Summer is the perfect time for children to play boisterously in wide open spaces. But the extra time young kids spend in the smoldering sun can be dangerous if parents don’t adhere to simple summer safety guidelines. Here are a few tips to help protect youngsters from the ravages of the sun.
Keep Kids Properly Hydrated
When the weather is hot, kids sweat a lot, especially if they’re outdoors frolicking in the hot summer sun. This can quickly cause youngsters to become dehydrated. And since the human body is made up of more than 60 percent water, this essential nutrient is vital for every organ in the body to function efficiently. So offer kids plenty of water to drink throughout the day to keep them properly hydrated.
Sometimes it’s not easy to get kids to drink enough water, but providing them with a variety of water-rich foods such as melons, cucumbers, soups, pasta, smoothies, carrots, and zucchini can help meet their daily water intake needs. Also, caffeine acts as a diuretic and can cause dehydration, so nix it out of kids’ diets.
Keep the Backyard Hazard Free
Part of summer safety for kids is keeping the backyard free from hazards because youngsters will spend large portions of their days there. Lock away all lawn tools. Keep backyard toys and equipment in good repair. Properly anchor children’s swing sets in the ground. And dangerous debris such as glass, animal feces, metal, and trash should be removed.
Young kids wander off without warning, so there should be a fence enclosing the backyard area. There is no substitute for proper supervision of kids when they are playing in the backyard, so never leave them unattended for any amount of time.
Safety Around Swimming Pools
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in children, and most of them happen in residential swimming pools. Even if kids survive a near-drowning, there is a chance they’ll suffer irreversible neurological damage. But being diligent about water safety can prevent tragedy in the pool.
If kids are around a swimming pool, they need to learn how to swim. Provide life jackets to kids before they get into a pool. Use a pool cover or net to cover the pool when it’s not being used. Secure the perimeter of the swimming pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Provide constant supervision. And stay within arms reach of small children at all times when they are in a pool.
Protect Kids From the Sun
In addition to painful sunburn, overexposure to ultraviolet rays can increase kids’ risks of skin cancer and eye damage during adulthood. So to protect kids' eyes and skin during the hot weather, keep them indoors between 10:00am and 4:00pm, encourage them to play in shaded areas, and apply a SPF 15 sunblock to them when they're outdoors. Also, kids should cover their heads with large brimmed hats, and wear wraparound sunglasses that block 99 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Mosquito Protection
Mosquitoes are a common nuisance during the summer months. Bites from these pests can cause itchy bumps, West Nile virus, and transmit heartworms to kids. To combat mosquitoes, eliminate breeding grounds by removing standing water. Use child-friendly insect repellent on kids. And avoid going out at dusk or dawn.
Safety guidelines such as keeping kids hydrated, warding off mosquitoes, being diligent about sun protection, removing backyard dangers, and making water play safe can keep summer fun and hazard free for children.
References:
MSN Encarta. Accessed 6-13-09
Science Daily. Accessed 6-13-09
American Academy of Dermatology. Accessed 6-13-09
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 6-13-09
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