Summer Safety Tips!

As a parent and former EMS professional, safety is always on my mind. Here are a few tips for having a safe and fun summer.

The summer season is officially here. Children are on summer break, pools are open and the temperature is HOT! I think that it is time to review some safety tips.

Prevention is the first step to having a safe and fun summer break. Jamie always says that I am over cautious, but my mind works differently than most peoples. I am always in prevention mode.

1. Children need to wear helmets when riding bikes. Bike accidents are very common for children. Protect their melon and slap on a few elbow pads and knee pads while you are at it.
2. No matter what age your child is make sure that you tell them the rules when around a pool or body of water. Be aware of your surroundings. Know where your children are and where the hazards might be.
3. If your child is swimming always swim with them or make sure that you can see them. DO NOT SWIM ALONE!
4. Sunscreen is very important for all ages. We don't want our children to be miserable because they have a sunburn.
5. Take a CPR class. CPR can be taught to anyone. I have taught several children CPR and most of the time they pay more attention and retain more information than the adults. CPR saves lives. Be ready for anything.
6. Do not spend extended periods of time in the heat. Stay hydrated and cool. Heat emergencies can be avoided by limiting time in extreme temperatures. Drink a lot of water.

Keep your children safe, have fun and enjoy the season. Let me know if you can think of any other ideas to keep us safe.

Please submit links in the comments to fun summer activities in your area.