Summer Safety Tips

With the end of the school year in sight, we wanted to give you some friendly reminders for keeping your kids safe this summer. The Consumer Product Safety Commission tells us that between bike rides, barbecues, and swimming at the pool, summer is the time of year kids are most likely to be injured.

  Download Summer Safety PDF

Be Safe has prepared a list of tips that you can download as a PDF, print, and post on your home refrigerator or bulletin board. Note that we've also left a few blanks for you to discuss with your kids.  It's an easy way to get them involved and thinking about safety issues.

We've also put together some additional tips just for parents below.

Enjoy your summer, and Be Safe.

Summer Safety Tips for Parents

1. If you are a soccer mom or dad, beware that movable soccer goals can fall over and kill children. Also, check to be sure your goal wasn't recalled.
2. Never bring charcoal grills indoors. Burning charcoal produces deadly carbon monoxide.
3. Make sure your home playground is safe. Falls cause 60 percent of playground injuries, so having a safe surface is critical. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are too hard. Also look for dangerous branches hanging above the equipment.
4. Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of open windows. Guards should be installed in children's bedrooms, parents' bedrooms, and other rooms where young children spend time.
5. Despite what you may have heard, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that all children 12 and under ride in the back seat.
6. Never carry a child on a riding lawn mower.
7. Avoid inflatable swim aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and often give kids a false sense of security.
8. The Federal Pool & Spa Safety Act has imposed requirements on public pools to protect children from drain and suction injuries - but not private pools. Go to http://www.poolsafety.gov/families.html to make sure your private pool is safe too.

Summer Safety Tips for Kids

1. Wear a helmet when you ride your bike, skates, or skateboard.
2. Only one person on the trampoline at a time.
3. When you play hide-n-seek, never hide in a refrigerator or a place where you can become trapped.
4. Never go swimming without a life guard or grown up present.
5. If a ball goes into the street, ask a grown up for help.
6. Drink lots of water for those hot Summer days!
7. You should wear sun screen that’s at least 15 SPF, and apply it at least 30 minutes before going outside.

Learn more about the Be Safe campaign.