Make This A Safer Summer For Your Child

Patti N. Laird is president of
Safer Kids And Homes, Inc.,
8843 S.W. 132nd Street, Miami, FL 33176.
For more information and free safety checklists, please stop by the store, call 305-854-KIDS or visit www.SaferKidsAndHomes.com.


Summer is fast approaching, a time when your children will be spending more time outdoors and in or around the water. Here in South Florida, water safety and sun protection need to be year-round concerns.
During the summer, however – with children out of school and engaged in more outdoor activities – you have to be even more vigilant. Here are some important sun and water safety tips to keep in mind this summer… and all year long.

Sun Safety
Skin cancer in both children and adults is on the rise, especially in Florida, but it can be prevented by following the American Academy of Dermatology’s ABC’s of Sun Protection.

The ABC’s Of Sun Protection

1. Away – Stay away from the sun in the middle of the day.
2. Block – Use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.
3. Cover Up – Wear sun protective clothing, sunglasses and a hat.

Remember, just one bad sunburn as a child can dramatically increase your chances of developing skin cancer later in life. So make sure you’re doing everything you can now to keep your child from getting too much sun exposure.

Water Safety
In South Florida, drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of five. Yet, with proper knowledge, supervision and layers of protection, it is entirely preventable.
Teaching children to swim is valuable, yet not enough to prevent tragedies. Consider the following statistic: 75 percent of young drowning victims were in backyard swimming pools or other "friendly" bodies of water. They typically were under the supervision of one or both parents at the time, they were missing less than 10 minutes, and they were not expected to be in the pool area.

Prevent Drowning’s With Three Layers of Protection:

1. Adult Supervision: The first layer of protection to prevent drowning is constant and proper adult supervision. Do not rely on other children for supervision, or adults distracted by visitors, phone calls or other activities.
2. Door Devices: The second layer of protection is at the doors of your house. Child safety devices, high locks, or alarms should always be used on any doors leading to a pool, spa, pond or any other body of water.
3. Pool Fence: The third layer of protection – in addition to door devices – must be a barrier that completely surrounds the pool or spa, such as a 4-foot-high mesh pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
   

Sometimes, an installed pool alarm that extends down into the water can provide an additional layer of protection, but NOT as a substitute for all three primary layers detailed above.

Lastly, everyone who supervises children needs to know how to perform CPR, a skill that should be practiced regularly. In addition to the initial CPR classes available at most local hospitals, there are now good home training mannequins that parents and caregivers can practice on regularly. One is the CPR Teddy that provides vocal feedback on pressure and technique as you are practicing.
Whether you’re at home or away on vacation, indoors or outside, remember to follow these simple but important steps for sun and water safety.
Have a great – and safer – summer!