News Tip Sheet — Summer 2000

Summer safety tips for kids
Mary Lou Kelleher, RN, MS, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, can discuss how to keep your kids safe and healthy this summer.

Summer may be a time to play, but it also brings weather-related hazards: spider bites from the sandbox, dehydration, food poisoning from picnic dishes that have been left out too long. Every summer, MGH clinicians treat kids for summer-related illnesses and injuries. However, parents can take precautions to prevent some of these problems.

Getting kids ready for summer camp
Mary Lou Kelleher, RN, MS, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, can offer parents tips for preparing preparing kids for summer camp.

Summer camp can be exciting for kids, allowing them to gain independence and a stronger sense of self, make new friends, develop new social skills, learn about teamwork, be creative and just have fun. But parents should prepare their kids for camp to make it an enjoyable experience. Parents should learn about the camp ahead of time – if the camp is accredited, who runs it, what activities are offered. And parents should talk to their kids about getting homesick or how to handle difficult situations, such as being offered cigarettes or drugs.

Skin cancer
An MGH dermatologist can give tips on preventing and recognizing skin cancer.

There is no such thing as a healthy tan – too much sun can be harmful, possibly leading to deadly skin cancer. This year, 47,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and more than 7,000 people are expected to die from it. Learn how to keep your skin healthy and how to recognize the warning signs of skin cancer.

Life jackets a good idea
An MGH trauma nurse can talk about the importance of wearing life jackets while boating.

Even if you are a good swimmer, wearing a life jacket while boating can save your life. If you are thrown out of a boat, you could be injured or knocked unconscious. And even expert swimmers will slip under the surface if hypothermia sets in. A life jacket can keep someone afloat the few extra minutes needed to be rescued.

To schedule media interviews about these or other stories,
please contact the MGH Public Affairs Office at (617) 726-2206 or
e-mail your request or suggestions.
Thank you.

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