10 Tips for Summer Safety
As April celebrated Every Kid Healthy Week (April 26 - April 30), we’re continuing the conversation with 10 ways to keep your little ones safe during the summer. Try these out and let us know what you think.
1. Practice Summer Sun Safety
When it comes to protecting your kids from the sun, sunscreen plays an important role, but because the sun's rays can reflect off of the sand and water or other reflective surfaces, hats, and sunshades are also recommended in preventing UV damage.
2. Have a Netflix party
Even though your children can’t have their regular playdate right now or jump rope with friends at recess, they can still have fun watching a movie or their favorite TV series and be safe. Netflix Party is a feature that synchronizes the playback of a movie and then allows people to chat in a sidebar, which is up on the screen.
3. Accurately check your baby's temperature and dress them appropriately
Is the vaccine safe for my child to take? -
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have recently expanded the use of the COVID-19 vaccine to adolescents ages 12 -15. This means the FDA and the CDC determined that clinical trials show this vaccine is safe and effective for children in this age range.
4. Protect Your Children Against Bugs
Insects, such as potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes and bees, can be harmful to children. Many repellents are made with DEET, an effective insecticide that is toxic if swallowed. If you do use a product containing DEET, it's crucial not to apply the product to a child's hands or face to avoid possible ingestion; it's also important to wash off the product before bed to prevent overexposure to the chemical.
5. Prevent Dehydration
Whether your child is playing or running around in the backyard, it's important to keep in mind that frequent water breaks are very important to prevent dehydration. Your child should drink water before exercise and during breaks, which should be about every 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Don't Forget Helmets
Your child should wear a helmet whenever they are on anything with wheels, such as a scooter, bicycle, or roller skates. Set a good example and wear yours when riding together with them too.
7. Safeguard Home Playgrounds
If you have a backyard playground or play equipment, make sure the ground beneath the equipment is soft enough. Surfaces made of concrete, asphalt, or dirt are too hard and do not absorb enough impact in the event of a fall. Instead, using at least 9 inches of mulch or wood chips is recommended
8. Practice the 3W’s
As we are all over a year into enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, some children may find it difficult to understand why the strict rules still apply. In this case, we suggest implementing fun ways to remind young children of Maintaining the 3 Ws:
Wash your hands
Wear your mask
Watch your Distance
Teaching and practicing the 3Ws together can help protect them from viruses.
10. Schedule their Annual Visit
Keeping your child’s annual wellness check helps to keep them healthy and safe, so be sure to schedule your well-child visits before their summer fun begins. Now more than ever, it’s important to stay on track with their physical & mental health.
