Preventive counselling and advice
Preventive counselling and advice should be given at every opportunity (C).
Preventive counselling and advice: Area
| Preventive area |
What advice should be given? |
How often/
when? |
Level of evidence
and references |
| Accident/injury prevention |
1–24 months
Include home safety: stair guards, fire guards, smoke detectors,
hot water <54°C, safe poison storage, never leave alone in
water, and use of nonflammable night wear
Car safety: rear facing car restraint <9 kg
2–5 years
Include water safety, swimming, car restraints, bicycle helmets |
Opportunistically |
II V 86,
92,93 |
Sun protection advice
|
Recommend:
- babies should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Use
lightweight wraps to shield their skin and only small amounts
of sunscreen on the very small areas of exposed skin. (Note
recommendations for high risk populations below)
- sunscreen – apply broad spectrum (SPF 30) water resistant
sunscreen preferably 20 minutes before going into sun and every
2 hours while in the sun (more often if swimming or sweating)
- shade – avoid direct sun if possible
- protective gear – use lightweight clothing with longer sleeves
that covers more of the skin, a hat that protects the face, eyes
and neck, and sunglasses
|
Opportunistically
|
III B 54,86 |
- Population at risk of vitamin D
deficient rickets and
hypocalcaemic convulsions:
- recently immigrated infants
or first generation offspring
of immigrant parents from
north Africa, the Middle
East or Asian countries with
maternal vitamin D
deficienc
|
Babies and infants need 30 minutes per week of sunlight wearing only a nappy or 2 hours per week fully clothed without a hat.94 (In adults the consensus is that exposure is not recommended between 10 am and 2 pm (11 am and 3 pm during daylight saving)95 |
Educate at risk groups |
V C 94 |
| Physical activity advice |
Promote healthy activity universally:
- at least 60 minutes (and up to several hours) of moderate to
vigorous physical activity every day
- activity can be achieved through active free play, structured
programs or both
- no more than 2 hours per day of sedentary screen time
|
Opportunistically |
V C 96-98
|
Nutrition advice
- Children and young people
at risk of iron depletion/
deficiency:
- prematurity
- >600 mL/day milk after
12 months of age
- Arabic background
- adolescent females
|
Promote healthy drinking and eating universally. Recommend:
- exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months of age
- low fat dairy products from 2 years of age
- water rather than soft drink, cordial or fruit juice
- two fruits and five vegetables daily
- ‘special day’ foods limited to special days
- find rewards for children other than food
|
Opportunistically |
V C 96
97,99
|
- At risk of iodine deficiency – the entire population
|
Recommend:
- drink <600 mL/day milk after 12 months of age (due to obesity and iron deficiency/depletion risks for those drinking >600 mL/day)
- three serves of calcium rich food per day
- a diet adequate in iron and iodine for children and young people
|
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© The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Printed from www.racgp.org.au/redbook
