With school out for the summer, beautiful weather, and longer days, there’s no better time for your child to be active. Participating in a summer sports league, playing informal games with other local kids, and even running around on the playground are all fun activities that are great for your child’s health.
While your child is active this summer, pediatric care providers Rainilda Valencia, MD, and Deepika Saini, MD, FAAP, from Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California, advise you to help them take precautions to prevent injuries and other medical problems.
Following are seven tips to keep your child safe this summer.
Being outside in the fresh air is an invigorating and positive experience for nearly all children. However, it’s important to put basic measures in place that promote safety while they have fun.
When your child is active outside this summer, we recommend they do the following:
Summer is the hottest time of year, and not drinking enough water puts your child at greater risk for dehydration and heat stroke. Make sure they carry enough water for their activity and drink it regularly.
Ensure your child also has ample opportunities to cool down regularly in the shade or air conditioning while they play.
Summer sun feels delightful, but too much puts your child at risk for painful sunburns and skin cancer. Have your child wear water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 30 and reapply regularly.
Keep in mind that sunscreen needs to be reapplied more often when your child sweats or is in the water. You can also keep your child's skin healthy by staying in the shade as much as possible during the sunniest part of the day, 10 am-4 pm.
Your child needs to stay powered up for sports by eating plenty of healthy foods that keep their energy level up. Pack snacks like fresh fruit, nuts, and crackers or pita chips with cheese and hummus.
There are more bugs out during the summer, upping the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, bees, and ticks. If your child is over two months old, they should wear DEET bug spray of no more than 30% concentration when they go outdoors.
If your child plays or hikes in wooded areas or places with tall grass, cover their arms with lightweight clothing and check for bites regularly. If your child has a severe bug allergy, they should always carry and know how to use their EpiPen®.
Drowning is a real risk for children of all ages when playing in the water, even if they’re strong swimmers. Children of all ages need to always be supervised when they go into a body of water, and adults need to be next to young children in water at all times.
Children can also pick up infections in the water, so only let them swim in pools and other bodies of water tested to be clean and safe. Children with open wounds should wait until they’re healed to go into the water.
Consider enrolling your child and entire family in swimming lessons to learn age-appropriate water safety.
Playgrounds are great fun, but unsafe equipment can lead to injuries. Choose a playground for your child with age-appropriate activities.
Before they play, check the equipment to make sure it’s stable, clean, and not overheated. Always watch your child, and have them wear sturdy socks and shoes at all times.
Head injuries are a devastating and often preventable accident that can happen during certain summer activities. If your child enjoys cycling, rollerblading, or summer contact sports, wearing a properly fitted helmet every time they play could save their life.
By taking precautions appropriate for your child’s age, interests, and individual health needs, they can have a fun, safe, and active summer. Contact us if you need any pediatric care assistance or advice this summer.
