It’s June, and for most children, school is done for the summer. Time to get outside, plan some activities, and – perhaps most challenging of all – find ways to keep those out-of-school kids safely entertained. With that in mind, HealthConnect presents its list of Tips for a Safe Summer.
Never leave kids alone around the pool, regardless of their ages or swimming abilities. Every year more than 800 children die from accidental drowning. So, keep an eye out for the little ones.
Before your kids hit the playground, check out the equipment. With our usual hot summer temperatures, touching hot playground equipment can cause injuries or burns. And that goes for hot sand in the sandboxes, too.
Our Fresno heat carries another risk: heatstroke. So, be sure to cool down and keep hydrated. Recognize when you need to move to a cooler place. And never, never leave a child or a pet unattended in your car; temperatures can quickly rise to a fatal level.
Two words: Bicycle helmets. Whether or not you wore one as a kid, with roads more crowded and drivers less cautious, wearing a helmet while riding is essential to bicycle safety.
And while we all enjoy a little sun, take sensible precautions about sun exposure. Reduce your long-term risks from solar overexposure by avoiding sunburn. Wear sunscreen. Remember that there’s no such thing as a ‘healthy tan.’ And, like our model child here, consider the benefits of wearing a wide-brimmed hat.