How to Avoid Summer Injuries

lawnmowerDid you know that emergency room visits jump 20 percent every summer? Almost half of the unintentional deaths from children under the age of 14 occur during the 3 months of summer. As a single mom that worked full-time, I was always worried about keeping my girls safe while they had time off in the summer months.  

Here are some of the common summer injuries and how you can prevent them:

  1. Children often fall out of windows during the summer months. Screens are meant to pop out for fire safety and are not meant to keep children inside. Always supervise your children around windows and keep windows closed upstairs.
  2. People often get burned in the summer months from fire pits that burn very hot. Make sure everyone treats the fire pit like any camp fire. Remember the fire pit remains hot long after the fire is out.
  3. Lawn mowers often cause a variety of injuries in the summer. Make sure to wear tight-fitting shoes and do not operate the lawn mower after dusk when it is difficult to see.
  4. Swimming often causes a variety of summer injuries especially when the water is cold and moving swiftly. Every swimmer should know their limits. It is best for children to swim only where there is a lifeguard on duty.
  5. Boaters should exercise boat safety. Wear life jackets and observe all the proper boating rules.
  6. When driving, make sure everyone wears their seat belt and children are in the appropriate car seats.  
  7. Young drivers are especially at risk in the summer. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for U.S. teens. Make sure that young drivers practice a lot with an adult. Also, all young drivers should avoid having passengers which may distract them.

What are you doing to prevent summer injuries for you and your family? I’d love to hear from you!

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