Safe Kids Worldwide offers summer child safety tips
The Independence Day holiday marks a high point of summer, a time for fireworks, barbecues, and lazy days at the pool or beach. But it’s also a time when neglecting basic child safety puts kids at higher risk of getting hurt, or worse.
Preventable injuries among children ages one to four are 1.7 times higher during the summer months compared to the rest of the year. For kids ages five through 14, they are 1.5 times higher. Sadly, 42 percent of all deaths from preventable injuries occur during the months of May through August.
“We know everyone is excited for the 4th of July and with so much going on during this time of celebration with family and friends, we also want to remind parents and caregivers to stay vigilant when it comes to safety,” said Torine Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide. “We all want to protect kids from injuries that are preventable so we’re asking parents in every community to take an extra moment to learn a few proven tips that are important every day, but especially heading into a holiday weekend.”
Stay far from the fireworks. The best way to protect your family is to attend public firework displays and leave the lighting to the pros. If you do light fireworks at home, make sure everyone stays far back from the action and have a bucket of water nearby.
Find a substitute for sparklers. Little arms are too short to hold sparklers, which can heat up to 2,000 degrees. A great substitute: Let young children use glow sticks. They can be just as entertaining, but they don’t burn at a temperature hot enough to melt glass.
Be watchful around water. Drowning can be both fast and silent, often occurring in as little as 20-60 seconds, and without the typical dramatic signs of thrashing or yelling. Give kids your undivided attention even in a shallow kiddie pool or if a lifeguard is on duty. Keep young kids within arm’s reach of an adult and teach older ones to always swim with a partner. Use a Water Watcher card to designate the responsible adult who is going to stay undistracted and supervise the kids in the water.
Avoid hot car dangers. Tragically, five kids have died in hot cars over the last two weeks. Temperatures inside can rise dangerously quickly, leading to heatstroke so never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute. Create reminders by placing a personal item, such as a purse or phone, in the back seat near your child, and always look before you lock.
Stay on guard at the grill. Barbecues are great fun but can lead to injuries if you’re not careful. Position the grill well away from foot traffic and play areas and only grill outdoors. For extra safety, declare a three-foot “kid-free zone” around the grill.
Have a helmet on all heads. A properly fitted helmet when riding a bicycle or scooter or using roller skates is the best way to prevent head injuries. Kids should be dressed in bright colors and use lights, especially when riding at night.
Buckle up every ride, every time. Make sure little ones are in the right car seat or booster for their age and size, and check that it’s installed correctly. This is the single most important thing you can do to keep your child safe. Here’s a quick car seat checklist to help.
Observe safety basics away from home. If you’re staying someplace other than your home, make sure the accommodation is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and double check to make sure medicine, cleaning products, and firearms are stored up and out of reach of children.
Be mindful of sleep safety. Remember that infants need to sleep on their backs in their own sleep space. Use a crib, bassinet or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Remove toys, blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and other accessories from the crib.