From babyhood into the college years, kids look to dads for love and guidance. And for Father's Day, U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., is offering dads advice to make their jobs more successful — a dozen tips for keeping children healthy and safe.
This is the third in a series of "Healthy Dozen Tips" that Dr. Carmona will release as part of "The Year of the Healthy Child" agenda. The previous tips are all available at www.surgeongeneral.gov/
"On this Father's Day we want to thank all fathers, especially those celebrating their first Father's Day, who work so hard to provide love and support for their children. I know from experience the difficult challenges fatherhood brings. But I also know the great joy and pride that comes from being a dad. We at the Office of the Surgeon General want to take this opportunity to thank fathers and fathers-to-be for caring enough to practice these 'Healthy Dozen' tips that can help ensure a safe and healthy life for their growing children," Dr. Carmona said.
"I've declared this ‘The Year of the Healthy Child' for the Office of the Surgeon General," Carmona said. "Each phase of a child's life has its own series of potential hazards, and we're shining a light on preventing those illnesses, injuries, and deaths that are preventable. By appreciating what parents do every day and getting the best information out to parents and children, I hope that every child will grow up healthy, happy, and able to reach their own potential."
"This Father's Day we are concentrating on middle childhood — ages 5 to 9 years. Fathers are important role models to their sons and daughters throughout their lives. This is especially true during the childhood years. It is during this stage that many life lessons are learned, including how to maintain a healthy and safe lifestyle. We must teach our children about the dangers of drugs and the importance of exercise, and we as fathers set the example by making those healthy choices ourselves. There's no better way to teach your son or daughter how to grow up to be healthy adult than by being one yourself," Dr. Carmona said. “Dads, because you teach the lessons that your children will carry for the rest of their lives, you can be their best guide on the path to healthy living."
1 Teach healthy habits for life. Encourage at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, like taking a walk around the block or playing organized or pick-up sports with other dads and their children. Limit television, video, and computer time. Teach your child to wash his or her hands after using the toilet, after blowing his or her nose, and before meals. Talk with your child about avoiding alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and inhalants. Be a good role model for all these healthy habits. That includes not smoking and not allowing anyone else to smoke around your child. If you need help to quit smoking, please call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.Smokefree.gov today.
2 Always use a car safety seat. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 5 to 9. Be sure your child rides in an age-, weight- and height-appropriate child safety seat or booster sear, correctly installed in the back seat, on every trip. Children should ride in a safety seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until at least age 8. You can tell when your child is ready for a booster seat when your child reaches the top weight or height allowed for the safety seat, your child's shoulders are above the harness slots, or your child's ears have reached the top of the safety seat. If you have any questions about how to install your child safety seat or booster seat, many local fire and police departments will help you. Once your child has outgrown the safety seat, be sure that he or she always wears a seatbelt in your car and any other vehicle. www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm
3 Practice prevention and safety. Teach your child about staying safe, including always swimming with adult supervision. Use safety equipment that can reduce injuries and even save your child's life. Encourage your child to wear a helmet and protective gear when bicycling, playing contact sports, using in-line skates, or riding a skateboard. In addition, pedestrian safety skills are very important. Children ages 5 to 9 still need supervision when crossing busy streets. Also, teach your child about sun safety, including wearing a hat outdoors and frequently applying SPF 30 sunscreen. If you have a firearm, keep it unloaded and locked up, or remove it from your home. Store ammunition separately from any firearm. Also, a child may come into potentially dangerous situations or may become separated from a parent or caregiver. Be sure your child knows his or her name, parents' names, and phone number. Help him or her to recognize police and fire officials as trusted individuals, while raising caution to other strangers. Get your child's fingerprints taken and keep a recent photograph in your wallet. continues at..... www.healthfinder.gov/
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