Summer is just around the corner, providing the perfect opportunity for kids to soak in the great outdoors. Playing outside brings many potential benefits, including promoting healthy exercise, the development of important motor skills, exposure to vitamin D, and the ensuing mental health and wellness, as well as instilling your child with an appreciation of nature.
Playing outside in the hot and sunny summer months does come along with some risks, however. Keep your child safe and in good health with these critical summertime safety tips.
Protect Children From Slips and Falls
In 2015, the State of California alone reported as many as 20,000 work-related slip and fall injuries to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Falls can be just as common outside of the workplace and can sometimes even occur in or around your home. To keep your child safe,
Encourage the use of appropriate protective gear. If your child will be rollerblading, bike riding, or coasting along on their scooter, make sure they are wearing the appropriate gear. Children should wear a helmet whenever they ride their bike, use a skateboard or scooter, or rollerblade. You should also keep them as safe as possible with knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards.
Safeguard windows and always keep an eye on your child, particularly when they are around large windows. Windows make up 15% of the average home's wall space. That means you have to be extra careful around them, especially when you open them to let cool air inside. Always keep an eye on young children. Keep in mind that children may fall from windows that are open just five inches. Use window guards for young children, and rearrange any furniture or household items so that they are not directly underneath open windows.
Have a first aid kit handy. Accidents will happen, so be prepared. Keep a fully stocked first aid kit in your home. A well-rounded first aid kit will include band-aids, gauze, children's Tylenol or Motrin, a thermometer, cold packs, an antihistamine, and antibiotic cream.
Prevent Sunburn
Preventing sunburn is a key part of looking after your child's health. Keep your child safe from sunburn and sun damage by liberally applying sunscreen. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and always use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. If your child goes in the water or spends more than an hour outside, you may need to reapply sunscreen for their safety. When the sun's rays are strongest (around midday), consider seeking shade under a beach umbrella or tent.
Help Kids Stay Hydrated
Like preventing sunburn, keeping kids hydrated is of utmost importance. If your child weighs 100 pounds or less, determine how much water they need by dividing their weight by two. That's the amount of water they need in ounces per day. If your child weighs 100 pounds, for example, they'll need roughly 50 ounces or three large bottles of water per day. Even if your child doesn't feel thirsty, encourage them to continue drinking water throughout the day and bring plenty of water along when partaking in outdoor activities.
Be Mindful About Water Safety
Jet skiing is becoming increasingly popular among young children. In 2017, 5.42 million children ages six and up took part in jet skiing. Jet skiing, boating, and swimming are wonderful summertime activities for your child -- as long as they do these things safely. Whenever your children are around water, keep your eyes on them and make sure they are wearing life jackets that fit snugly. Take a free CPR course to be fully prepared in the event of an emergency.
Summer is a great time for your child to enjoy the great outdoors. Follow the safety tips above so they can enjoy the sun and balmy weather to the fullest.
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