Be a water watcher. Whether your children are in a backyard swimming pool, at a community center or swimming in a lake, always watch them. Swimming pools are the most common site for drowning among children 4 and under. (Courtesy: PRNewsfoto/Spectrum Health)
(Brian Delpozo, Your Daily Dish) – It’s that time of year again — summer.
Every summer, approximately 2.7 million children in the U.S. ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms for accidental injuries. Injury prevention experts at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan say more children are accidentally injured during the summer months than any other time of year.
Injury Prevention Specialist Jennifer Hoekstra shared with Spectrum Health the following summer safety tips for families kicking off the season:
- Stay out of cold water. Favorite swimming spots can still be cold in early summer months. Temperatures fluctuate from day to day in many inland lakes. Resist the urge to swim until water temperatures rise above 70 degrees.
- Watch out for heat stroke. Know how to identify heat stroke. Limit your exposure to high temperatures and take breaks by going indoors to rest in air conditioning. Try finding a shady spot and be sure children have adequate rest and hydration after play.
