Summer Safety Tips by CHOA

Now that kids are out of school and everyone is headed outdoors to enjoy the weather, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is passing along Summer Safety Tips to promote water, play, sun and skin, heat and fireworks safety.

“Unintentional Injuries are the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14,” said James Fortenberry, M.D., Pediatrician-in-Chief, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Kids can’t wait for summer. However, along with school vacation, warm weather and outdoor sports comes an extra dose of responsibility for parents.”

Children’s has created a special section of its website dedicated to summer safety awareness. Parents can visit choa.org/summersafety to educate themselves and their children on ways to have a safe and healthy summer. The tips include:

·         Water Safety – Drowning takes the lives of nearly 900 kids each year. Practicing water safety including boat, pool, swimming, life jacket and general water safety can help prevent this.  Children playing in smaller bodies of water, such as wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, spas and hot tubs should also be supervised.

·         Play & Travel Safety – The season for extended daylight and outdoor activity is also the season for broken bones and accidental injuries. Being aware of playground, ATV, helmet, bike and summer equipment safety can prevent injuries.  The summer season brings more time outside and on the road. Keep your family safe by practicing safe play and travel tips like following road rules on a bike or properly buckling your children while in the car.

·         Sun and Skin Safety – Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that can spread rapidly to different parts of the body, accounts for up to three percent of pediatric cancer. Protect your kids by taking measures to prevent sunburn, and know the effects of excessive sun exposure.

·         Heat Safety – Each year, young athletes and children die from heat-related illness, which is completely preventable. Learn ways to prevent heat illness, keep kids hydrated on and off the field, and understand how to protect babies and young children from the heat.  All athletes, coaches and parents need to take precautions during hot weather to ensure that their children are playing safely. The severity of heat injury ranges from mild heat cramps to heat stroke and even death. But there is one important fact to remember — heat-related illness is preventable.

·         Fireworks Safety – When it comes to fireworks safety, stick to the professionals and keep kids away. Doing so can prevent burns, the most common fireworks injury.  The parts of the body most often injured by fireworks are hands and fingers (46 percent); eyes (17 percent); head, face, and ears (17 percent); and legs (11 percent).

“Summer shouldn’t be a scary time, but it also shouldn’t be spent in the hospital,” said Dr. Fortenberry.  “By taking a few extra measures, parents can make sure that their kids have a healthy and safe summer.”

For more detailed information about Children’s summer safety tips, please click on the links above.  Thank you to Children’s for tips on how to keep us safe this summer!!!

About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Our specialized care helps children get better faster and live healthier lives. Managing more than 850,000 patient visits annually at three hospitals and 24 neighborhood locations, Children’s is the largest healthcare provider for children in Georgia and one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s has impacted the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information.