It seems the Southeast can’t get a break. Storm after storm have left paths of destruction. In Memphis, we’re seeing areas of serious flooding.

Susan Helms, director of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, urges parents to keep their families safe by being aware of flooding dangers.

“Sometimes it’s tempting to take risks and ignore signs of a flood. Many drivers, especially, underestimate the water’s depth or swiftness, which leads to serious injury or death,” said Helms. She and Safe Kids Mid-South urge families to follow the National Weather Service’s recommendations.

Here are the NWS’ tips:

Never drive in the flood waters. People have been killed by driving on roads and bridges that are covered by water. It only takes two feet of water to carry away a car.

Never underestimate the swiftness of the water. Flooded rivers and streams are unpredictable. Even though the surface water may be smooth, the water is moving very fast.

Don't assume your vehicle is safe. High water on roads will quickly stall motor vehicles. Most trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles also are susceptible to being swept away by high water. Such vehicles often give motorists a false sense of security, believing the vehicles are safe under any conditions.

Take an alternate route around the flooded area. If you are approaching a flooded roadway, turn around and take an alternate route, even though vehicles in front of you may have passed through the high water.

Never stay with your car in a flooded area. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and get away from the water to safety.

Road-closed and flood signs are there for your protection. Do not drive through them.

Never walk in flood waters. It only takes six inches of swiftly moving water to sweep a person off his or her feet.

Never let children play near rivers or storm drains when the water is rising or high. Swimming skills have nothing to do with surviving in a flooded river.

Paths covered in flood water may hide hidden dangers. If you can’t see the ground, you don’t know what is there. There could be a hole where a drain cover has been washed away.

You don’t know what is in the water. Flood water may contain sewage and/or other unpleasant and potentially harmful substances. Don’t let children or pets play in flood water; it simply isn’t safe.

Flood time is not a time for play. Flooded rivers and streams are not safe for recreational boating. Many canoeists and kayakers have been rescued from dangerous rapids in flood-swollen streams and rivers.

Don’t let your pets in or near flood water. Pets can get into trouble too, and there have been cases of people drowning trying to rescue their pet.

Stay away from storm drains, ditches and river areas.

Know what to do if someone falls in or is trapped in flood water. Do not go after the victim. Use a floatation device. If possible, throw the victim something to use as a flotation device (spare tire, large ball). Use something reach him or her – a branch, a rope, even a jacket. You may be able to reach him or her until help can arrive. Call 9-1-1 immediately!

As winter turns into spring and temperatures increase, so does the amount of time that children spend outdoors playing spring sports.  This means that the number of injuries to children can also increase. Each year, more than 38 million children participate in sports in the United States, and more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger are treated for sports injuries. Experts say as many as half the injuries sustained by youth while playing sports are preventable.

Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, is part of a national education campaign sponsored by Safe Kids USA and supported by Johnson & Johnson.  The campaign is focusing on four areas, which are critical to keeping young athletes healthy and safe: acute and overuse injury prevention; proper hydration before, during and after play; annual pre-participation physical prior to play; and concussion awareness, prevention and screening methods.

“Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms,” said Susan Helms, director of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids at Le Bonheur. “Our goal is to reach coaches and parents and equip them with the critical information and resources to keep kids out of the emergency department.”

Here are five important sports safety tips for coaches and parents from Safe Kids Mid-South:

• Pre-Season Medical Screening: These exams can detect any underlying conditions the young athlete may have and therefore prevent a potential medical emergency.
 
• Safety Gear: To prevent injuries, children playing sports should have access to and consistently use well-maintained safety equipment during both practices and games.

• Qualified Coaching: Athletic coaches should be trained in both first aid and CPR; have a plan for responding to emergencies; and have current knowledge of proper hydration methods (and establishing mandatory breaks); and concussion prevention, recognition and response. Coaches should also establish safety guidelines that athletes, parents and coaches will follow.

• Proper Conditioning: To prevent acute and overuse injuries, coaches should teach young athletes proper routines for both warm-ups and cool-downs before and after practice and play. This can help prevent sports-related injuries (such as muscle tears or sprains) by stretching and releasing any muscle tension.

• Hydration: Athletes should be encouraged to drink fluids (water or sports drink) 30 minutes before the activity begins and every 15-20 minutes during activity. Coaches should establish mandatory water breaks during practice and games. Don't wait for the child to tell you he/she is thirsty.
 
• Rest: If young athletes are very tired or in pain, coaches and parents should encourage them to rest as this valuable recovery time can help prevent overuse injuries.

For more information on Safe Kids Mid-South or on sports injury prevention in general, please visit www.safekids.org/sports. Safe Kids Mid-South works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 1 to 14.

Did you know that young children’s skin is thinner than older children and adults, and their skin burns at lower temperatures and more deeply? Burns are one of the most painful injuries a person can sustain and survive. Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, wants to arm you with the tools to keep your children safe from this painful injury.

