Bring on Summer! Safely.

Kids are out of school and fun activities are a must, but accidents can happen too. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a leading children’s safety organization, the summer season represents millions of emergency room visits due to unintentional injuries by children 14 and younger. 

Enjoy your summer with the kiddos and check out some top tips to keep everyone safe this summer! 

• Hydration! Hydration! Hydration! If your kids are playing outside on a hot day, have them take frequent water and snack breaks. Children often ignore or don’t know the signs of heat exhaustion, so requiring frequent breaks is a good way to keep them safe. Fun, reusable water bottles could keep them motivated to drink up, too (BONUS: They are better for the environment)! 

• Indoor activities are fun, too. With the sun at its harshest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., planning outdoor activities in the early morning or later afternoon is a good idea. Plan some family fun indoors during the hottest parts of the day which could include family game time, movies, and more! 

• Supervise all water-related activities. Drownings can happen in an instant. If you need to walk away, even for a moment, assign a responsible adult to actively watch your child when they are near any body of water. 

• Sunblock is your friend! Reapplying sunblock liberally throughout the day is the best way to avoid sunburns. Sunscreens or sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 and labeled "broad-spectrum" are best, as they provide protection against UVA and UVB rays. Don’t forget to include the most sensitive parts of the body: the lips, eyelids, face, ears, feet, and hands!

• Choose the right clothes. It can get incredibly hot over the summer, so choosing the right kind of clothing can keep you and your children safe! Loose-fitting and lightweight clothes that cover as much skin as possible help keep the skin covered and stay cool, and brightly colored clothing when near a body of water, like orange or yellow, can help you track of your kids! 

• Never leave a child alone in a car. In just 10 minutes, the inside of a vehicle can become so hot that it can be deadly. Even if you roll the windows down, it’s never a good idea. 

• Don’t play with fireworks. They’re fun to look at, but fireworks can be extremely harmful if they aren’t handled by an adult. Sparklers get hot enough to melt metal and should never be handled by a child under three years of age.  

• Fire safety. Don’t leave children unattended near grills, campfires, or bonfires. Keep a bucket of water and/or a fire extinguisher near the area when there is a fire burning. If your child is burned, run cool water on it for five minutes; never put ice on a burn. If it begins to blister or looks leathery, take your child to the emergency room. 

We hope you and the family have a wonderful summer, making memories and staying safe!