When you’re enjoying the warm weather and time off, it’s easy to neglect the little things that keep your family safe. Here’s a quick test of your safety knowledge. How many can you get correct?
1. True or false: you can get sick from sunburn?
2. What percent of UV radiation can get through on a cloudy day?
a. 35%
b. 50%
c. 80%
d. 100%
3. On a boat, children should wear life jackets:
a. At all times.
b. After you’ve cast off from the shore and are out in the open water.
c. When the boat is in motion; no need to wear if you’re anchored.
d. When the water is choppy.
4. What’s the recommended height your child should be before they can stop using a child restraint or booster seat in the car?
a. 112cm tall
b. 136cm tall
c. 148cm tall
d. 154cm tall
5. What clue can you use to identify a rip?
a. A smoother surface with much smaller waves and with waves breaking either side.
b. Debris floating out to sea.
c. A rippled look when the water around is generally calm.
d. All of the above.
6. True or false: Most children injured in driveway accidents are school-aged children?
7. How long can you leave food out at room temperature before it needs to be refrigerated?
a. 30 minutes
b. 2 hours
c. 4 hours
d. 8 hours
8. What can you do to help your child with an itchy insect bite?
a. Wear loose-fitting pyjamas so they don’t rub the skin.
b. Use a citronella candle in your child’s bedroom.
c. Leave a squashed mosquito on the windowsill as a warning to the other insects.
d. Soak your child in a cool bath, and put calamine lotion or aloe vera on the bites.
9. True or false: A child can drown in as little as 4cm of water in less than two minutes.
10. Finish this sun smart phrase: “Slip, slop, slap, and ____”?
a. Stay
b. Wrap
c. Smile
d. Watch
ANSWERS
1. True. Signs and symptoms of sunburn include pink or red skin, skin that feels hot to the touch, swelling, tenderness, and even blisters. If the sunburn is severe, you can also experience nausea, headache, fever, chills, and even confusion. See your GP or go to A+E if you have these symptoms. Find out more at healthnavigator.org.nz
2. C. Around 80% of UV radiation can still get through on a cloudy day, so even if it’s overcast, you still need to practise sun safety. Find out more at sunsmart.org.nz
3. A. Life jackets should be worn at all times, and make sure they’re the correct size for each person. You can check your region’s bylaws around the use of life jackets viamaritimenz.govt.nz
4. C. International best practice recommends the use of an appropriate child restraint (or booster seat) until your child reaches 148cm tall or is 11 years old. New Zealand law says you must correctly secure your child in an approved child restraint until they are seven years old. Learn more at nzta.govt.nz
5. D. A rip can also be identified by the sight of discoloured or murky brown water caused by sand stirred up off the bottom of the ocean. Learn more at watersafety.org.nz
6. False. Most children who are injured by cars in driveways are under the age of four. Find out more about driveway safety at safekids.nz
7. B. Never leave food at room temperature for more than two hours. If the room temperature is warm, you should refrigerate sooner as bacteria multiply more quickly. Get more tips at mpi.govt.nz/food-safety
8. D. Insect bites are uncomfortable, but a cool bath and itch-soothing calamine lotion or aloe vera can help. Also, dressing your child in close-fitting pyjamas (to keep insects from getting into clothes, and also to keep little scratching fingers out) can help. As for B and C – never have an open flame near your child, and if you try C and it works, do tell us. For more sensible advice, visit health.govt.nz
9. True. Always stay with your child near water, and keep them no more than an arm’s length away at the pool, beach, rivers, baths, spa pools, and when playing with water in buckets or containers, paddling pools, or water tables. Get more water safety tips at plunket.org.nz
10. B. Remember to slip on a shirt (and slip into the shade), slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses – to protect your eyes too! Find out more at sunsmart.org.nz
