Helicopter Mom at the Playground

• As a Pediatric OR Nurse, I cannot help but turn into a "helicopter mom" when I take my 4 year old son to the playground. For those who never have heard of that term, it is a mother who hovers closely over their child. A little overkill? Probably! BUT I also cannot ignore my professional experience and the injuries I commonly see from playground accidents.

  According to the National Safety Council, more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms each year due to playground injuries. 79 percent are caused by falls to the ground while 40 percent of all playground injuries are directly related to some type of climbing equipment. 

  Broken elbows are injuries I often see in the OR and the majority occur in association with a particular piece of playground equipment. Any guesses which playground equipment I am referring to?

  
  

  A)Swings

  B)Slide

  C)Monkey Bars

  D)Play Structure

  
  

  The answer is Monkey Bars!

  
  

  Broken elbows are so commonplace, the OR isn't the only place I hear about them. Just yesterday, while getting a pedicure, a woman shared that her school-age niece broke her elbow. I asked if I could guess how it happened. She was amazed when my first guess was correct. Unfortunately, she too fell victim to the Monkey Bars.

  
  

  So given the fact that playgrounds ARE dangerous and accidents DO happen, here are a few things we can do as parents to keep our children as safe as possible.

  
  

  Supervise!
  

  
  

  My son is often so engaged in play that he lacks awareness of what is going on around him. The "Helicopter Mom" that I am, cannot help but remind him to slow down, pay attention when he is climbing up and down things, not to run in front of the swings, etc. His response back to me is, "I know Mom, Safety First!" Although he knows safety as a concept, once he is engaged in play, he reacts, not thinks.

  
  

  Teach!
  
  
  

  It is never too early to teach playground etiquette/rules. Just like the rules of the road, when people abide by them, the risk of accidents lessen significantly! A few that I have to remind my son of frequently are:

  -Don't play tag or run around the swings. That is just asking for trouble. 

  -Make sure before going down the slide that no one is still at the bottom. On the same note, once he goes down the slide, he gets off as soon as possible.

  -Of course no climbing up the slide. 

  -Climb one ladder rung or step at a time

  
  

  Reinforce the Rules! 
  

  If my son doesn't follow the playground rules, I am not afraid to reinforce them. Sometimes it takes just a simple reminder other times it requires a Time Out. I do not believe it is fair for my son to jeopardize the safety and well-being of the other children because he is not listening. 

  
  

  Embrace Learning Opportunities!

  
  

  
  

  Luckily, I have only seen minor accidents at the park. When my son witnesses a child fall or get hurt he is very curious and concerned, He often will come and ask if the child is going to be ok, It is during that conversation, we discuss how it happened and what could have been done to prevent it from happening.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Orajel: More Harm than Good!

My 4 year old son gets the award for being the worst teether EVER! When he teethed, the whole world teethed with him! We tried EVERYTHING, even remedies derived from old wives tales that people shake their head at now a days. But we were desperate and were willing to try anything. We tried using Orajel once but it was an epic fail. He ended up being angry from its horrible taste AND still in pain. It was a no brainer to never try that again.

However, given this new information I will not even think about trying it on my 7 1/2 month old daughter. The risks are far too great. There are other options out there both homeopathic and medicinal. Teething toys and distraction help as well. My son loved Elmo and we learned to love him too, especially at 2 in the morning. 

Read below for more information about the health concerns related to the use of Benzocaine, the main ingredient found in Orajel.

Main Ingredient Benzocaine Linked to Rare, Serious Disease

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

May 5, 2011 -- The FDA has issued a warning to consumers about the use of benzocaine, the main ingredient in over-the-counter liquids and gels used to reduce teething pain in very young children.

Benzocaine is associated with a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia, which greatly reduces the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream. In the most severe cases, the condition can be life-threatening.

Benzocaine by Various Names

Benzocaine gels and liquids are sold under numerous brand names, including Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase, as well as store brands. It also is sold as lozenges and in spray solutions.

The products are used to treat pain caused by teething, canker sores, and irritation of the mouth and gums.

The FDA says methemoglobinemia has been reported with all strengths of benzocaine gels and liquids, including concentrations as low as 7.5%. The federal agency says most cases occur in children aged 2 or younger who were treated with a gel for teething discomfort.

The FDA says people who develop the condition may become pale or gray, become short of breath, feel fatigued, confused, and lightheaded. It also may cause a rapidheart rate.

Immediately Seek Medical Help for Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a reaction to benzocaine usually appear within minutes to hours of using it. The FDA says adults should seek immediate medical attention if symptoms show up after using benzocaine.

The FDA says benzocaine products should not be given to children younger than age 2 unless under the supervision of a health care professional. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving children with teething problems a teething ring that has been chilled in a refrigerator, or gently rubbing the child’s gums with a finger.

Adults who use benzocaine gels or liquids in the mouth should follow recommendations on the label of the product, which should be stored where it can’t be reached by children, the FDA says.

However, the FDA says labels of marketed benzocaine products do not, as of yet, contain warnings about the risks of methemoglobinemia.

The FDA offers these tips for parents:

• If benzocaine products are used, watch carefully for signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia, including pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, and nail beds. Also, shortness of breath, fatigue, confusion, headache, lightheadedness, and rapid heart rate are symptoms of a reaction. If any symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.
• Keep in mind that problems caused by benzocaine can show up after a single administration of the product.
• Use benzocaine gels and liquids sparingly, and only when needed, and not more than four times a day.
• Side effects should be reported immediately to the FDA Medwatch program.