Summer Safety Tips

7Jul

Let the Summer Fun begin. However you spend your summer, here are a few tips to keep your adventures as safe as they are fun.

Safe at Home and Play

Never leave a child unattended in a car.
Hydrate! Take frequent water breaks in the shade to cool off and avoid dehydration.
When it is 90°F or above and humid, children should play outside for no longer than 30 minutes at a time.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in kids.
Playground equipment can become dangerously hot and cause contact burns in seconds. Check the temperature of equipment prior to allowing children to play.
Keep children under 5 inside when the lawn is being mowed.
Use insect repellent on children over 2 months of age that contains no more than 30% DEET.
Have children wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and pants when playing or hiking in woods or fields with long grass (over 6 inches) to protect against ticks. Tucking clothing into pants and pant cuffs into socks can help prevent ticks (and other insects) from crawling underneath clothing.
Always have children wear a helmet when riding or using equipment with wheels (bikes, scooters, skateboards, skates, roller blades, etc.)

Protection from the Sun

Even on cloudy days, use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 every time you and/or your child are outside.
Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes prior to going outside, and reapply every 2 hours or after being in the water.
Keep children under the age of one out of the sun as much as possible.
Have children wear sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.
Select sun hats for children that covers the face, scalp, ears, and neck.

Water Safety

Children should never be left alone in or near the water, even for extremely brief periods of time. A lifeguard or experienced adult swimmer should be on duty at all times.
Children between the ages of birth and 5 years old should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets at all times when playing near water.
Prior to a trip to the beach or pool, become familiar with the signs of drowning and dry drowning.

Summer Safety

– Adapted from Southeastern Early Childhood Support Network July Newsletter
United Way for Southeastern Michigan