Safety and Health Tips for Summer

CEBU, Philippines — Young people look forward to summer with great anticipation. It is, for them, a time of fun. And what plenty of such time there is!

With small kids especially, summer is a time to enjoy different indoor and outdoor activities. The summer fun, however, has accompanying risks. Therefore, parents must see to it that their kids, whether small children or teenagers, learn ways to keep safe and healthy while enjoying the sunny days.

Wherever the young ones choose to spend their time – at the beach, in the playground, anywhere else outdoors or even around the house – they should always be safety- and health-conscious. The website www.cdc.gov cites certain areas to cover:

Safety In and Around Water

Water-related activities are popular and have many health benefits. To stay safe while having fun in the water, the following tips will help:

• Be conscious of the risk of drowning, and learn how to prevent it as well as other recreational water risks and illnesses.

• Always supervise children when in or around water. Small kids aged 1 to 4 are statistically easy victims of drowning. A responsible adult should constantly watch young children in and around water.

• Teach kids to swim. Formal swimming lessons can help protect young children from drowning.

• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); the skill could save someone’s life.

• Install a four-sided fence around home swimming pools.

• When going recreational boating, everyone should wear a properly fitted life jacket. Boating safety should be top priority.

Beat the Heat

The soaring summer temperatures can bring on heat-related illnesses. Infants and children up to 4 years of age are at greatest risk. Even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities in hot weather. For heat-related illnesses, the best defense is prevention.

• Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are open.

• Dress in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, especiallyinfants and children.

• Schedule outdoor activities carefully, for morning and evening hours.

• Cool down with cool showers or baths.

• Avoid sunburns, as these can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life; use sunscreen with at least SPF 30and wear clothing that covers the skin when spending time outside.

• Seek medical care immediately in case of symptoms of heat-related illness.

Keep Bugs at Bay

Protect yourself and your family by preventing bites and diseases, like Zika, West Nile virus and Lyme disease, which can be transmitted by insects.

• Use an effective insect repellent while outdoors.

• Make your backyard a tick-safe.

• Check yourself and your children for ticks. Ticks are easy to remove.

Prevent Injuries

Each year, emergency units are busy treatingthousands of children ages 14 and younger for play-related injuries. Falls at home and on the playground are the common causes.

• Check to make sure that the surfaces under playground equipment are safe, soft, and well-maintained.

• Supervise young children at all times around fall hazards, such as stairs and playground equipment.

• Use stair gates, which can help keep a busy, active child from taking a dangerous tumble.

• Learn about concussion signs and symptoms, and what to do if a concussion occurs.A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally works. It can occur in any sport or recreation activity.

• Make sure kids and teens wear the right protective equipment for their sport or recreation activity.

Safety at Home

Family members shall learn ways to promote health and safety at home. Parents shall take the lead. Everyone, including small children, shall learn proper habits to prevent accidents at home and what to do if an accident occurs.

Knowledge in fire prevention, microwave use, and living with pets shall be instilled in everyone. It shall also be part of the home culture to keep the surroundings tidy and clean. And habits like safe social media engagements by teenagers – who have plenty of time for that this summer – shall be part of the home’s safety plan.