The final school bell has rung, the pencils and notebooks are packed away and the kids are ready for some summer fun! Children love the hot summer months, because they provide the perfect opportunity to spend lots of time outside. Whether it’s swimming in the pool, hiking through the woods, taking long walks, or going for a bike ride, there is something for everyone, no matter how young or old.
There are many areas to cover when it comes to summer safety, and we’ll review just a few
Helmet Safety
- An appropriate helmet must be worn and it must fit properly, whenever a child is “on wheels.” This means bicycles, scooters, skates, rollerblades, skateboards and more!
- Helmets can be life saving and can protect a child from serious injury.
- Moms and dads should wear helmets as well.
Pedestrian Safety
- Teach children to walk, not run, across the street.
- Young Children should cross only with an adult or an older, responsible child.
- Whenever crossing the street, try to make eye contact with any drivers nearby, to be sure they see you.
- Teach children to avoid running out from between parked cars.
- Use sidewalks whenever possible.
- Always hold your child’s hand near any moving or parked vehicles.
Water Safety
- Adult supervision is of paramount importance 100% of the time
- They don’t hang those “No running!” signs poolside for decoration.
- Practice “touch supervision” (a term used by the American Academy of Pediatrics). This means that at all times, the supervising adult is within an arm’s length of the child being watched, when near or in the water.
- Remember, no child or adult is “drown proof.”
- Keep in mind that children can drown in many different water sources including: bathtubs, toilets, buckets, baby pools, backyard swimming pools, community pools, streams, creeks, lakes, rivers, oceans and other places.
- Wearing a personal floatation device while boating can save your life. All states have specific regulations for life jackets, for adults and kids. Be sure it has a snug fit — snug enough to stop a kid’s ears or chin from slipping through.
Sun Protection
- Avoid sun exposure during peak sun hours (10 AM – 6 PM).
- Sunscreen is a must (on sunny and cloudy days)!
- Sunscreen should be applied liberally 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapplied every two hours or sooner if swimming, sweating or toweling off
- Help kids avoid becoming dehydrated by reminding them to drink often throughout the day. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends drinking about every 20
- Water and sports drinks are the best options for hydrating kids — avoid sodas, juice and other fruit drinks.
Playground Safety
- More than 205,000 kids visit emergency rooms with playground-related injuries every year
- Check the playground equipment before letting kids play on it. For example, surfaces that are too hot can cause burns, and loose ropes — ropes that aren’t secured on both ends — can cause accidental strangulation. The ground should be covered in a protective surface such as rubber mats, wood or rubber mulch or wood chips, never grass, asphalt or concrete.
- Also, be sure that your child’s clothing is playground-friendly: Remove any strings, such as those on hoodies, only let them wear closed-toed shoes at play and avoid clothing that is loose enough to catch on equipment.
Summer First Aid Kit
- Every family should have at least one first aid kit at home which is well stocked and readily accessible, It’s also helpful to keep a first aid kit in the car and one to bring on trips.
- Kids get lots of cuts and scrapes during the warm summer months, so it’s nice to be prepared.
- Don’t forget to restock the kit once an item has been used.
- Be sure to keep a list of emergency numbers where they are easy to find. This list should include: emergency medical services (911), the doctor’s number, the dentist’s number, poison control, a number where mom and/or dad can be reached and any other important phone numbers.
What should be in your first aid kit:
- Antiseptic or cleansing solution: hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, even bottled water
- Antibiotic ointment
- Saline eye wash
- Calamine lotion, cortisone cream, numbing spray
- Band-Aids (all sizes) gauze pads and adhesive tape, non-stick bandages, cotton balls
- Ace bandage
- Tweezers (and a magnifying glass), small scissors,
- Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl (a medicine cup)
- Zip lock bags, alcohol swabs, chap stick
