Summer Safety
The MOST wonderful time of the year
Cookouts, pool parties, beach trips, popsicles and fireworks are just a few of the fun things we all look forward to during the most wonderful time of the year–summer! It’s a great time for kids to recharge, spend time with family and friends, and just slow down. Summer is often known as a carefree and low stress time for everyone. However, it’s important that parents and children are aware of things they can do to practice summer safety. Below is a list of tips to use to stay safe while having fun!
10 Summer Safety Tips
Sun Protection: It’s important to make sure to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is recommended that children use sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher (American Academy of Dermatology, 2022). Additionally, encourage your child to wear sunglasses to protect their eyes especially in settings like the beach as the sun reflects off the water and the sand. Another suggestion is to provide breaks from the sun periodically and encourage kids to sit in the shade!
Water Safety: Swimming is what many kids look forward to the most about summer! Swimming is not only a fun activity, but also a great means of exercise. Most kids would probably swim year round if they could. However, with fun we always want to ensure we are staying safe in the water. According to the World Health Organization, Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death globally (WHO, 2021). There are plenty of ways to practice water safety. Ensure that kids use life jackets or floatation devices (especially in natural water) if they haven’t learned how to swim. Always make sure there is adult supervision near any swimming activity. Barriers around pools (fencing) also help prevent accidents in the water. Also, knowing CPR is extremely important when taking children around any water. Bottom line: Have fun in the water but be safe!
Stranger Danger: Every family has their own plans for supervision during the summertime. Some kids have a babysitter, some attend daycare, some attend summer camps. Wherever children spend their summers, it is vital that they understand “stranger danger.” Have family discussions about keeping doors locked, only answering the door for familiar faces, and not engaging with adults they don’t know in any settings. Encourage kids to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to be able to identify their “gut feeling” - if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. Have a plan for children should they ever encounter a situation that feels uneasy.
Cyber Safety: If children weren’t exposed to the cyber world before the pandemic, they certainly were when the pandemic ensued. Schools across the globe were impacted in many ways including virtual learning. Though distance learning has been a convenient way for learning to continue, students have been home more frequently and in front of the screen. Here are a few tips that parents can use to ensure their children are practicing cyber safety: make sure kids’ passwords are protected and not shared with anyone else, have a conversation with kids about not engaging with anyone they don’t know on the internet, and use parental controls on computers to make sure kids aren’t able to access inappropriate content.
Bike Safety: Another great outdoor summer activity is bike riding. Bike riding is enjoyable and promotes movement and exercise. However, it’s important to practice bike safety while riding around town. According to the CDC, nearly 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured in crashes that occur on roads in the United States every year (CDC, 2022). Parents can help kids stay safe by making sure that helmets are worn each time they want to take a ride. Also encourage kids to always look both ways before crossing the street as they would when walking.
Skin Protection: Sweet summertime also has its downfalls. The bugs, insects, critters, and poison ivy are all the not-so-fun parts of summer. Caregivers should make sure kids wear a safe, insect repellent on most summer days. If bites or exposure to a poisonous plant occur, clean the affected area and use calamine lotion. Keep an eye on the wound to prevent infection.
Prevent Heat Related Illnesses: On average, nearly 700 people die from heat related illnesses a year in the United States (CDC, 2021). Children love to play outside all day every day in the summer months. It’s important to remember to encourage breaks from outdoors, ensure kids stay hydrated, and never wait in a hot car.
Have a Safety Plan for children getting Lost: Family vacations are prevalent during the summer time when kids are off of school and have free time. Experiencing new places is fun and exciting! However, being in unfamiliar territory sometimes leads to vulnerable children and getting lost. Caregivers should always have a conversation with their children about what to do if they get lost. Perhaps as a safety precaution, have kids carry a cellphone during family outings/vacations. Adults can also have a meeting spot in the event someone is lost. Don’t forget to have your family safety plan in place!
Screen time: We are in the age of all things technology. So many advancements have made life so much easier and convenient to communicate with others, play games, and engage on social media. However, there is ongoing research that has shown a correlation between the amount of screen time and the impact of physical and mental health. One thing caregivers can do to help this is to set limits on screen time for children. Parental controls can give adults a good snapshot of how much time kids are spending looking at the screen. Adults can also set timers as a way of controlling how much screen time kids have in a day.
Fire/Fireworks: Another enchanting part of summer is going to see the fireworks and sitting round a campfire to roast marshmallows. Before indulging in those scrumptious, mouth watering S’mores, we have to make sure we know how to be safe around fire. Encourage kids to sit a good distance from the fire and ask for adult help when ready to sizzle their delicious treats. Ensure that kids don’t run or play around the fire and create a barrier around the fire so it isn’t accessible to children. Before you enjoy your gooey snacks under the stars, have a conversation with kids about how to stop, drop, and roll in the event their clothing or body catches on fire!
In conclusion, Summertime brings lots of fun, but we must be mindful and take proper precautions to stay safe!
