The first thing you should do is wash the wound with soap and water. Then call your doctor.
- Your child comes up to you crying. You see he has wounded his hand. What should you do first?
- Lecture him about being careful next time.
- Wash his wound with soap and water.
Answer: Clean your child’s wound immediately with soap and water to prevent infection. Leave the lecturing for another time. He needs to be comforted at this point.
- Your child has spent a couple of hours basking in the heat of the sun. Suddenly he complains of dizziness, nausea, and headache. You fear he may be having a heat stroke. What should you do first?
- Bring him to a shaded area immediately.
- Cover him with a blanket.
Answer: Prolonged exposure to intense heat or direct sunlight could cause your child’s internal cooling system to breakdown. The first thing you should do is take him indoors or to a shaded area. Loosen or remove his clothes to help cool him down.
- While playing outdoors, your son is stung by a bee. What should you do?
- Squeeze the area surrounding the sting to push the stinger out.
- Remove the stinger by using a credit card or a dull knife to push it out.
Answer: Squeezing could cause the poison on the stinger to spill into your child’s bloodstream. Carefully remove the stinger by using a credit card or a dull knife. If he is allergic to bees, a bee sting could cause a fatal allergic reaction. Take him to a doctor immediately if you do not have a prescribed epinephrine handy.
- Your son accidentally touched the hot surface of your barbecue grill. You immediately:
- Apply toothpaste to cool the burn.
- Place his burnt hand under cool running water.
Answer: Toothpaste may infect a burn. Place his burnt hand under cooling water (don’t use ice). Cover the injured area with a clean cloth. Don’t break any blister that may form. If the burn is bad, take him to a doctor immediately.
- The best time for your child to swim under the sun is:
- Before 10am and after 4pm.
- Between 10am and 4pm.
Answer: The sun is most harmful between 10am and 4pm. Soaking up the sun’s dangerous UV rays could give your child sunburn or even skin cancer. Make sure he is not exposed to the sun for a prolonged period. Apply sunscreen on him frequently throughout the day.
- You need to go to the bathroom while your child is playing with a friend beside the swimming pool. You will:
- Go to the bathroom. It will just take a couple of minutes anyway.
- Look for another adult or a lifeguard to keep an eye on my child while I’m gone.
Answer: Never ever leave your child unattended near water, be it in a tub, a pail, a pool or a beach. He could drown in a couple of minutes in waters as shallow as two inches. Ask a trusted adult to look after your child if you really have to go.
How well did you do, Mom?
If you got a perfect score, then you’re all set for summer! If not, don’t worry. You can read all about common summer injuries and first aid tips featured here at immunityfoundation.com. In no time, you would learn about what you and your child should look out for this vacation time. And in case of emergency, you’d be cool and collected because you’ll know what to do. Feel free to share this quiz with your friends—this way, they’ll be ready for summer, too.