Summertime Safety Tips

As we are rounding the bend, with back to school in sight let’s not lose focus of staying safe around water and in the sun. 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, out and about on vacation, or going for a bike ride, we want to remind parents that there are potential dangers during the summer months, and it’s important to be aware of what they are.

There are many areas to cover when it comes to summer safety, and we’ll review just a few here as part of the Healthy Options for Parents through Education Campaign. Please keep in mind that this is a brief list of tips.

Water Safety

It only takes 1 inch of water for a drowning to occur and only 20 seconds for a child to lose consciousness. This includes buckets of water and toilets.

• Always watch your child around water. Never leave a child alone around water, not even for a second.
• Keep toys stored in an area separate from the pool when they are not being used.
• Learn CPR and keep CPR instructions in the pool area.
• Learn to swim and make sure your child learns to swim.
• Remember a flotation device, in addition to proper supervision, can help keep your child safe.

Sun Safety

According to the National Safety Council, 1 in 5 Americans develop skin cancer and about 23% of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18.

• Always put sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) on your child before going out in the sun, even on cloudy days.
• Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Play in the shade! The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 am and 4 pm.
• Have your child wear a hat and sunglasses with UVA/UVB ray protection.
• Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, especially WATER to prevent dehydration. If your child is thirsty, s/he is already becoming dehydrated.