Don't take a vacation from child safety

Summer is a memorable time for most children, but it’s also a good time to be more cautious, as your children are spending less time in the classroom, and more time swimming, bike riding, or playing in the backyard.

Kids love summer! But did you know that summer is the most dangerous time of the year for kids? Children are rushed to emergency more times in the summer during "trauma season" (May to August) than any other time of the year. The greatest summertime risks include motor vehicle crashes, drownings, bike crashes, pedestrian incidents, and falls. Sadly, some children will die, unless we share information about how to keep our children safe with our families, neighbors and friends. Keep your children safe this summer!

To protect your children from summer injuries, follow these simple tips with your family:

• Actively supervise your child during summertime activities, such as swimming and playing in playgrounds and backyards.
• Use appropriate safety gear for your child’s activities, such as helmets (for wheeled sports and sporting activities), car seats or booster seats as appropriate, and life jackets for open-water swimming and boating.

• Have your child take swimming lessons.
• Pools and hot tubs should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least four feet (1.2 meters) high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Inflatable pools need to be surrounded by a fence, just like any other pool, and parents need to empty these pools when not in use.
• Farm water sources such as ponds, wells, dugouts, water troughs, and septic tanks need fencing as above as well.
• Make sure your home playground is safe. Keep 6-12 inches (23-30 cm) of shock-absorbing surfacing, such as pea gravel, bark mulch, or fine sand. Extend it at least six feet in all directions around the equipment.
• Keep children away from the barbeque area while preheating and cooking, and while the grill is cooling. Supervise your child around the campfire.
• Remove or lock up poisons from your yard, including pesticides, pool chemicals, and poisonous plants.
• Before entering a car and starting the motor, walk all the way around the parked vehicle to check for children. Don’t let children play in driveways, streets, parking lots, or unfenced yards near busy streets.
• Role-model proper safety behavior. Children are more likely to follow safety rules when they see their parents and adults behaving safely.

Active supervision, proper protective gear, and other simple prevention steps will help prevent an injury with your child this summer.

For more information about child safety, contact your local public health nurse or www.safekidscanada.ca  -- see the “Make it a Safe Kids Summer” brochure or call Safe Kids Canada at 1-888-723-3847.

Ester Brisch,

Regional Coordinator NW, Injury Prevention Program

Northern Health