Top Summer Personal Injury Safety Tips for Kids

The summer season can put children at greater risk of injury as the warmer months bring more children out to play. More accidents and personal injuries occur during these months than during any other time throughout the year. Keep your children safe by following these summer safety tips:

Water Safety

• Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children.
• No matter how shallow the water, never leave children unattended.
• If you have a swimming pool, you should install a gated fence at least four feet and equipped with self-closing, self-latching gates.
• Keep rescue equipment such as life vests and throw ropes in an accessible location.

Fire Safety

• Barbecuing and/or setting up camp fires increase during the summer months. Adults should always be in charge and never let a child handle fire.
• Always be sure that you are wearing protective gear and do not get close to the flames. Bring a fire extinguisher or fire blanket so that you can extinguish fire before it gets out of hand.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach from children.
• When leaving camp sites, always put out the fire.

Fireworks Summer Safety Tips

• Never allow children to handle or play with fireworks.
• Never place your body over fireworks when lighting fuses.
• Move yourself back to a safe distance immediately after lighting. Always keep children away from any sort of lighting activity.
• Keep a bucket of water in case of fires.

Helmet Safety

• Children should know how to wear a helmet correctly to keep them safe while riding a bicycle or skateboard.
• Buy a helmet that meet strict safety standards and is approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or Snell.
• Fit the helmet so the front is just above the top of the eyebrows.
• Make sure that the helmet covers the upper part of their forehead and sits level on the head.
• Adjust the chin strap snugly under the chin.

Playground Safety

• Before your children play on playgrounds, always take a look for potential safety hazards.
• Younger children should not play on equipment designed for older kids because the playground sizes are not appropriately sized for small children.
• Make sure that guardrails are in place such as on slides and bridgeways to prevent falls.
• Check playground equipment for splinters or rusted parts which can injure your child.
• Check the playground's sandbox for hazardous material such as glass, needles or sharp sticks.

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Tags:  Child Safety