Summertime...and Safety is Easy!

A letter was recently posted on Planetfeedback that brought to mind the many hazards facing parents and their children in the warm weather of the summer months.  What should be a time to kick back and relax can quickly turn into heartache and disaster if parents aren't on their toes.  No need to fret... with some preparation, caution and knowledge, a splendid time is guaranteed for all!

There are so many potential dangers, I didn't know where to begin, so I enlisted the aid of the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide a helping hand with its Summer Safety Tips.  If you take some time to review Part 1 and Part 2 of the tip list, not only will you be prepared for whatever comes your way, but you might even be able to avoid some of these scenarios.  With Fourth of July festivities already underway, it's also a good idea to be aware of the dangers of fireworks. 

I learned something last summer that was so unbelievable, I thought it was worth posting again.

If one of your favorite family outings is to the beach, I promise you'll never view sand the same way again after reading this.  Parents usually find joy in watching their kids creatively playing in the sand, but I was horrified to find out that in a split second the hole they're digging can become a deathtrap.  The walls of the hole can collapse, completely submerging a child and leaving virtually no evidence of the hole or the location of the victim.  It may sound like a freak accident, but it's not as rare as you may think.  In the past decade, there have been reports of 31 fatalities and 21 nonfatal cases.  I'm not trying to make you paranoid, but just remember to keep an eye on the kids and know their whereabouts while you're at the beach.  I always thought the water was a parent's biggest concern, but now I know the sand can create a hazardous situation, as well.

I know this subject can get boring, but please bear with me because there are two other dangerous situations I would like to address.  The first one involves mowing the lawn.  Not only is the lawn mower a dangerous piece of equipment, but if it's not operated with care and safety, it can result in permanent damage to the user.  If your kids cut the grass, please make them wear safety glasses.  My husband almost had his eye knocked out recently by a flying rock because he was wearing ordinary sunglasses instead of his usual safety glasses.  No matter how much the kids object, insist they use safety glasses to protect their eyes.  Don't take no for an answer.  Make it a rule that can't be broken, with no exceptions.

The last thing I want to remind everyone is to never leave a child unattended in the car.  There have been at least ten deaths of infants and children already this year after being left inside a hot vehicle.  Parents and other caregivers need to realize that a vehicle is not a babysitter or play area.  Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's, and their bodies warm at a rate three to five times faster.  It takes a very small amount of time for the temperature inside a car to become deadly to a child.  Further information and statistics are available here and will help you better understand the dangers while also offering some preventative measures.

That's it.  I'll leave you alone to concentrate on ways to safely enjoy the season with your family.  But if I think of anything else, you'll be the first to know!

In the meantime, have a safe and eventful Fourth of July!

~Contributed by Venice