Children eagerly anticipate the summer months, as the break from school offers them an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, travel, and unwind with friends and family. However, it’s crucial to make sure they remain safe while having fun in the sun.
Specialists offer nine recommendations for keeping kids safe this summer season.
1. Maintain Consistent Hand Hygiene Practices
“Even though the cold and flu season has passed, encouraging your children to maintain good hand hygiene year-round will help keep them healthier regardless of the season.” “Therefore, it’s crucial to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer while traveling”.
Germs can survive on surfaces we come into contact with, and many viruses are transmitted when an infected person releases virus particles into the air by breathing, talking, coughing, or sneezing.”
2. Protect Children from Burn Risks
Fireworks can pose significant dangers if not used correctly. As many prepare to celebrate summer events with fireworks and sparklers, it is important to exercise caution.”They have the potential to explode and inflict severe tissue damage or ignite clothing and nearby structures,” she explains. “Many people are unaware of how hot sparklers can become and often let young children play with them. Sparklers can reach temperatures as high as, or even higher than, a welding torch.”
Grills and bonfires can also be hazardous to children, who may accidentally fall nearby and suffer severe burns. “A child-free zone of at least 5 feet should always be maintained around these areas,” advises Hodgman. “It’s crucial never to add flammable substances like gasoline or lighter fluid to a fire. Additionally, all fires should be completely doused with water, as embers can remain hot, even overnight.”
3. Steer Clear of Trampolines
Children may enjoy jumping on trampolines, but the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises against using trampolines at home. Trampolines are a frequent cause of injuries seen in the emergency center throughout the year, including sprains, fractures, head and neck injuries, and, in rare instances, serious neurological injuries.
“Most trampoline injuries happen when multiple children are jumping at the same time. Predicting how a jump will go and where someone will land is difficult, especially with more than one person bouncing,” he notes. “Injuries can easily occur from landing awkwardly, colliding with another child, getting entangled in the equipment, or simply falling off the trampoline.”
4. Dress Children in Sun-Protective Clothing and Apply Sunscreen
While enjoying the warmth of the summer sun can be delightful, sunburn is not. During this season, ultraviolet rays are at their peak strength, and children under 18 are most vulnerable to skin damage.
Sun-protective clothing with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50 provides excellent defense against harmful ultraviolet rays. Pair this with hats, sunglasses, and other forms of shading for optimal protection. For areas that can’t be covered, ensure you apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. Reapply approximately every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
5. Steer Clear of Wire Grill Brushes
Grilling can be a mouthwatering highlight of summer, but the method you use to clean your grill between uses might lead to some issues. “These wires can loosen and end up in the food cooked on the grill, potentially causing injuries to the mouth, throat, and intestines. To avoid this risk, replace your metal wire grill brush with a different type.”
6. Make Sure Children Wear Helmets When Riding and Supervise Them Around Golf Carts
Wearing a helmet while engaging in activities like biking, skateboarding, or riding an electric scooter can help prevent head and brain injuries in children. Helmets should be worn correctly and must meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s bicycle helmet safety standards. Research indicates that properly fitted helmets significantly reduce the risk of head injuries.
7. Stay Aware of Insects That Flourish in the Summer
Summer is typically the peak season for ticks and insects like mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases. To prevent bites, wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks when in wooded or grassy areas, along with closed-toe shoes. Use insect repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, and adhere to the usage instructions and age guidelines. “After returning indoors, inspect your child for ticks and remove them with tweezers, pulling them firmly upward.”
8. Promote Water Safety for Children
During the summer heat, children may seek relief by swimming in lakes or ponds. However, these areas can harbor harmful bacteria and other organisms. For example, “brain-eating amoeba” (Naegleria fowleri) can infect someone by entering through the nose while swimming in contaminated freshwater sources.
Consider the following tips for additional water safety:
- Designate a water-watcher.
- Use life jackets on boats, around open bodies of water or when participating in water sports.
- Avoid rip currents at the beach.
- Never swim alone or leave a child unattended near the water.
- Secure pool gates and any entries to water sources.
- Take swim lessons.
9. Keep Hydrated and Be Alert for Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Summer brings hot temperatures and plenty of outdoor activities. Combined, these factors can lead to dehydration and heat-related issues such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, particularly in children, whose bodies do not cool down as quickly as adults. “Ensure that children always have a filled water bottle with them,”
The following amounts of water each day (depending on exact age, medical conditions, activity levels and the weather):
- 6 months and older: 0.5–1 cup a day
- Toddlers: up to 4 cups a day
- School-aged children: up to 8 cups a day
- Teens: 8–12 cups a day
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