Keep Your Family Safe During Summer

With the summer comes outdoor activities that can put your children at risk for injuries and sickness. Orthopedics in Oklahoma City sees large numbers of children during the summer months due to broken bones. Emergency rooms throughout Oklahoma see larger numbers of children in the summer with heat related issues. Keep your children out of harm’s way this summer by following the following safety tips.

Swim Attended

Your children should never swim unattended. Make sure that they’re supervised in and around the water. Even if there is a lifeguard on duty, make sure that you’re keeping an eye on your child. Many drownings are reported each year, and you can prevent it from happening to your family by keeping a watchful eye on your children when in and near water.

Helmets are a Must

Make sure that your child wears a properly fitted helmet when riding skateboards, bikes, scooters, and roller skates. A fall without a helmet can result in severe brain injuries, so make it a rule in your family that helmets must be worn at all times. Here’s a helpful tip: take some time with your kids this summer to personalize your children’s helmets by painting them and adding their favorite stickers, so your children are excited and look forward to wearing them.

Pads for Protection

To prevent any broken arms or legs, wearing protective elbow and kneepads is a good idea when riding bikes, scooters, and rollerblades. They add extra protection to your children’s limbs and prevent trips to the doctor or emergency room. Orthopedics in Oklahoma City treat record numbers of children in the summer due to a lack of protective gear.

Hydrate

If children are outside playing in the hot sun, make sure that they’re staying hydrated. Keep sugary drinks away from your children while playing and replace them with flavored water and Gatorade type drinks. Many children are taken to the emergency room each summer for heat-related issues. You can protect your child from these issues by pumping them with water throughout the summer.

Automobiles are a Major Concern

Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle. With the temperatures in Oklahoma regularly reaching 100 + degrees, cars can reach deadly temperatures inside. Make sure that when your children are outside playing, they’re not playing in your vehicle. Keep your vehicle locked at all times so children cannot enter them. This rule also applies to your “furbabies.” If you wouldn’t leave your child in a car during summer, why would you leave your pet there?

By following these steps, you can ensure a safe, healthy summer with your children.