Published: Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Summer safety tips for families
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Herald file photo
Tim Durbin helps his kids, 4-year-old twins Riley and Lexi, with loaner life jackets at the Martha Lake swimming beach in 2007.
Summer is the time to splash in the Pacific Northwest’s many rivers and lakes, hunt for seashells on Puget Sound shores and throw birthday parties in neighborhood parks.
It’s also the time to keep an eye on young children and make sure they are safe as they enjoy all that summer has to offer.
Public safety officials are reminding families to be cautious as they savor the warm weather with little ones.
One of the pitfalls is an open window in a home with a toddler.
“Almost every year we have at least one child who falls out of a window, usually toddler age,” said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1, which covers parts of South Snohomish County. “Parents need to be aware that window screens aren’t designed to keep the kids in; they are designed to keep the bugs out.”
Screens can’t support a child’s weight, Hynes said. Parents should keep furniture away from windows. Window guards and locks also do the job and can be bought at hardware stores.
There are many more things to keep in mind with small children during the summer. Here are some tips from Snohomish County Fire District 1, Safe Kids USA and the American Red Cross:
Water
• Never leave children alone in or near water. Have adults take turns supervising the kids during family events.
• Backyard pools need to have a secured fence on all sides that’s at least four feet high and can be latched.
• Ponds, large buckets and wading pools are water hazards for small children.
• Children and adults should wear life jackets for boating and swimming in lakes, rivers or the ocean. Young children also need to wear life jackets when playing near deep or moving water.
• Floating toys and mattresses won’t keep children safe in water. Only life jackets will.
Sun
• Don’t let children stay in the sun too long. The sun is especially strong between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make sure your child wears a hat.
• In case of sunburn, it may take several days for the skin to heal. Keep the burned area moisturized with aloe vera or another lotion. You can use cool compresses or take over-the-counter medicine to relieve pain.
• On hot days, limit your family’s outdoor activity to mornings and evenings and remember to stay hydrated.
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
Insect bites
• Avoid using repellent on children younger than 2 months old.
• Don’t spray repellent directly into your child’s face. Spray some on your hand and rub it on the child’s skin. Avoid the areas around eyes and mouth.
• Don’t put repellent on cuts and scratches.
For more safety information, go to http://safekids.org.
It’s also the time to keep an eye on young children and make sure they are safe as they enjoy all that summer has to offer.
Public safety officials are reminding families to be cautious as they savor the warm weather with little ones.
One of the pitfalls is an open window in a home with a toddler.
“Almost every year we have at least one child who falls out of a window, usually toddler age,” said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1, which covers parts of South Snohomish County. “Parents need to be aware that window screens aren’t designed to keep the kids in; they are designed to keep the bugs out.”
Screens can’t support a child’s weight, Hynes said. Parents should keep furniture away from windows. Window guards and locks also do the job and can be bought at hardware stores.
There are many more things to keep in mind with small children during the summer. Here are some tips from Snohomish County Fire District 1, Safe Kids USA and the American Red Cross:
Water
• Never leave children alone in or near water. Have adults take turns supervising the kids during family events.
• Backyard pools need to have a secured fence on all sides that’s at least four feet high and can be latched.
• Ponds, large buckets and wading pools are water hazards for small children.
• Children and adults should wear life jackets for boating and swimming in lakes, rivers or the ocean. Young children also need to wear life jackets when playing near deep or moving water.
• Floating toys and mattresses won’t keep children safe in water. Only life jackets will.
Sun
• Don’t let children stay in the sun too long. The sun is especially strong between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make sure your child wears a hat.
• In case of sunburn, it may take several days for the skin to heal. Keep the burned area moisturized with aloe vera or another lotion. You can use cool compresses or take over-the-counter medicine to relieve pain.
• On hot days, limit your family’s outdoor activity to mornings and evenings and remember to stay hydrated.
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
Insect bites
• Avoid using repellent on children younger than 2 months old.
• Don’t spray repellent directly into your child’s face. Spray some on your hand and rub it on the child’s skin. Avoid the areas around eyes and mouth.
• Don’t put repellent on cuts and scratches.
For more safety information, go to http://safekids.org.