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by Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D.
Special to Tropical Breeze
Recently we were sharing ideas about good
planning for summer — emphasizing various activities parents
have found particularly rewarding and fun for their children, for
their whole family. It’s not too late to list a few safety
tips that can make secure summer activities on behalf of children
of all ages. Here is such a list parents can check to determine
special ways to keep their children safe!
1. Weather: There are numerous parents who
have found out the hard way that summer weather has a great effect
on younger folks. It’s not likely that parents will let
children play outside during a lightning storm. It is likely that
glorious sunny days seem perfect ones for kids to play outside.
We’re not just talking about going to the beach —
it’s sand lot ball, outdoor play equipment, just running
around — in which they go out into seriously damaging sun
rays. Most of us — and I’ve been a swim instructor for
years — didn’t reasonably think that a tan or a sunburn
— could ruin the future, maybe kill us. As a result we were
out to get early tans. Today’s the same. Yet, if anyone has
actually seen someone dying of malignant melanoma or who has had to
have basal or squamous growths taken off their face surgically,
they should make sure that their children are only outdoors with
sun block, hats, and exposed as little as possible, maybe not out
at all between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.! Yet well-meaning swim programs
definitely expose enrolled youngsters to sun during that period of
time. Spoilsport here? No way. Lots of other fun is available in
summer. Just remember that blonde, light-skinned,blue-eyed children
are most hugely at risk for sunburn which now causes skin damage,
then over the years, affects both appearance and health!
2. Heat: It’s hard to imagine how
quickly a closed-up car on a summer day can be an oven for a child
left alone in it — even for a few minutes! Not only is the
law clamping down on parents who do this to their youngster, but
every summer week some U.S. child suffers an agonizing death,
literally baked to death. Make sure all those who drive your
children when stopping, take the time to take children with them
— again — even for a few minutes.
3. Overtiring: Compared to us grown-ups,
it almost seems impossible A short rest — without requiring
sleep — is a good idea for children in summer. Young children
can overdo it. Wait! Babies tell us they’re tired by just
falling asleep whenever they please. Camp programs usually have a
nap or rest time after lunch This respite gets kids out of the sun
and allows their fast growth a chance to proceed. However, they
won’t usually take the time-out on their own. Parents and
caregivers must plan to call them in, calm and cool them down.
4. Water: Remember that all of us need to
keep hydrated. Children will probably not take a bottle of water
along if parents do not, if parents do not also practice drinking
water throughout the day, nor hand a bottle to each child. Modeling
here serves everyone!
5. Review Outside behavior: Of course,
this review requires that parents tell children about bad guys to
the extent that youngsters know to run and holler should a stranger
approach them. It’s also true that supervision from inside
the house has limits — especially for close observation. Make
sure children understand your extended supervisory role. Make sure
they see the parent outside too from time to time. It will not hurt
to review the traffic situation. During the school year many
students never had time to run into the street, say to retrieve a
ball. Now days are longer and kids playing together are often
distracted. A practice session is good for everyone. Set limits as
to where children can go on their own and make sure they do what
you’ve said, where to go or not — such as telling you
before leaving.
6. Equipment: Summer often brings all
kinds of new experiences and often new equipment such as a swing
set, balls of various kinds, a small pool, hoses and garden tools.
Even if a certain item is usually not just given to a young person,
do not be surprised to see a child try to use something without any
instruction or safety equipment in place. These self trials can be
quite harmless. However, even if a first try on a swing or monkey
bars went well, run-throughs with parents prior to first use helps
ensure safer fun. It encourages children to learn safety
directions. At parks I’ve seen children who were hurt by
dropping off bars or falling off a moving turning wheel. They did
not seem to know any precautions parent could have pointed out.
Note that even a shallow, wading-type pool poses a threat —
such an entertainment can be deadly. Parents should be sure to
empty the wading pool immediately after use and also put away any
hoses which could be used to refill the pool, perhaps when a parent
goes away — for a minute. Though the pool is less than a foot
deep, supervision must be continuous. If parents while right there
at pint-sized poolside are inattentive — say using their cell
phones — yet again, for just a few minutes — children
are endangered.
Being effective child safety officers in
your home proves how much your family matters.
© 2007 Rosemary Lee Potter. All
Rights Reserved.
Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D., has been a
teacher since 1960, including 21 years at Safety Harbor Middle
School, and is now a reading teacher at Carwise Middle School, Palm
Harbor. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by mail in care
of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.
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