Summer Safety is Summer Fun | Part 2

Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Marissa Hendrickson

Summer Safety is Summer Fun | Part 2

No matter where your children are enjoying their summer, talk about these summer safety tips with your family to prepare for the upcoming season. To read part 1 of our Summer Safety blog series, Click Here!

Fireworks

Watching fireworks light up the night sky is exciting for children. It’s a fun way to celebrate summer and the 4^th of July. For parents, the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to allow the professionals to do it by attending public fireworks shows or taking your children with you over a fence while an adult is lighting them on the other side. Fireworks can cause devastating burns and other injuries that can quickly become life-threatening if not treated immediately. Try giving your children glow-sticks while watching the fireworks to keep them entertained and safe!

Lifejackets

Water safety is always a concern in the summertime, whether at a pool, lake, or the beach. Kids are curious and typically want to play in the water, even if they cannot swim. Even if lifeguards are present, you (or another responsible adult) should stay with your children. It only takes a few seconds while you are getting water, applying sunscreen, or sending a text for you to realize your child is underwater.

To read a previous blog to learn more about the importance of teaching children with autism about water safety, click here: Resource: Wandering Safety And Prevention – Cornerstone Autism CenterCornerstone Autism Center

Teach children always to ask permission to go near the water, especially if there is no fence or safety area around the body of water.

Children, inexperienced swimmers, and boaters should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. At the beach, always swim in a lifeguarded area. For informational videos for you and your child to watch together, click here.

Sun Safe

A child’s skin is ten times more fragile than that of an adult. According to Andrea Cambio, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist, “It only takes one severe sunburn to potentially double your child’s chances of getting melanoma later in life.” After applying sunscreen for 20-30 minutes going outside, continue to reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours while in the summer sun. If you plan to go into the water, be sure to get water-resistant sunscreen with a higher SPF level, as the water reflects more sun. Your broad-spectrum sunscreen should be at least SPF 30.

Food Safety & Grilling

Summer is the best time of year for the family to grill hot dogs, burgers, and corn on the cob if you live in Indiana! Father’s Day, the 4^th of July, pool parties, and birthdays usually include grilling out. According to the United State Fire Administration (USFA), fire departments respond to thousands of home grill fires, causing millions in property damage and deadly injuries each year.

Follow these tips to prevent any summer grilling injuries. Ensure the grill is positioned away from the house, plants, or furniture. When cooking, use long-handled tongs to grab the food to prevent burns and protect it from the heat. Periodically remove grease buildup from the grill. Only grill outdoors! Even when camping, do not grill over an awning or enclosure. Lastly, keep all matches, gasoline, and lighters away from children.

Bugs & Plants

Hiking and the great outdoors are fun until you are bit by a bug or run into poison ivy. Although bug bites and plants are typically harmless, it is best to use child-safe bug spray in the summer. Itchy bug bites are not preventable but are manageable. A few simple tricks can help you and your family make your summer more enjoyable. Remember to wear light-colored clothing that covers your body. Do not use any strongly scented perfumes or soaps. Use a bug repellent spray like OFF! Kids’ Insect Repellent. They also sell bug repellent bracelets which are great for long walks or camping by the lake! If your child is big, clean the area and apply hydrocortisone cream to help with any itchiness.

Kids can be interested in flowers and plants. When outdoors, teach your child not to grab any leaves or plants without you looking at them first. Many plants, including poison ivy, daisies, and hydrangeas, can be very poisonous to humans. Make sure your child does not ingest any of these plants while wandering around the yard or lake. If they get ahold of one and skin irritation occurs, apply hydrocortisone cream, or even try Children’s Benadryl if itchy. If they swallow any unknown plants, call poison control.