Five Summer Health Risks That PALS Cert Practitioners Should Know About

According to a study conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide, the rate of unintentional injuries and death in children ages 0 to 14 increases during the summer months. Healthcare practitioners who have taken pediatric advanced life support (PALS) classes are prepared to treat these injuries and potentially save lives. Here are the five health risks that pediatric practitioners with PALS cert are most likely to encounter in the summer.

1. Drowning
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 14. The rate of unintentional drowning increases 89 percent during the summer months, mostly due to the fact that more children are swimming and playing outside near bodies of water. Online PALS cert can arm first responders with the tools to respond to these incidents.

2. Biking Accidents
The rate of childhood deaths related to biking-related accidents increases nearly 45 percent in the summer months; traumatic head injury is the leading cause of death and permanent disability in biking-related accidents. The rate of injury and death related to skateboarding accidents is also on the rise.

3. Falls
Falls are the overall leading cause of unintentional injury for children, and the rate increases 21 percent in the summer. Younger children are most at risk for window-related falls, while older children are more likely to suffer from falls from playground equipment.

4. Motor Vehicle Occupant Activities
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children in the United States overall. This rate increases 20 percent during the summer, a time in which families are more likely to travel for vacationing purposes. There is also an increased occurrence of heat stroke, due to cases in which children are left unattended in vehicles during the day.

5. Pedestrian Accidents
In the summer, pedestrian accidents among children increase 16 percent. Children under the age of 10 are not able to accurately judge speed, space relationships and distance. Children are also more likely to be playing outside near the street or in a driveway during the summer, which leads to the higher occurrence of accidents.

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