Category Archives: Safety

What is the car seat / booster seat / regular seat belt schedule?

Posted on by
Suzanne Berman, M.D.

The Tennessee state legislature enacted new laws about proper restraints of children. The new laws, which took effect July 1, 2004, are as follows:

  • Age under 1 year, even if over 20 lbs: rear-facing car seat in the back seat (if car has a back seat)
  • Ages 1-3: forward-facing toddler car seat in the back seat
  • Ages 4-8 and less than 5 feet tall: booster car seat in the back seat
  • Kids over 9 or over 5 feet tall: regular seat belt. The back seat is strongly recommended until the child turns 12.
  • Everyone else: regular seat belt in front or back.

Although it is not yet the law in Tennessee, the AAP now recommends the following: “infants should ride rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. At a minimum, children should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their infant-only seat, they should continue to ride rear-facing in a convertible seat.” Ask us about the most up-to-date information about positioning your 1-year-old safely in the car.

Never put an infant or child’s care seat in the front seat where an air bag is located. Children have died when the air bag struck the car seat.

Set a good example for your children and always wear your seat belt too! If parents don’t buckle up, children think that seat belts are “just for babies.”

Remember, it is now Tennessee law that all young people under 17 wear a seat belt or car seat, no matter where they are in the car. All people in the front seat must wear a seat belt, regardless of age.

What about a preemie/special needs child?

Many parents of very small preemies wonder if a regular car seat is safe for their baby. Other parents of children with special needs may have difficulty getting their child into a regular car seat or booster seat.

However, there are safe alternatives in these cases. See the American Academy of Pediatrics’ special seat shopping guide for more information. (Adobe PDF format)

What insect repellents are best for kids?

Posted on by
Suzanne Berman, M.D.

Parents are naturally concerned about summer bug bites. Not only are itchy, red insect bites enough to take the fun out of any picnic or beach trip, there is real concern about insect-borne diseases, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and West Nile virus.On the other hand, many parents have heard that N,N-Diethyl-Meta-Toluamide (DEET), one of the best insect repellents, can be harmful for young children. DEET-free repellents may be hard to find in Cumberland County and sometimes don’t work as well.

What’s a mom or dad to do? Here are some points to remember:

  • Some DEET-free repellents include products like Avon’s Skin-So-Soft, which is used by the United States Army for its insect repellent purposes for troops in jungle training. Other options include:
    • Bug-Away
    • Off-Botanicals
    • California Baby
    • natural essential oils, like citronella, patchouli, clove, and makaen, which provide about 2 hours of repellency
  • DEET-containing repellents may be used on children down to age 2 months with the following precautions:
    • Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do not use under clothing.
    • Do not use DEET on the hands of young children; avoid applying to areas around the eyes and mouth.
    • Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
    • Wash treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors; wash treated clothing.
    • Avoid spraying in enclosed areas; do not use DEET near food.
    • DEET should not be applied more than once a day.
    • Pick a repellent with a relatively low concentration of DEET (under 30%). Some products contain as low as 6% DEET. Other products (typically with names like “Outdoorsman” or “Woodsman”) have concentrations of over 30% DEET.

How can I protect my child from accidents?

Posted on by

Suzanne Berman, M.D.

Fortunately, the problems that disable older folks (like heart attacks and strokes) are exceedingly rare in kids. Preventable accidents are one of the biggest causes of death in children, and are the number one cause of death in kids between the ages of 1 and 10! Here are some important things you can do to help your child grow up safely.

Decide early in your child’s life that you will never compromise your child’s safety for any reason.

Let other people who care for your child know that you take safety seriously, and that you expect them to do the same. This also means that you must never give in to your child’s tantrums or demands where safety is concerned. Whether to go to bed at 8 or 9 o’clock might be negotiable; but wearing a seat belt is never optional. Other caregivers need to be aware of this, too. Grandma may want to spoil the grandkids, but sitting in grandma’s lap in the car is just not safe. Be prepared to stand firm on these issues, and set a good example yourself.

Always, always use a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.

The right restraint for your child depends on his age and weight (see our information sheet on car seats.) Using the wrong type of restraint for your child can be uncomfortable (causing your child to not want to wear it) or even dangerous. Also, it’s the law.
Set a good example by wearing your own seatbelt. If your child unbuckles or climbs out of his restraint for any reason, stop the car. Firmly inform him that the car doesn’t move until everyone has a seatbelt on. And stick to it, even if you lose 15 minutes.

Have your child use a helmet for biking, sledding, and skiing.

Head injuries can cause permanent brain damage. Tell your child not using a helmet when bike riding means loss of bike privileges. In Tennessee, it is now state lawthat children under 17 must wear bike helmets or be fined.

Tell your child not to pet strange animals without a grownup’s permission.

Children have a natural curiosity about animals and usually don’t recognize when animals are hostile. Fortunately, rabies is rare in all animals except bats and possums, but the danger of bad bites and scratches – especially if they become infected – remains. Occasionally, pets can carry bacteria which can be passed on to a child. Your child shouldn’t ever touch any wild animals of any kind. Unfamiliar pets should be touched only after asking the owner’s permission.

Don’t talk to strangers.

If a stranger makes your child feel uncomfortable, insists on talking, or tries to touch your child, teach your child to run and yell for help. Be prepared to support your child if he does this unexpectedly with someone he doesn’t recognize. For example, say, “I’m so proud of you. You did the safe thing, and I’m sorry Mr. Carlisle scared you,” not, “Why did you run away from Mrs. Jenkins? That was very rude!”

Lock up guns.

Many families, especially in our area, enjoy the outdoors and hunting. It is important to realize, though, that many children die from accidents related to firearms. If you choose to keep guns at home, remember the following:

  • Lock up guns in an approved gun cabinet or gun safe. Don’t just “hide” your gun. Kids tend to find, often unintentionally, hidden guns.
  • Take the key out of the lock.
  • Always store your guns unloaded.
  • Lock up ammunition separately from the guns.
  • Explain to your children that they are not allowed to touch guns, ever, unless with a grownup. If an accident did happen, the presence of someone else to get medical attention can make the difference between life and death.

What first aid items should I have on hand at home?

Posted on by
Suzanne Berman, M.D.

A well-stocked home medicine cabinet should include the following items:

  • Small and medium sized band-aids.
  • Medium and large sized gauze pads.
  • A roll of clean gauze.
  • A heating pad.
  • A digital thermometer.
  • A freezable ice pack.
  • Sunscreen (at least SPF 15).
  • Insect repellent (see our information page on insect repellent.)
  • A pair of small tweezers.
  • Small, curved fingernail scissors.
  • A rubber bulb syringe.

As far as medications for the medicine cabinet, we recommend having the following:

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol), in liquid or pill form, depending on the age of your children. Also consider having a few suppositories, since these are handy when children have fever and vomiting.
  • Ibuprofen (Advil), in liquid or pill form.
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), in liquid or pill form.
  • Hydrocortisone 1% cream or ointment.
  • Antibacterial ointment (such as Neosporin.)
  • Nasal saline drops.

Tips for your kit:

  • We recommend going through your medicine cabinet every 3-4 months and throwing away any medications that have expired. (Be sure to throw them away in such a manner that your young children won’t find them and eat them!)
  • You can put your kit in a plastic box or tackle box and take it with you on trips as well. Being prepared beats looking for children’s Tylenol at 10 pm in a strange town (and paying high gas station prices.)