6 Ways To Keep Your Kids Safe This Summer

Summer is finally approaching. But warm weather carries it's hazards. Be prepared with these must know facts and keep your kids safe this summer.

After an impossibly long winter, fun in the sun season for kids is right around the corner. And while trading snowboots for sunscreen is a welcomed barter for our kiddos, it's important to remember that warm weather brings some hot hazards. Here's our guide to keeping the kids safe this summer.

1) Stock Up On Sunscreen

Via mentormob.com

Skin protection is important for everyone, and especially for our children. With the suns rays being deceptively powerful at times, it is important to apply SPF before letting our children head out into any summer day. Don’t forget these few tips for the sunscreen savvy parent.

2) Stay Hydrated

Via mentormob.com

Your kids don’t always know to ask for a drink when they are thirsty, and even when they feel the thirst, it can already be too late as dehydration has set in. Since children’s nervous systems are not fully developed, this can quickly result in heat related illnesses.

Keep cool water with you when you are outside and keep your child drinking at least every 20 minutes.

Make drinking water fun by adding fun shaped ice cubes, fruit flavored ice cubes, and including watery snack like watermelon and fruit popsicles.

3) Consider Safer Bug Repellants

Insects bites seem to be on the rise every year, and with diseases like West Nile, it has never been more important to be knowledgeable and diligent with insect repellants. Most repellants use DEET, but for kids especially, DEET can be toxic so YOU MUST use it sparingly with children and never with infants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends alternative repellents containing picardin or oil of lemon eucalyptus for children. You can also take some extra protection measures by covering skin with clothing, using mosquito netting over infant carriers and strollers, as well as avoiding and preventing standing water near your home.

4) Take Preventative Steps To Avoid Food Poisoning

Everyone loves having a cookout on a nice day, but unwanted bacteria usually invites itself to the party. Bacteria grows even faster in warm weather so be careful with any foods that are served outside, especially lettuce, melons and anything containing mayonnaise.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends never leaving food out in 90 degree weather for more than an hour and under that temperature. Keep this in mind in addition to always keeping your hot foods hot and cold foods cold when you are serving them. You can never be too careful when it comes to foodborne illness. If in doubt, throw it out!

5) Pay Close Attention At The Pool

Via wwww.mentormob.com

According to the CDC drowning is the number one cause of death among 1-4 year old children, other than congenital anomalies. As a parent, you need to do everything you can to promote safety at the pool. The American Red Cross gives a detailed list of swim safety tips that you can learn from here.

And drowning isn’t the only threat. Secondary drowning is a death that occurs as long as 72 hours after an immersion episode due to respiratory impairment, and it is more common than you think. If your child gets water in their lungs, but simply coughs it up and seems to be breathing fine, it is VITAL to go to the emergency room. Do not let your child go to sleep as they could drown. Learn more about secondary drowning here, and always pay close attention to children after any pool or water accidents.

6) Be Aware

Accidents happen in a split second and can many times be avoided by simply slowing down and paying attention. Pay particular attention to your surroundings when driving and remind remind your children about the importance of looking for cars, wearing helmets, and always being careful and aware of their surroundings when playing outside.