5 Summer Safety Tips when Raising Children

Summer is here and the kids are rushing out of the house and having a blast. Enjoying the great outdoors is grand, however, it presents challenges. Here are some tips to beat the heat and stay safe:

1. Sun Damage - Playing in the sun can be fun, but very uncomfortable if you get too much exposure. Follow these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to avoid painful sunburn and damage from ultraviolet rays.

- The first and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.

- Stay in the shade whenever possible, and avoid sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

- Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.

- Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

2. Dehydration - When children play in the heat, they sweat. This acts like a natural air conditioner, however this system can fail if you overexert yourself on hot and humid days. Beware of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. During activity, your body uses large amounts of water and it's easy to become dehydrated. To prevent this from happening, children should drink about a cup of water every 30 minutes on hot days. Give the kids their own plastic water bottle to encourage drinking of liquids before, during and after activities. Limit caffeinated and sweetened beverages, which can deplete the body of water.

3. The "Itches of Summer" - Remember this rhyme: "Leaves of three, let them be." Many people are allergic to the poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac plants. Its exposure can cause outbreaks and uncomfortable itching. If you happen to come in contact with the sap of any of these plants, wash the exposed area and any clothing that has come into contact with warm to hot water. Know the plants in your yard and teach your child not to pick plants without first checking with an adult. Some plants are poisonous if ingested. Call the poison control center for emergency information 1-800-222-1222.

Some children develop heat rash from excess sweating. Jump into a cool bath; wear lightweight loose-fitting clothing made of comfortable cotton fabric. Apply Calamine lotion to an uncomfortable itch and some people use cornstarch to absorb the excess moisture during this very humid season.

4. Oh, Those Bugs! - Along with summer fun come summer insect bites. Be it mosquitoes, gnats, chiggers, ticks, bees, or wasps, these common culprits bite children and can make them miserable. Some insects are carriers of serious diseases, so it is best to avoid the bites when possible. There are many safe and effective insect repellents that you can use to protect your child; check with your physician for brand names. Remember to only use products that are approved for children and wash off the repellent when you return indoors. Be aware that insect repellents do not protect against most stinging insects, such as wasps, bees, and fire ants.

To keep your children safe from insect bites, you can also:

- Keep as much skin covered with clothing as possible. Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and a hat especially in the evenings, when insects are at their peak.

- Wear light colored clothing, so as not to attract insects.

- Avoid scented products that attract bugs.

- Make sure you change water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, etc. Remove excess or unnecessary water from places where insects like mosquitoes will breed.

- If there are warnings about mosquito-borne diseases in effect, stay indoors during the evenings when mosquitoes are most active until further notice.

5. Prevent Playground Injuries - Playgrounds and young children are synonymous with summer fun. Staying safe should be your No. 1 priority. The National Program for Playground Safety offers this safety checklist for parents. Visit them online or call (800)-554-PLAY.

- Watch out for strings and ropes. String on children's clothing and ropes used for play can cause accidental strangulation if caught on equipment.

- All children should play on age-appropriate equipment. Children ages 2-5 (preschoolers) and children ages 5-12 are developmentally different and need separate areas and different equipment to keep the playground safe.

- Nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries are due to falls. Acceptable surfaces include mulch/fiber, sand and synthetic materials such as poured-in-place rubber mats or tiles. Playground surfaces should not be concrete, asphalt, blacktop, packed dirt or rocks.

-Check to make sure the equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed, bolts are not protruding, there are no exposed footings, etc.

- Adult supervision is needed to watch for potential hazards, observe, intercede and facilitate play when necessary.

Keeping these summer safety tips in mind will assure that your children will have a happy and healthy summer. Make safety a major priority with your family!