Drs. Clark and Reddy present: 5 easy steps to sun safety

Let's face it, summer can get pretty darn hot, and with the heat wave sweeping through the U.S. during last two weeks, Dr. Pamela Clark and Dr. Suha Reddy want you to think more and more about sun safety when you’re out and about. There are many ways kids can protect themselves during the hot summer months, and Parents Magazine has kindly provided five tips to help you get started.

1. Limit outdoor playtime between 10 and 4. (These are usually the hottest hours of the day).

2. Apply sunscreen properly. (Choose a sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 or higher. Apply to nose, ears, hands, feet, shoulders and behind the neck; lips can also burn, so apply a lip balm with SPF protection.

3. Wearing protective clothing. This includes a hat with a brim, sunglasses and a large umbrella.

4. Watch those medications. Some medications increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to ask your doctor whether your child may be at risk.

5. You're the parent: Set the example. If your child sees you following sun-safety rules, he or she will follow suit.

Drs. Clark and Reddy encourage you to please give us a call if you have any questions, and always have a bottle of water handy when heading out! We hope you're all having a fantastic summer so far!

Share your Fourth of July plans with Dr. Clark and team!

This Sunday, Dr. Pamela Clark and our staff at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry will celebrate America's 234th birthday. For most people, Independence Day is a time to celebrate, as well as commemorate, the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. It's also a time for most Americans to pay homage to all our soldiers, past, present and future - who lost their lives in battle - and soldiers who continue to place themselves in danger every day so that Americans everywhere may celebrate our freedom.

Today, we thought we'd ask: what are your Fourth of July weekend plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? Hitting the great American open road with family?

If you're planning on being around fireworks this weekend, Dr. Clark and team want you to be extra careful! We also want you to exercise caution if you'll be out swimming and remind you to wear sunscreen if you're heading out: wearing SPF 15 helps, but you should reapply it every couple of hours, especially after swimming or sweating in the sun.

Whatever you end up doing over Independence Day weekend, our entire staff hope you have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! We encourage you to give us a call for more summer safety tips.

Enjoy!

Is your local playground safe for your child?

Spring is here summer is rapidly approaching, and that means your kids will probably be spending lots of time outside. Playgrounds are everywhere from your backyard to the neighborhood park, and it's important to know what safety features to look for before your child hangs out parks here in Pearland, Alvin or Shadow Creek Ranch.

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we found some important safety tips on the American Academy of Pediatrics' website that we'd thought we'd share them with you today. Here's to a happy and safe spring and summer, from Drs. Clark and Reddy and our entire team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

* Carefully supervise young children using playground equipment. Keep children from shoving, pushing, or fighting.

* The surface under playground equipment should be energy absorbent. Use safety - tested mats or loose fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, wood chips, or bark) maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches.

* Install the protective surface at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions from the equipment.

* Swing seats should be made of something soft, not wood or metal.

* Children should not twist swings, swing empty seats, or walk in front of moving swings.

* Put home playground equipment together correctly. It should sit on a level surface and be anchored firmly to the ground.

* Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to playground equipment because children can strangle on them.

* Cap all screws and bolts. Check periodically for loose nuts and bolts and broken, rusty, or sharp parts.

* Install playground equipment at least 6 feet from fences or walls.

* Check for hot metal surfaces on equipment such as those on slides, which could cause burns.