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Summertime is easily the most favorite time of year for kids of all ages! The warmer months of the year mark the time for family vacations, hours of outdoor play, and cooling off at pools and beaches. Along with all of these activities come risks of injury and in some cases death. Below are some of the risks kids face during these summer months and how to help prevent them.

Pool and Water Safety: Drowning is a leading cause of death in kids. All children should be supervised by an adult at all times when near water (including inflatable pools). Children that don’t how to swim should receive lessons. Adults that are supervising children near pools and water should be CPR certified. We cannot stress enough the importance of obtaining swimming lessons for all children. At some point, every child will be exposed to water and it is imperative that our kids are first and foremost safe.

Sun Exposure: Children can play outside for hours, even in extremely hot temperatures. The risk of sunburn increases the longer a child is outside in direct sunlight. Every child (even children of color) should wear sunscreen of SPF 35 or higher to help block the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Also, the risk of dehydration is elevated in warmer summer months. Always have plenty of water available when children are outdoors.

Bicycle and Skateboard Safety: all kids should wear proper fitting helmet and pads when riding bicycles and skateboards. Summertime brings an increase in emergency room visits for head injury and broken bones. Be sure to talk to your kids about being

safe on bicycles and skateboards and avoiding risk.

Implementing these tips should help ensure that your family has a fun, safe summer!