Safety Tips for a Fun Family Summer

There are so many things to love about summer when raising a family. There are barbacues and weekend festivals and late night baseball games and vacations to the beach, to the cabin, to the woods. There are swimming pools and water parks and night hikes.

With all this fun, however, comes responsibilities and precautions. In order to stay safe, sunburn free and have a great time, what are the most important safety rules to remember? Check out this list to see if your family is prepared to stay injury free this summer.

• Dog Safety - More children are bit by dogs in summertime than any other time during the year. The cause of this fact is unknown, but possibly it's because they spend more time outside playing around dogs, and dogs can be grumpy when the temperature rises. Remind your children to be ask permission to pet the dog, be gentle with and approach them slowly.

• Water Safety- Checking for adequate pool safety equipment is a must. This list includes pool fences, child saftey latches, and rescue equipment. Remember that floaties and noodles are NOT safety devices and of course, never ever leave your child alone in a body of water. If on a beach, watch for the undertow and large waves.

• Insect Safety - Avoiding overly pungent soaps or perfumes, keeping your children away from potential nest areas and using bug repellent with DEET are all good ways to avoid dangerous bug bites.

• Sun Safety - This one is a given. Review article for proper sunscreen type and use and be sure to use generously 15 minutes to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure.

• Biking, skating and scooting safety - Less than half of the states in the U.S. enforce a helmet law for kids so this is where “parenting laws” can really be important. Insist that your children under the age of 18 wear a helmet when riding a bike, a scooter or skateboard. Don’t forget to add elbow and knee guards to your little skater’s ensemble.

• Playground Safety - Be sure that your children are playing on age appropriate equipment. In addition, check all slides and swings before letting the kids go free, summertime heat can make play structures hot and can burn little legs in shorts. Trampolines need extra supervision, as kids can be bounced off, leading to sprained muscles and broken bones.

For a more detailed information about summertime safety, visit The Baby Center and review this extensive list.