Tips for Protecting Children During August’s Summer Sun Safety Month

With the summer season in full swing and school being out - which means more youth outdoors - now is a good time to consider how to keep children safe while spending long periods of time in the sun.

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August is observed as Summer Sun Safety Month. So, now is a good time to learn how to stay safe while spending time in the sun and preventing sunburn, sun poisoning, skin cancer, or other heat-related ailments. 

Skin cancer is often caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays, which come from the sun, tanning beds, and ultralamps. UV rays are an invisible type of radiation that can cause damage to skin cells, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is important to protect children from UV rays all year-round. The rays can reach individuals on cloudy days and can reflect off such surfaces as water, cement, sand, or snow.

There are a number of methods for keeping children safe while spending time outdoors on hot, sunny days. The CDC recommends:

• Making sure they spend time in the shade, especially when engaging in activities

• Encouraging the use of hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen

• Not scheduling outdoor activities on days when the sun is strongest or the temperatures are especially high

• Providing breaks during outdoor activities to allow children to reapply sunscreen and drink water

More Resources

Additional tips on staying safe in the sun - but also tips on water safety, bug bites, and other topics - can be found in a 2023 brochure released by Allegheny County.

Below are some resources on how to protect children and yourself during Summer Sun Safety Month - and during all months when outdoor activity is prevalent. 

• CDC Shares Sun Safety Tips for Schools, Trying Together

• Allegheny County Shares Summer Safety Guidance, Trying Together

• Summer Safety Brochure, Allegheny County Health Department, Trying Together

• Reducing Risk for Skin Cancer, CDC

• Be Safe in the Sun, American Cancer Society

• Sun Protection, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)

• Sun Protection Tips for Those with Black and Brown Skin, Boston University

• Sun Safety and Prevention, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

City Wants Input on Baxter Park Improvement Plan

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the city want to hear input from residents on the Baxter Park Improvement Plan. Residents are encouraged to take a survey on Engage PGH on the plan.

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The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, community organizations, and other key stakeholders are developing an improvement plan for Baxter Park in Homewood. The plan will aim to achieve the following goals:

• Enhance Baxter Park to meet community needs

• Help advance goals identified in previous community planning efforts

• Activate Baxter Park

• Develop a plan based on community feedback and consensus

The final improvement plan will be realistic, achievable, and provide a basis for fundraising to further develop and construct the project. Three concepts are available to view for the Baxter Park Improvement Plan on the Engage PGH website. 

Visitors to the website are asked to respond to the concepts and choose a preferred plan in the survey. If certain elements of any of the plans are preferred, survey takers can make notes in the “additional thoughts” section.

Stages of the Plan

Currently, the plan is in its concept development phase, which involves developing design concepts and presenting them to the community for feedback.

Next, it will be in the preferred plan development phase, during which a singular, preferred concept is presented for more detailed community input and feedback. Last, a report will present final improvements, cost estimates, and next steps. That phase is expected to take place this fall.

For more information and to take the survey, visit the Engage PGH website.

Cross & Strauss Playground Opens on Pittsburgh’s North Side

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and city officials celebrated the opening last week of the Cross & Strauss Playground on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

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The new playground includes two separate play areas aimed at children between the ages of two to five years and five-12 years, respectively. Additionally, there are swings, picnic tables, a poured-in-place safety surface, and a half basketball court.

“Playgrounds are part of a community’s effort to nurture our children in becoming better adults,” Gainey said. “So that when they grow up, they understand how to work together with people who have different ideas and that’s what we have right here. Everyone came together because we knew we needed a playground and we made it happen and that is the power of community and collaboration.”

The new playground is part of a larger effort to re-invest in the Charles Street Area of the North Side, which has seen generational disinvestment. Other efforts in the area include traffic calming, new trash cans, and the Fowler Park & Pool.

The playground was selected as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CHOICE project for early action projects that serve the Allegheny Dwellings Community. It was done in partnership with the Charles Street Area Corporation, Perry Hilltop/Fineview Citizens Council, and Tthe Buhl Foundation.

PA State Parks to Host Fish-For-Free Day on July 4

Pennsylvania’s state parks will allow families to fish on state waterways without a fishing license on July 4.

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Fish-for-Free-Day is aimed at promoting the fun of fishing among Pennsylvania families. On July 4, 2024, any Pennsylvania resident or non-resident will be allowed to fish without a license on state waterways, although all other fishing regulations will still apply.

Those who do not have equipment can visit the state’s Borrow a Rod & Reel Fishing Tackle Loaner Program to find a location where they can borrow rods, reels, and a tackle box full of hooks and other terminal tackle. To borrow gear, visitors must complete a form. The equipment loan is similar to that of a library transaction. At the end of the loan, the equipment must be returned to the site.

The program is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the American Sportfishing Association, and various sponsors. It is designed to make it easy for anyone to have access to fishing equipment. 

Fishing tackle equipment can also be loaned to groups conducting fishing education programs in the community.

Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s tackle loaner webpage for more information on locations, hours of operation, and contact information.

Apply to Be an Age-Friendly Neighborhood

Age Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is calling on Allegheny County communities to apply for its second cohort of Age-Friendly Neighborhoods.

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Three Allegheny County communities will receive $20,000 over a period of two years - between 2024 and 2026 - for projects that amplify older adult voices and foster intergenerational connection.

Those interested in applying can watch a video for inspiration. The video features the work of Age Friendly Greater Pittsburgh’s first cohort of neighborhoods - Clairton, Coraopolis, and the Hill District.

To learn more about the cohort, virtual information sessions will take place on Thursday, June 27 from 11 a.m. to noon and Monday, July 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Those interested in applying should submit an interest form by Friday, July 19.

ECELS Warns of Water Bead Dangers for Children

Healthy Child Care Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Linkage System (ECELS) is advising parents and early child care providers about the possible dangers of water beads.

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Water beads are small, water-absorbing balls of super absorbent polymer that can grow 100 times their original size when exposed to water. They are often sold as toys, in craft kits, as sensory tools, or for use in gardens. 

Water beads can be deadly to babies and small children if ingested, leading to choking, internal injuries, and even death if left undetected. If the beads are inserted into ears, they can damage ear structure, causing hearing loss and surgery. The beads lead to thousands of emergency room visits every year, according to the ECELS.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges parents and caregivers to remove these products from any environment with children and for child care centers, camps, and schools to avoid these products entirely.

Medical treatment should be sought immediately if a child has swallowed a water bead or inserted it into their ear or nose.

More information on the beads can be found on the CPSC’s website.