Seasonal safety

We all enjoy the seasons – all year long. Whether you’re having fun in the sun or enjoying holidays such as the Fourth of July, you can celebrate while making each occasion safe for your whole family.

We’ve put together some simple seasonal safety guidelines to help you keep everyone from harm – especially the kids.

Swimming and water safety

Accidental drowning is perhaps one of the most preventable causes of death in children ages 1-14, with most incidents occurring right in our backyards.

Pool safety tips

Allow your child to swim in public pools only when lifeguards are on duty. An adult should always supervise at home.

• Install a fence that has four sides and is four feet high.
• Keep toys away from your pool when not in use.
• Don't rely solely on personal flotation devices (wings, pool noodles, etc.) to help protect your child from drowning.
• Don't allow your child to dive in water less than 9 feet deep – or at all if they don't know how to do it safely.
• Learn CPR and infant and child first-aid.

Water safety rules

Water safety is particularly important in watercraft and around lakes, public beaches or near the ocean.

• Be aware of weather conditions.
• Don't underestimate bad weather or the power of dangerous waves and currents.
• Be aware of and obey all signs and flags at the beach.
• Always put a child in a life jacket while boating, even if they know how to swim.

Safety in the sun

The sun may feel good and be a great source of vitamin D, but long and unprotected exposure to its UV rays risk skin and eye damage as well as immune system suppression and skin cancer.

Visit the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information.

Sun safety tips

• Limit time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.
• Purchase sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.
• Take note that both water and snow reflect the sun’s UV rays.

Sunscreen tips

The sun can be fun, and you’ll safely enjoy it when you use sunscreen and follow these tips:

• Buy a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30. SPF stands for sun protection factor.
• Make sure your sunscreen says, “broad spectrum." That means it protects against both types of the sun's UV rays (UVA and UVB).
• Use water-resistant sunscreen when swimming or playing.
• Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun.
• Reapply sunscreen every 40 to 80 minutes for maximum protection.
• Do not forget about protecting your child’s face and lips with sunscreen and protective lip balm.
• Use sunscreen even in overcast weather. The sun’s UV rays can penetrate through clouds.

Caution around fireworks

Fireworks can be fun around the 4^th, but we don’t advise handling them under any circumstances. Here’s why: Accidents associated with fireworks, primarily personal unsupervised displays, account for thousands of firework-related injuries in emergency departments across the country.

Safer alternatives to fireworks

There’s plenty of things besides fireworks you and your family can celebrate with during the Fourth of July including:

• Glow sticks
• Bubbles
• Confetti
• Silly String
• Noisemakers