9 Tips for Helping a Kid With Allergies Love Summer
Kids with allergies often have to sit out on the joys of summer activities. Even some medications are not enough to provide full relief. Plus, it is no fun for kids to take medication every time they want to go outside. Allergies occur when the skin, eyes, and nose come in contact with allergens in the air. When staying indoors is not an option, but runny noses, itchy eyes, and unhappy kids are not either, try these methods for keeping them safe during outdoor play.
Check The Pollen Count
Before heading outdoors with a child who suffers from allergies, check the pollen levels by downloading a weather app with a pollen count onto a smartphone. Check the pollen count whenever a child shows signs of allergy symptoms to see what his or her triggers are and decide whether outdoor actives are suitable for that day. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, pollen counts are at their lowest before dawn, in the late afternoon and late in the evening. The pollen count is a measure of the amount of pollen particles in the air. It is based on the amount of pollen grains per cubic meter of air.
Protect Against Insect Bites
Most insect bites in the Unites States come from yellow jackets, wasps, bees, and hornets, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The best way to protect against insect bites is to avoid them in the first place. Keep away from areas that are known to be buggy and do not allow children to walk in the grass without shoes and socks on. Be sure to clean up food and drinks at picnic areas to avoid attracting bugs. Encourage children to dress in long pants and long-sleeved shirts when playing outside.
Improve The Quality Of Indoor Air
Keeping indoor air clean and free of allergens is just as important as taking care when children with allergies play outside. Invest in a high-quality, certified air purifier that automatically reduces pollutants and detects airborne contaminants. Some air purifiers emit certain colors into the air when particular allergens are detected while others use revolutionary technology to remove up to 99.8 percent of airborne particles, which reduces allergens and harmful bacteria such as dust, pet hair, tobacco smoke, and pollen.
Know The Triggers
Every child responds differently to allergens. Get to know what allergies cause the most problems. There may even be a specific area that they struggle with the most, such as a particular park or part of the yard. Keep them away from these areas or make sure they take medications before entering. If the problem is a high pollen content, run the air conditioner inside rather than opening the windows. The same goes for when a child with allergies is riding in a car.
Cook All Produce Before Serving
Children who suffer from hay fever may experience oral symptoms when they have fresh produce. Since summertime means farmer markets with lots of delicious fruits and vegetables, this can be a problem. Symptoms of hay fever include an itchy mouth, swelling of the lips, mouth or tongue, and a scratchy throat, which are induced by allergic reactions to certain raw fruits and vegetables. The biggest offenders are usually apples, cherries, celery, peaches, nectarines, snap peas, peppers, and carrots. Cooking these foods removes the allergic components.
Remove Indoor Pollen
Eliminate exposure to indoor pollen by having children take off their clothes as soon as they come in from outside play. Pollen also sticks to hair, so be sure to bathe them before they go to bed if they have been playing outside. If pets have been outside playing with children, wipe them down with pet wipes as soon as they enter the home because pollen easily attaches to pillows, fabric furniture, bed sheets, and other areas.
Take Allergy Medicine
Children who suffer from allergies should take allergy medicine before heading outdoors to play. Most medications work best when they are taken before exposure to pollutants to prevent the body from releasing histamine and similar chemicals that produce symptoms. Antihistamines and nasal sprays work best when they are taken daily by children with known ragweed, pollen and grass allergies. Giving children their medication one to two hours before heading outside to play is also a good idea.
Trim The Garden
Keeping the lawn and garden mowed and trimmed is a good way to reduce unnecessary allergens because it will prevent pollen from the flowers and trees from accumulating on the blades. Try not to cut flowers from the garden to display indoors as this will cause more dust in the air. Instead, buy flowers that have already been cut from a local florist because these are more likely to be pollen-free and can be safely displayed in the home.
Keep Indoor Clothes Dry
Wet clothes are a magnet for pollen and other allergens. Avoid hanging clothes outside to dry if the pollen count is high as it defeats the purpose of washing them. Use a machine dryer to dry clothes instead or at least hang them indoors to dry as they are less likely to attract pollen. Also remember to set the washing machine to one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit on a hot water cycle to kill dust mites, pollutants, and their eggs.