Summer is a fun season for the whole family. It means outdoor time! There are so many activities to do and so many places that you could visit. Whether you are planning to go hiking and camping overnight in the woods, or go sunbathing at the beach, it is important to observe the appropriate safety measures.
Apart from the safety precautions that we need to observe while in the height of the pandemic, here are other safety tips for the whole family to enjoy summer.
- Protect your family from the sun and heat
Summer can get extremely hot. Before going outside, make sure your whole family is protected against the scorching heat of the sun. Apply sunscreen with SPF30 or above at least 20 minutes before going out. Then reapply every two hours, especially if you and your kids are swimming and/or sweating. Make sure to limit your sun exposure too, especially between the hours of 10AM to 4PM when the sun is at its hottest. Also, make sure to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day by drinking lots of water.
- Be prepared for the great outdoors
The outdoors offers a lot of activities for people of all ages. Always keep a first aid kit at hand whenever you spend time outside. Your first aid kit should include a bug and mosquito repellent, bee sting or tick remover, and standard bandages and wraps. Avoid areas where wild animals and snakes congregate. Grilling is another activity to enjoy on summer nights. When grilling, make sure to position the grill away from play areas and objects that can easily catch fire. The temperature is typically hotter during summer so any conductors of heat will catch fire easily.
- Be safe around the water
No summer getaway is complete without swimming in the ocean, lake or pool. Do not leave your kids to play by themselves in any body of water. Drowning is one of the main causes of accidental deaths in children under 5 years old, especially during the summer.
- Never leave your child unattended
Vehicles heat up very quickly, and that heat can be fatal to young children. Children are at a higher risk than adults of dying from heatstroke in a vehicle because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults’. Children who are too young to communicate or open car doors are at particularly high risk from heatstroke in a vehicle. It is never safe to leave a child or children alone in a vehicle.