Top 5 Summer Safety Tips for Families
1. PREPARE FOR THE SUN & HEAT
As your kids head outside, prepare for the sun and heat by:- Protecting young skin: Receiving just one blistering sunburn before the age of 18 more than doubles kids’ chances of developing melanoma in adulthood. Protect their skin by applying a UVA/UVB sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside and use SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours, more often if swimming or sweating.
- Staying hydrated: When temperatures get hot, and especially when they are extreme, it’s important for kids to stay hydrated. A heat index of 90 degrees or above can be dangerous for young children. Have them drink water regularly, take breaks from the heat, and wear lightweight clothing.
- Preventing vehicle-related heat stroke. On average, a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle every seven days. A kid’s body can overheat three to five times more quickly than an adult’s. Avoid heatstroke-related injury or death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Additionally, make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so that kids can’t get in on their own.
2. TEACH PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
According to Safe Kids, unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for kids ages 5 to 19. While this rate is not specific to summer, kids are more likely to be outside when the weather is nice. Teens are of greatest risk because they are often walking while looking down at their phones. Have them put their phones away when walking outside. Further, help children under the age of 10 to cross the street. Remind them to look left, right and then left again.3. PREVENT INJURIES DURING OUTDOOR & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
There are so many fun recreational activities to participate in during the summer months! Help prevent related injuries by following these tips:- If pools are open, be cautious around them and other bodies of water. Don’t leave kids by themselves in a lake or pool, no matter how small it is. Children who are still learning how to swim should utilize life jackets approved by the US Coast Guard. Infants and toddlers should be within an arm’s length of an adult.
- Wear protective gear when on wheels. According to Safe Kids, nearly 50 kids visit emergency departments with an injury related to bikes, scooters, skates and skateboards EVERY HOUR. Make sure that your kids wear helmets, along with additional protective equipment for the corresponding activity, every time they do it. Further, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends against children under the age of 16 riding motorized scooters. Similarly, kids under the age of 16 should not drive or ride on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Of the estimated 93,800 ATV-related injuries reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2017, 26% involved children younger than 16 years of age.
- Discourage trampoline use. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over one million emergency department visits were related to trampoline injuries between 2002 and 2011, and the bulk of the patients were younger than 17 years of age. The AAP states that the majority of the injuries happen when more than one child jumps at a time, and advises against their use.
- Beware of dogs. As more children are spending time at home and in their neighborhoods, we’re seeing more visits for dog bites. According to the AAP, one in five dog bites requires medical attention. If this happens, wash the wound immediately and call your pediatrician to determine next steps. They may recommend going directly to the ED or urgent care for bigger bites or unknown dogs.