E-mail: pes2001@mail.med.cornell.edu

SUMMER HOLIDAY HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FROM NEW YORK WEILL CORNELL CENTER

New York, NY (March 1999)  --  There is nothing worse than a fun holiday weekend that ends suddenly due to an accident or illness.  To prevent unnecessary problems from ruining the Memorial Day or July 4th holiday weekend, Dr. David Bank, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at New York Weill Cornell Center of New York Presbyterian Hospital, offers the following helpful tips.

If you are planning to barbecue:

 *  Never add lighter fluid to an existing fire.
 *  Light the match first, before turning on a propane gas grill.
 *  Parental supervision is essential and keep all children away from the grill.

If you are planning to bring your family to an unfamiliar park with playground apparatus:

 *  Make sure your children play on equipment that is appropriate for their size and age (i.e. Swings that they can't fall from or a seesaw that is not too high for a young child).

 *  If the park has wooden playground equipment, make sure there are no protruding splinters that can get caught on a child's skin.

  *  If there is a sandbox, check for broken glass or other dangerous refuse before allowing your child to play in it.

Parental supervision is essential, especially for very young children.

If you are bringing a picnic lunch with you, be sure it is kept in a cooler if it contains any salads that contain mayonnaise or dressings or meat sandwiches or dishes.  It does not take long for a product that should be refrigerated to spoil in the hot summer temperatures.  Just putting the food under a shaded tree is not enough precaution.

Physicians at New York Weill Cornell Center warn that no firecrackers or even sparklers are safe.  LEAVE THE FIREWORKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS.