Smart Safety: Summer Safety Tips

 Over one million children went to ERs last summer due to injuries from summertime activities and products, accounting for 30 percent of all ER visits and a 14 percent increase from the previous summer.

 

The five summertime items most likely to send children to the ER are swimming equipment and pools, bikes, trampolines, and playground climbing equipment like monkey bars.

 

This is according to a new report from SafeHome.org (https://www.safehome.org), and here’s what parents need to know to prevent ER visits this summer, according to SafeHome.org’s Corie Wagner, who is available for interviews to provide all sorts of tips on staying safe this summer. An array of examples are below my signature. 

 

The full report is at: 

https://www.safehome.org/data/summer-home-safety-report/

 

Key year-over-year findings include:

 - Injuries from diving or diving boards increased 72 percent and swimming pool slide injuries rose 49 percent

 - Children’s injuries from camping equipment, flying discs, treehouses, diving boards, and lighter fluids increased significantly

 

 

2 years or younger:

• Always maintain close supervision during playtime, especially around water and trampolines
• Ensure that play areas are age-appropriate, well-maintained, and free of hazards
• Install safety measures like baby gates to restrict access to dangerous areas like stairs, porches, and balconies (Never leave infants or children alone on porches or balconies even with railings)

 

3 to 10 years old: 

• Provide swimming lessons and enforce strict water safety rules, such as not diving in shallow areas or running near the pool edge
• Encourage using helmets and other protective gear while riding bicycles and teach children about traffic safety
• Supervise playtime on trampolines and playground equipment, promoting safe behavior and age-appropriate use

 

13 to 17 years old: 

• Reinforce the importance of wearing helmets and adhering to traffic safety rules while biking
• Encourage responsible behavior around water, including swimming with a buddy and avoiding risky activities like diving in unknown waters
• Discuss safe fishing practices, such as handling sharp equipment carefully and being aware of the surroundings