Facts about scald burn injuries:
• A scald is a burn from hot liquid or steam;
• 60% of all scald injuries are to children from birth to age 4;
• Children have thinner skin making them more susceptible to severe burns;
• Common places for children to get scalded are in the kitchen, dining room or in the bathroom;
• The maximum recommended residential water temperature is 120°F (48°C);
• It is important to remember that young children may not perceive danger, have less control of their environment, may lack the ability to escape a life-threatening burn situation and may not be able to tolerate the physical stress of a burn injury.

Tips to prevent scalds around the house:
Kitchen and Hot Food
• Keep children at least 3 feet from hot appliances, pots, pans or food;
• Use spill-resistant mugs when drinking hot liquids around children;
• Avoid using tablecloths or anything a child can pull on and cause hot food to spill;
• When cooking, use back burners and keep pot handles turned toward the back of the stove;
• Always tuck cords from appliances where children cannot reach them;
• Never hold a child when cooking something hot;
• Test and stir all food before serving children to make sure it is cool enough to eat;
• Supervise children closely when they are in or near the kitchen.

Bathroom
• Always test the bath water with your hand before bathing children;
• If you are unable to control the temperature that comes out of your faucet, install special tub spouts or shower heads that can shut off the flow of water when it gets too hot.

With more snow predicted in the Memphis area tomorrow, schools will be closed and it will be time to get out your sleds. Sledding is a great way for kids to enjoy the snow and get some exercise during the cold weather, but an injury can land you a trip to the hospital if you don't practice safety. Here are some tips from Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur, for safe sledding and outdoor fun.

Choose the Right Hill
When hills get coated with snow, they can look like great locations for sledding, but not all hills are safe. Choose yours carefully:
• Select a hill that is not too steep and has a long flat area at the bottom for you to glide to a stop.
• Avoid hillsides that end near a street or parking lot.
• Avoid hillsides that end near ponds, trees, fences or other hazards.
• Make sure the hill is free of obstacles such as rocks or trees before you begin.
• Choose hills that are snowy rather than icy. If you fall off your sled, icy slopes make for hard landings.
• Sled only during the daytime, when visibility is better.

Dress for Cold Temperatures
Chances are it's going to be cold outside. Frostbite and even hypothermia are potential dangers. Be sure to wear the proper clothing to stay warm and safe:
• Wear sensible winter clothing — hats, gloves or mittens, snow pants, winter jacket, snow boots — that is waterproof and warm, and change into something dry if your clothes get wet.
• Avoid wearing scarves or any clothing that can get caught in a sled.
• Wear a helmet (this is particularly true for kids 12 or under). There is no such thing as a sledding helmet, so choose a helmet designed for high-speed impacts. Ski helmets work best, but if you don't have one, at least wear a bike helmet or something similar.

Get the Right Kind of Sled
The best sleds can be steered by their riders and have brakes to slow them down. Avoid sleds that can't be steered, such as saucers or plastic toboggans, and never use a sled substitute like an inner tube, lunch tray, or cardboard box. Good sleds are relatively cheap to buy and are well worth the extra money.

Follow these rules to keep yourself and other sledders safe:
• Designate a go-to adult. In the event someone gets injured, you'll want an adult on hand to administer first aid and, if necessary, take the injured sledder to the emergency department.
• Always sit face-forward on your sled. Never sled down a hill backwards or while standing, and don't go down the hill face-first, as this greatly increases the risk of a head injury.
• Young children (age 5 and under) should sled with an adult, and children under age 12 should be actively watched at all times.
• Go down the hill one at a time and with only one person per sled (except for adults with young children). Piling more than one person on a sled just means there are more things on the hill that you can collide with.
• Never build an artificial jump or obstacle on a sledding hill.
• Keep your arms and legs within the sled at all times, and if you fall off the sled, move out of the way. If you find yourself on a sled that won't stop, roll off it and get away from it.
• Walk up the side of the hill and leave the middle open for other sledders.
• Never ride a sled that is being pulled by a moving vehicle.

“Just take a little extra time to dress properly and make sure you're following these safety guidelines and you'll have a better time knowing you have less to worry about. Sledding is supposed to be fun-- stay safe and warm, and you'll ensure that it is,” reminds Susan A. Helms, R.N., M.A.LS, Director of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

As Halloween nears, it’s important to talk to kids about staying safe during a night of trick or treating. Though the night is full of fun and festivity, children can be particularly vulnerable to some dangers on Halloween. Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, shares ways to keep your children safe.

The organization recommends that children:

• Always trick or treat with an adult until the age of 10
• Only trick or treat in areas that are well lit
• Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
• Look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don’t run, when crossing streets
• Make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up
• Walk on sidewalks or paths; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible
• Wear light-colored, flame retardant costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers
• Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers
• Wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child’s vision
• Only eat treats and candy that are properly wrapped in their original packaging

It is also important that drivers do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe. Safe Kids recommends that drivers:

• Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods
• Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road
• Be sure to drive with full headlights on they can spot children from greater distances
• Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
• Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see a moving vehicle
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
• Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways
• Remember that popular trick or treating hours are during the typical rush hour period, between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
• Reduce distraction inside their car so they can concentrate on the road and on pedestrians