Summer Safety

Summertime means lots of fun in the sun, but we want to make sure your family knows how to stay safe. Learn more from our summer safety tips below.

Sun Safety

Children can get skin cancer, too. You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by:

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when this sun’s rays are the strongest.
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 that shields both UVA and UVB rays.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours when outdoors even on cloudy days.
• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing such as long sleeve shirt and pants.
• Wear a hat with four inch brim and sunglasses even on walking a short distance the distance.
• Stay in the shade whenever possible.
• Protect children by keeping them out of the sun minimizing sun exposure and apply sunscreen beginning at six months of age.

Water Safety

There is no noise, no screaming, no splashing, only silence when a child drowns. Keep your child safe by following these simple tips:

• NEVER leave a child unsupervised in or around water.
• EMPTY buckets and other containers and store upside down.
• CLOSE and lock toilet lids.
• LEARN and practice CPR. Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers poolside.
• SURROUND pools and spas with five feet high fencing that have self-closing and self-latching gates.
• WEAR a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket when boating, near open bodies of water or when participating in water sports. Water wings, floaties and air filled toys are not lifesaving devices.

Children are not waterproof. Learn more about water safety

Heat Injuries

Our bodies, which create a tremendous amount of internal heat, are normally cooled through sweating and radiating heat through our skin. Under certain circumstances, such as unusually high temperatures, high humidity, or vigorous exercise in hot weather, this natural cooling system may begin to fail, allowing internal heat to build up to dangerous levels. The result may be heat illness, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.

Heat Exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after you've been exposed to high temperatures for several days and have become dehydrated. Symptoms may include:

• Muscle cramps or nausea
• Pale or flushed skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Confusion
• Headache
• Heavy sweating

If you can't get inside, try to find the nearest cool and shady place. Drink plenty of fluid and remove any tight or unnecessary clothing. You may also try taking a cool shower, bath, sponge bath or applying other cooling measures such as fans or ice towels.

Heat Stroke - The hallmark symptom of heat stroke is a core body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is a medical emergency. If you suspect that someone has heat stroke -- also known as sunstroke -- you should call 911 immediately and render first aid until paramedics arrive. Symptoms may include:

• Lack of sweating despite the heat (Red, hot, and dry skin
• Muscle weakness or cramps or nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation or staggering
• Seizures or unconsciousness

Car Safety

Every year since 1988, approximately 37 children die after they were unknowingly left in a vehicle when the adult went about their business. NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE in a car. There is no temperature when it is safe to leave a child alone in a car as their bodies heat up 3-5 times faster than an adult’s. Heat stroke, which can cause permanent brain injury or death, occurs when a child’s core body temperature reaches 107 degrees. Follow these tips so it never happens to you and your child.

• Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.
• Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag, work ID or whatever is to be carried from the car on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This forces the adult to open the back door and observe the child when they reach for their belongings
• Set your cell phone to remind you to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
• Have a plan so that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
• Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
• Lock all vehicle doors and trunk – especially at home. Cars are not playgrounds.
• Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open. Children left unattended in a vehicle are at risk of being kidnapped or they can push buttons, disengage the brakes, put the car in gear or even leave the vehicle and walk away.