When it comes to myths about children, do you always know what's the suggested thing to do?
Myth: Babies can drown in a very small amount of water.
True: According Safe Kids Canada, “Babies can drown in as little as one inch (3.3 cm) of water in just a few seconds." A tragedy can occur in less time than it takes to answer the phone.
Myths about Children and Health
Myth: In case of poisoning, give children ipecac syrup.
False: While it used to be commonplace to give children ipecac syrup to make them vomit, it is now recommended you give a child small sips of water and immediately call your local Poison Control Centre. This is a suggestion from the National Capital Poison Center.
Myth: Head lice are transferred by sharing combs and brushes.
False: I should say it would be true under only the rarest of circumstances. As Dr. Richard Mathias, a professor, epidemiologist and public health physician in Health Care and Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia, explained during an email interview, “Head lice can only hold onto a very specific size of hair so unless the brush or comb that you are using is the same diameter as a hair, they cannot grab ahold of it. Head lice can and do transfer from head to head when direct contact is made. They reach out and hold onto the hair of their new host.”
Myth: Insect repellents with DEET are dangerous for children.
False: When used according to their directions, they are safe. Health Canada recommends using a product with 10% DEET or less for children 12 and under. It is up to you to determine whether the risk of catching a dangerous disease from an infected mosquito or the minuscule risk of using products with DEET is more disturbing.
Myth: Teenagers need more sleep than adults.
True: Sleep experts and the National Sleep Foundation recommend teens get at least 8.5 – 9.5 hours of sleep. When a teen naps during class, it is usually a result of sleep deprivation, not laziness. Their out-of-whack hormones also play a role.
Myths About Children and Injuries
Myth: Falls are the most common childhood injury.
True: According to the Calgary Health Region, falls are the most common cause of injury that brings a child into the emergency department. For younger children, the falls are most often in the home - down stairs, off furniture, when using a baby walker, or out of cribs or windows. For older children, those falls usually occur in playgrounds or while doing other activities.
Myth: The majority of trampoline injuries are a result of too many people on it at one time.
False: While a crowded trampoline causes a fair share of injuries, data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program reports that the majority of trampoline injuries result when a maneuver, trick, or flip is attempted.
Myth: Children don’t need to worry about how they use a computer desk or how they sit in a computer chair.
False: Children can experience injuries just as adults do. With their increasingly frequent computer use, children are prone to repetitive stress injuries (ex: carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and tendinitis) from constant computer use just as adults are. Children need to be taught how to sit straight in the computer chair and the correct physical way to use a computer.
To read about more safety myths, check out:
Safety Myths About Being on the Road
Myths About Weather and the Environment Debunked
Myths About Violence and Crime Debunked
Debunking Food Myths
Myths About Our Bodies Debunked
Common Safety Myths Debunked
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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