Whether you are at home, on vacation or on the road, keep your children safe this summer with a few simple precautions.
WATER SAFETY
Sprinklers, pools, lakes and oceans offer loads of active fun for children of all ages.
Water can also be deadly.
Drowning is the leading cause of death of children ages 1 to 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drownings are also the second leading cause of preventable death in all children through age 15.
Young children are most at risk. Never leave a child unattended in water – bathtubs included. If you must leave the area, take your child with you.
Have your children take swimming lessons, keeping in mind that lessons are not full-proof drowning protection.
Only swim where there is lifeguard protection. And remember, lifeguards are not babysitters. If you can’t locate your child, check the water first.
All children must be supervised in and around water. Don’t get distracted, even for a moment. Your children need your undivided attention.
For more information on water safety, click on the American Red Cross link.
ENJOY THE RIDE
Bicycling is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. Before you head out, make sure you understand the rules of the road and take some simple safety precautions.
For all riders, children or adults, wearing an approved safety helmet is good policy. In most jurisdictions, it’s the law. About 75 percent of bicycle fatalities involved head injuries.
Teach your children the rules of the road. Ride with traffic on the far right-side of the roadway. Bicyclists must follow the same traffic rules as motorized vehicles, with few exceptions. Teach young riders the proper arm signals to use when riding.
Make sure your children know to look and listen before making turns and to watch out for pedestrians, other cyclists and stationary objects as they ride along.
Check that your children are wearing clothing that makes them visible to other drivers and always know where they are headed before they go out.
The National Safety Council has some other tips to help cyclists stay safe while enjoying a ride.
SUN SMARTS
A painful sunburn can ruin anyone’s good time, but can be especially damaging to young skin. We’ve all learned by now that wearing a broad spectrum sunblock, staying out of the sun midday and wearing a hat can help reduce sun damage.
But did you know that the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that children under the age of six months wear sunglasses? Children under the age of 10 are at high risk for ocular changes resulting from UV ray damage. Little eyelids and the surrounding skin is also very vulnerable to the sun’s damaging rays.
Sun damage can also occur on cloudy days and in the fall and winter.
The folks at Delco Alarm Systems urge you to be smart about the sun. Teach your children about sun safety and they’ll have a great time making memories in the great outdoors.
Next up:
The dangers of leaving a child in a car alone.