Summer Health and Safety

What’s your plan for this summer? Enjoying the water? Going camping? Firing up the grill? Whatever you prefer, we have safety steps to follow. And don’t forget your furry friends. There are steps you can take to help keep them safe too.

Skin safety

• Children's skin is more susceptible to sunburns and UV damage from the sun than adults. Before going outside, apply sunscreen and dress your kids in protective clothing like rash guards and hats.

• Choose a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 with broad-spectrum protection that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.

• Sunscreen is only safe for children over 6 months old. For babies under 6 months, keep them shaded and avoid direct sunlight.

• Children should also wear sunscreen on cloudy days. Even though the sun is hidden behind clouds, UV rays can still penetrate the skin and cause harm.

• Stay indoors during the peak sun hours.

• Warm weather can dry out skin. Apply a moisturizing cream or lotion after bath time and before bed to keep skin hydrated.

Water safety

• Babies and small children can drown in just two inches of water. Keep a close eye on children around swimming pools, lakes, rivers, kiddie pools, and bathtubs and small containers of water like toilets, buckets, ice chests, or water tables. Make sure they stay covered, have a safety latch, or are kept out of reach.

• Children can be quick and slip away in an instant, so keep eyes on them at all times.

• Children can take swimming lessons as early as their first birthday. Other types of swimming lessons like Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) are an option for babies under 12 months. ISR lessons teach survival and self-rescue skills.

• Only swim in areas with a certified lifeguard.

• Never go into the ocean after dark..

Nutrition safety

• Keep your kids hydrated throughout the day by offering plenty of water to drink.