Summertime.
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The season many of us look forward to the most!
The weather is warm, the kids are out of school, and the schedule is a little more relaxed.
Let’s not forget more time to be outside, too!
Even with a less rigid schedule, there are plenty of summer activities that kids are involved with.
These summer safety tips should make for a smooth, carefree summer break whether your kids are at the pool, at camp, or just playing in the backyard.
8 Summer Safety Tips for a Great Summer
Summer Safety Tips #1. Sunscreen.
Reminders about the importance of sunscreen are great, but remembering to use it is what counts.
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If you are headed out for an activity in the sun, place the bottle of lotion in a place where it won’t be missed.
If a sunburn blisters on a child or teen, it more than doubles their risk for skin cancer as an adult.
Lather those precious little bodies up with the good stuff! At least a “broad spectrum” of 30 or higher.
Summer Safety Tips #2. Drive carefully.
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With kids riding around on all sorts of toys, motorcyclists, walking folks, mommies pushing strollers, and animals out to play, looking both ways sometimes isn’t enough.
Being diligent in careful observation on our roads and sidewalks is crucial to keeping our pedestrians safe.
Summer Safety Tips #3. Double check playground equipment & supervise playground play.
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Thousands of emergency room visits are made every summer due to playground injuries.
Don’t forget! The equipment has been sitting in the sun all day, so it can be very hot to the touch. Be mindful of this when you’re heading to the playground.
Summer Safety Tips #4. Discuss Pool Safety Rules.
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Teaching kids to obey the rules of the pool (or lake or pond) is essential. Hundreds of kids every summer die due to accidental drowning.
Never leave kids alone by or in the pool. Ever. Be sure to secure a home pool with fencing and alarms.
Also, if you live near canals and ditches, make sure they are blocked to prevent random or easy entrance.
Summer Safety Tips #5. Protect those precious heads!
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Helmets for bikes and ATV’s [All Terrain Vehicles] should always be worn. Make sure they fit properly will ensure those little noggins are safe.
While your securing that helmet, don’t forget to put some sunscreen on the top of their ears!
Summer Safety Tips #6. Stay hydrated.
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Heat stroke can happen fast, especially in children where their central nervous systems aren’t yet fully developed.
Keep water and sports drinks on hand primarily during the hottest part of the day.
Keep it fun too- fill reusable cups with lids and straws. When it looks fun and tastes great, they won’t hesitate to sip all day long!
Summer Safety Tips #7. Never leave a child or animal in a parked car.
Summer is hot … and closed spaces are even hotter. Even if you think it is “just for a second” the risks outweigh the benefit.
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On a 90° day a parked car can reach upwards of 119° after only 20 minutes. After an hour, the temperature inside that car soars to more than 130°.
Play it safe and avoid any chance your child or pet will be left in a parked car.
Summer Safety Tips #8. Summer BBQs and picnics can be a hot spot for food poisoning.
When you’re packing for your picnic or potluck keep these four things in mind.
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* Keep food that contains egg chilled at all times.
* Cook meat to the proper temperature.
* Wash Veggies and fruits well before eating.
IMPORTANT: Never use the same knife to cut raw meat and fruits or vegetables.
Zip-top style bags filled with ice can help you with food that needs to stay chilled. Put them in a larger bowl or container underneath the serving dish.
Safety First!
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Enjoying the outdoors is what we do in the summer.
Kids look forward to endless amounts of pool time.
Moms look forward to easier schedules.
Playing it safe with our Summer Safety Tips makes summer great and keep the fun going strong.
Best of all, following our tips helps to make sure that your “great memories” don’t include any sour notes like trips to the ER!
About the Author
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Our thanks to Heather B at Kidsemail.org for sending in this post.
Kidsemail.org is a safe email service for kids safeguarding them from language, predators, images,and video, while keeping them connected to loved ones and learning about technology in a safer environment.
Get more safety tips on the KidsEmail blog http://blog.kidsemail.org/
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Image Credits (All Flicker.com Creative Commons)
Lemonade Stand – Lemonade Stand by Patrick
Suntan lotions – Rich’s cabinet o’ suntan lotions by Sgt Fun
Kids in the Driveway – Playing Something Fun by JB Halper
Ducks in the Water – Ducks on a Swimming Pool by Graham Alton
Swings – Golden Gate Park by Jerry Brague
Kids on Bikes – Bikers and Helmets by Reway2007
Water bottles – Waterbottles by Bill Jankowski
Thermometer – It Ain’t ‘Alf Hot Mum by Johnsyweb
Picnic food – Picnic Spread by Tom Magliery
The post Summer Safety Tips 8 Easy Ways to Have a Great Summer appeared first on Blog (Retiring).