Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has released its 2015 Summer Safety Tips, which focuses on six aspects of summer safety that parents and children can practice to ensure a safe and healthy summer. The list includes helpful advice to promote water, travel & play, sun, heat, fireworks and outdoor safety.
“Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children age 14 and under,” said James Fortenberry, M.D., Pediatrician-in-Chief, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Summer is an exciting time for kids. With that excitement comes an added responsibility for parents and children to educate themselves on what they can do to ensure a safe and healthy summer.”
Children’s has created a special section of their website dedicated to summer safety awareness. Parents can visit choa.org/summersafety to educate themselves and their children on ways to have a safe and healthy summer.
The tips include:
- Water Safety – Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death of children age 14 and under. Practicing water safety including boat, pool, swimming, life jacket and general water safety can help prevent this.
- Play & Travel Safety – The summer season brings more time outside and on the road. Keep your family safe by practicing safe play and travel tips like following road rules on a bike or properly buckling your children while in the car.
- Sun Safety – Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that can spread rapidly to different parts of the body, accounts for up to three percent of pediatric cancer. Protect your kids by taking measures to prevent sunburn, and by understanding the potentially permanent effects of excessive sun exposure.
- Heat Safety – Each year, young athletes and children die from heat-related illness, which is completely preventable. Know the signs of heat illness, keep kids hydrated while playing outside, and understand how to protect babies and young children from the heat.
- Fireworks Safety – When it comes to fireworks safety, stick to the professionals and keep kids away. Doing so can prevent burns, the most common fireworks injury.
- Outdoor Safety – Enjoying the beauty and nature of the woods is fun — if you are careful. Some things to look out for include insects, poison ivy, extreme weather or temperatures and areas where kids could trip or fall.
“We see an increase in emergency department visits during the summer months due to unintentional injuries that can be prevented by taking a few extra safety precautions,” said Dr. Fortenberry. “Summer should be a fun and active time for families, not spent in the hospital.”
