Summer Safety Guidelines from Childrens Mercy

This post is sponsored by Children’s Mercy. All views expressed are my own.

Did you know that as temperatures rise and kids head outdoors, emergency room visits can spike by over 20 percent across the nation? This surge is quite alarming but understandable. Children often need ER visits due to injuries resulting from falls, given that their bones are still developing and can be more susceptible to fractures. With this increase in injuries, Children’s Mercy of Kansas City offers valuable safety recommendations for parents.

Check Your Car Seat: Ensuring your child’s safety in a vehicle is paramount. To learn more about car seat safety, including proper installation (which is often done incorrectly in 90% of cases), contact Daina Hodges, the SafeKids Outreach Coordinator, at (785) 296-0351.

Be Prepared for Emergencies: Readiness is crucial in preventing accidental injuries in children. Maintain a fully stocked first aid kit and know its location. Essential supplies should include various sizes of adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, gauze rolls, adhesive tape, an ACE bandage, instant cold packs, dosage syringes, thermometers, tweezers, scissors, hand sanitizer, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, along with pain relievers, Benadryl, and antacids.

Make Your Home Safe: Children’s Mercy provides a detailed safety checklist to help identify potential hazards in your home. Are all smoke detectors functional? Is your water heater temperature set to 120 degrees? Are window dressing cords out of reach of young children? Take a moment to assess your home using this checklist; it’s a small investment in your family’s safety. For any “No” answers, take steps to rectify these hazards. Remember, every home is unique, and safety measures may vary. You can find the checklist here.

Understand Pool Safety: A swim in the pool offers a refreshing escape from the summer heat but can also pose risks if safety protocols aren’t followed. Common sense combined with swimming lessons can help prevent accidents. Check with local organizations like the Red Cross or YMCA for certified swimming classes. These lessons not only teach essential swimming skills but also how to react in emergencies. Always ensure children are aware of and follow the posted rules at swimming facilities, and remind them that floats should not be relied upon by non-swimmers. Every year, Children’s Mercy sees over 20 children for near-drowning incidents, some of whom sustain lasting injuries. A few precautions can help ensure that summer fun doesn’t become a tragedy.

For more helpful advice, visit ChildrensMercy.org and follow Children’s Mercy on Facebook and Twitter for additional parenting insights.