March is finally here, and many of us are planning and prepping for our Spring Break getaways. Read on for tips from Dr. Jessica Long on how to keep your little ones safe while on vacation.

February, the shortest and yet the slowest month of the year, is finally over which means one thing – it’s almost Spring Break! I love exploring new places with my children but traveling with kids takes a lot more planning than the days you could throw a bathing suit in a bag and be ready to jet off to Mexico. Whether your family is going somewhere within the US or traveling abroad, make sure you check these things off your to-do list to ensure a safe and healthy vacation.

First off, plan ahead. At least 6 weeks before an international trip you should arrange a travel consultation with your pediatrician to ensure your child is up to date on vaccines, check to see if any additional shots are recommended based on your itinerary, and discuss other health concerns related to your locale. The Centers for Disease Control has a great online resource that highlights health-related travel recommendations based on your country of travel. Physicians like to see you far in advance of international travel to ensure that any vaccines given will be protecting you in full force by the time you travel and to allow enough time to order any shots we may not routinely keep in stock.

Next up is the never-ending packing list. Things you’ll want to throw into your bag are sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) for all that fun in the sun, DEET (30-50%) for deterring those pesky mosquitos, and antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer. I never travel without children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen for fevers and aches, antihistamines for any allergy symptoms, and nasal saline for those inevitable stuffy noses. It might be helpful to throw in hydrocortisone cream for itchy rashes and antibacterial cream for skinned knees.

Unfortunately accidents still happen when you’re on vacation, so the same precautions you take at home should be taken on your trip. That means dragging along (or renting) car seats or booster seats so your child is safely secured for car travel. No classic spring break trip is complete without a dip in the ocean, and no child swimming in the ocean should be without a life vest, protective footwear, and a vigilant pair of adult eyes on her – the CDC notes that drowning is the second cause of death in young travelers. It’s also worth the effort to research ahead of time what medical care is available at your destination. That way, if an emergency does come up, you won’t have to waste valuable time figuring out where you child can get help. Depending on the age and health condition of your child, it may make sense to consider the availability and level of local health care when choosing a destination in the first place.

This may seem like a no-brainer but don’t forget your child’s normal medications. Countless times I have received a frantic phone call from a parent who left an asthma inhaler or other important medication at home by accident. No one wants to take time out of a fun vacation to hunt down a pharmacy for a new prescription so double-check that any daily, or even occasional, medication your child takes is packed in your carry on.

Happy travels and here’s hoping you get at least a little bit of R&R on your family trip!

 

As a pediatrician, I see things through a different lens than the average parent. It’s a blessing and a curse. Back to school to me doesn’t just mean new clothes and backpacks – it means the swapping of germs with all your classmates. Grapes are tasty, nutritious choking hazards that must be cut into quarters. Monkey bars are fun and great for motor development but also keep emergency rooms in business. The long-awaited arrival of Fall means comfy sweaters and the rustle of fallen leaves…but also your flu shot is due! I can be such a killjoy, or so my husband says.

Flu peaks in the United States during December through March but we can see cases as early as September and as late as May. That’s what makes this time of year perfect for getting your annual flu vaccine since it takes two weeks to receive maximum protection from it. Just as in 2016, this year only the flu shot is available since the Flu Mist (the nose spray form of the vaccine) was not protecting people as much as we would like.

Avoiding contact with the flu virus is nearly impossible, so vaccination is the best way to ensure you do not get the flu this season. Flu spreads through droplets made when people cough, sneeze, or talk, making it very easy to share among your office, school or family. You can also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose. In fact, the flu virus can live on a hard surface for 24 hours – gross!

Even though we all try to stay home and away from others when we are ill, you may have spread the flu before you were even sick! Most healthy adults can infect others with the flu one day before they have symptoms. People can remain infectious for 5-7 days after becoming sick. Some, like our young children, might be able to infect others for an even longer period of time.

Most people are familiar with the common symptoms of the flu (fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue) but kids can also have vomiting and diarrhea. Our children are also more likely to develop “secondary infections” – a bacterial infection on top of the flu – such as an ear infection or pneumonia. And while we all know the flu is miserable, it’s easy to forget that for many of our friends and neighbors, especially infants and the elderly, it can be truly dangerous.

If all of this hasn’t convinced you to head over to your doctor’s office for the flu shot, remember that not only do you protect yourself with your vaccine but you also protect all of those important people around you from getting sick this flu season as well! Your kids will thank you for it!

Thank you to the physicians at Children’s National Medical Center for providing these great tips for enjoying the upcoming solar eclipse safely.

Eye Safety for Viewing a Solar Eclipse

On August 21, 2017, there will be a solar eclipse.  People across the United States will fall under the path of this rare solar eclipse, and depending on their location, may witness a total solar eclipse. Eye safety is very important when viewing a solar eclipse. Without safe viewing and appropriate eye protection, permanent eye damage can occur. Eye experts at Children’s National have provided some vital information on what you can expect to see and how to view the eclipse safely.

 

What will I see during the eclipse?

During a total eclipse, the sun will gradually disappear behind the moon then reappear. The sun’s outer “corona” will be visible at this time. Depending on your location, a partial eclipse will be seen, which is when the moon covers a portion of the sun.

 

How long will the eclipse last?

The whole continent will experience a partial eclipse event, lasting 2 to 3 hours in which the moon will cover part of the sun. The total solar eclipse only lasts 2 to 3 minutes and can be seen within a 70-mile wide path from Oregon to South Carolina. The moon will completely block the view of the sun in this pathway.

 

How can the eye be damaged by viewing a solar eclipse?

