Summer Safety Tips for Young Children
Safety is always the priority when caring for young children!
In this post we’re sharing information and tips for keeping children safe this summer – around water, in the heat, and in the sun.
We want everyone to enjoy the summer safely!
Water Safety
“Every pool, every lake and every warm summer day holds the possibility of new, fun summer experiences. All you need to add is your undivided attention.” –National Safety Council
Did you know?
- Drowning is the number 1 cause of accidental death in children under 5 years old. These drownings usually happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. Very young children can even drown in buckets of water.
- It takes just 20 seconds for a young child to drown. We must know the whereabouts of every child at every moment when there is water around!
- Drowning is silent. There won’t be screams or flailing in the water to alert you.
Here are some tips from the National Safety Council for keeping children safe around water:
Even when we’re not supervising young children in or around water, there are things we can all do to prevent drownings. We can find a local drowning prevention charity and take advantage of the programs they offer to keep your children safe. Or support their mission. Or better yet, do both!
Here are two Texas charities I’ve found. Sadly, both were formed after a young child drowned:
- Colin’s Hope – “teaches parents, caregivers and children about water safety to prevent drowning”
- Judah Brown Project – offers survival swimming lessons to needy children and life-saving education to families
Check out their websites, or find another charity in your area. We hope you can both get support from and provide support to these organizations.
Together, let’s save lives!
Sun Safety
Here are 7 sun safety tips for you from the American Academy of Pediatrics, through the website healthychildren.org:
-Keep infants under 6 months old out of the sun
-Dress children in lightweight clothes with a tight weave that cover the body
-Have kids wear wide-brim hats
-Stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm
-Provide youth sunglasses with 99% UV protection
-Use sunscreen, reapplying every 2 hours
-Model sun safety for kids
Heat Safety
Here are some ways to keep children safe on hot days, also from healthychildren.org:
- Hydrate! Make sure water is available and encourage children to drink water often, especially during outside play.
- Take frequent water, cooling and rest breaks.
- Play in the shade where temperatures are slightly cooler, and plan outdoor play during cooler hours.
- Dress in light colored (reflects sun and heat) and loose fitting clothing (provides a layer of protection and ventilation.)
- When the temperature is too high to safely play outside, try active indoor activities like a “dance party”
Lastly, here’s one more important heat safety fact: “Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, about three kids die each week in hot cars,” according to the National Safety Council. “Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn’t help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle.”
See the page “Kids in Hot Cars: One Child is Too Many” on their website for more info. The NSC also has free resources you can share with your program’s families.
References & Resources
Healthychildren.org. (2023, July 26). Extreme heat: Tips to keep kids safe when temperatures soar. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-Extreme-Heat-Information-for-Parents.aspx
Healthychildren.org. (2023, November 20). Sun safety: Information for parents about sunburn & sunscreen. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx
National Safety Council. (n.d.). Drowning can happen in an instant. https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/drowning
National Safety Council. (n.d.). Kids in hot cars: One child is too many. https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/summer-safety/heat
I’m excited to share my blog!
Whether you are a child care provider or administrator, a teacher, a parent, or a helping professional who supports young children and families, I hope you get some helpful tips to make your job easier and more enjoyable!
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- Diane Goyette
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