The lenses in your eyes act like a magnifying glass, one that is 5 times more powerful than a handheld magnifier. Think about how you can use that typical handheld magnifier to focus the sun to burn holes in paper. That’s what happens when you look at the sun without appropriate eye protection. You focus the sun’s light on the retina, burning holes in light-sensitive photoreceptor cells, 5 times faster, and causing permanent blindness. Watching a partially eclipsed sun is when the damage occurs.

 

Do I need special equipment to view an eclipse?

Yes! Please be sure to follow these steps to protect your eyes from the partial eclipse:

• Anyone planning to view the eclipse should wear a pair of solar viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers that contain solar filters. Always supervise children using solar viewing glasses or viewers with solar filters.
• Using protective eyewear will allow observers to look directly at the sun during the eclipse. Sunglasses should not be used in place of solar viewing glasses– they will not protect your eyes from damage.  Homemade filters are also not safe to use to look at the sun.
• Always inspect your solar filter before you use it – if it is scratched or damaged in any way, do not use it.
• Do not look at a partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, binoculars or telescope – even if you are wearing solar viewing glasses. A special filter is required to view without damage to your eyes.

Remember – no matter where you are to observe the eclipse, looking directly at the sun, especially when it is partially covered by the moon, can cause serious eye damage or even blindness.

 

What else should I know before viewing the eclipse?

Remember to be safe and enjoy this fascinating event! For more information you can visit the web site of the American Astronomical Society or the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Read on for Dr. Long’s car seat guidelines to ensure a safe and fun summer of road trips for your family.

Summer is fast approaching and for many families that means lots of fun hours in the car on road trips. No parent would ever knowingly put their child’s safety at risk, but that is what often happens when we buckle our kids in the car. More than 70% of car seats are improperly installed and at least half of caregivers are not correctly securing children in their car seats. All of this greatly reduces the ability of car seats and booster seats to protect your child.

So what can parents do? First, make sure your child is in the right seat for her or his height and weight by reading the info below. Second, double check that your seat is properly installed. Safe Kids DC has sites throughout the city where they do checks most days of the week. Spring Valley Pediatrics hosted a free car seat check with Safe Kids DC in May and will be hosting another in September. Third, use the right seat in the right way every time you are in the car.

One of the most common questions we are asked as pediatricians is when a child can move to the next type of car seat or booster seat. As parents, we look forward to our children growing, maturing, and making it to the next milestone. However, with car seats it’s best to go slow. Instead of looking forward to graduating to the next safety seat, aim to keep your child in their current car seat for as long as they meet the manufacturer’s height and weight restrictions.

We find parents excitedly turn their child front-facing long before it is safe to do so. Staying rear facing for as long as possible – up to 35-50 lb in most convertible car seats – is 5 times safer for your child in a collision. Your tall two year old may look like her legs cannot comfortably fit rear facing but you would be surprised by how happily kids adjust their positions in their car seats.

Similarly, the jump from a booster seat to the regular seat is one every 5^th grader is anxious to make. To check if your child is ready to retire car seats and booster seats forever, see if he passes these steps. Can he sit with his back against the vehicle’s seat, knees bent at the edge of the seat, and feet flat on the floor? Is the lap belt positioned over his thighs (not his belly) and the shoulder belt positioned across the shoulder and chest (not his neck or face)? Also importantly, can he sit properly with no slouching, moving around, leaning forward, or playing with the seatbelt? If so, you can consider ditching the booster forever but, as always, no need to rush things. They grow up fast enough.

Car seats do expire, typically six years from their manufacturing date, due to gradual breakdown of the materials and daily strain from installations and use – so be sure to check the date on the side or back of your car seat. You should also replace your safety seats if your car is in an accident, even if there is no visible damage to the car seat or your child was not riding in it at the time. Purchasing a new one is crucial to ensure your child continues to travel safely. Also, replace your car seat if there is obvious wear and tear – the straps are frayed or the harness doesn’t latch as well – since these are signs that it would not properly protect your child in an accident. As tempting as it is, never purchase a used car seat. There is no way to ensure that it is top condition and has never sustained damage in a car accident.

Still have questions? There is a lot to know about car seats and recommendations change as more medical and scientific data become available. Use your pediatrician as a guide and resource for how to keep your kids safe in all aspects of their life. We make it our job to help parents protect their little ones!

 

The Right Seat For Every Age

Birth to 12 months: a rear-facing car seat is the perfect spot for your little one. Infant, convertible and 3-in-1 car seats are all options for safely securing your baby. Infant car seats (aka “bucket seats”) can be used up to the first year of life or until your baby outgrows the height and weight recommendations, whichever happens first. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats can last longer but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on height and weight requirements.

 

1 to 3 years: your little one is still safest rear-facing. Most convertible and 3-in-1 car seats can still be used during this age. Switch your child to front-facing once she reaches the maximum height or weight limit for the car seat. Some convertible car seats can accommodate a child up to 80lbs in the front facing position so make sure you pick a color or pattern you adore because you’ll
be seeing it for years to come!

4 to 7 years old: your school age child has likely grown to safely ride front-facing. Continue to use the five-point harness until they reach the height and weight restrictions of the seat. Combination seats (a hybrid car seat that can turn into a booster), convertible car seats, or 3-in-1 car seats should still accommodate your growing child.

 

8 to 12 years old: Though your child might seem so grown up, it is unlikely that he is ready to ditch safety seats altogether. A booster seat is best at this age. They come in many different shapes and sizes, with and without backs, and work with your car’s seatbelt to keep your child safe in the car.

 

13 and up: While the safest place in the car for your teen is in the back seat, a child of this age may legally sit in the front passenger seat.