KEEPING YOUR CHILD SAFE OUTDOORS DURING

SUMMERPresentation prepared by Family First Pediatrics

SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND IF YOU’RE A KID THAT ONLY MEANS ONE THING –

SUMMER VACATION!

Despite the fun that comes with the sunny

weather, parents should keep in mind the

safety of their children during outdoors

activities, especially in the summertime.

Keeping your kids safe and healthy while

they enjoy summer fun is easy to do with a

few precautions in place.

PROTECT AGAINST SUNBURNS

It’s nice to get out and get some sun, but too

much sun can be harmful for young children. 

Just a few serious sunburns can increase your

child’s risk of skin cancer later in life. Their

skin needs protection from the sun’s harmful

ultraviolet (UV) rays whenever they’re

outdoors. 

TO AVOID SUNBURNS:

Cover up. Clothing that covers your child’s

skin helps protect against UV rays.

Use sunscreen with at least SPF (sun

protection factor) 15 and UVA (ultraviolet A)

and UVB (ultraviolet B) protection every time

your child goes outside.

STAY HYDRATED AND COOL

All those summer activities in the hot

summer sun can cause heat exhaustion. This

can appear as fatigue, extreme thirst, muscle

cramping, and in extreme cases, heatstroke –

which can potentially be fatal.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO YOUR CHILD:

Keep them hydrated by drinking lots of water.

Stay cool with cool showers or baths.

Schedule outdoor activities carefully. Avoid

outdoor activities during the hottest part of

the day and focus on the morning and

evening hours.

Dress them in loose, lightweight, light-

colored clothing.

SWIMMING SAFETY PRACTICES

Along with being a great source of exercise,

swimming is one of the most popular

recreational activities in the United States

and the most popular recreational activity for

children and teens. Sadly, each year, many

young children drown in swimming pools,

other bodies of water, and standing water

around the home. 

WHEN HAVING CHILDREN IN OR AROUND WATER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW A FEW

GUIDELINES:

Always supervise children when in or around water.

Take young children on bathroom breaks to prevent

exposing germs to other children in water.

Teach kids how to swim. Formal swimming lessons can

protect young children from drowning.

Choose a flotation device for your child, like a child-

size life vest.

Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Your CPR

skills could save your child’s life.

AVOID BUG BITES AND STINGS

The hot and humid weather in the summer

usually means bug are unavoidable. Biting

insects include mosquitoes, ticks, fleas,

chiggers, and biting flies. Stinging insects

include bees, hornets, and wasps. 

SOME TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR CHILD FROM BEING BITTEN OR STUNG

INCLUDE:

Choose an insect repellant for children.

Bees are attracted to flowers so don’t put

fragrances or floral-patterned clothing on

kids.

When outside, cover children with lightweight

clothing and use mosquito netting over

strollers and infant seats.

PLAY SAFE THIS SUMMER

Playgrounds are a common source of injury

for children during the summer.  Falls,

scrapes, and cuts can occur anytime so it is

important to supervise young children at all

times when outdoors.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH 

FAMILY FIRST PEDIATRICS ONLINE OR

CALL AT 407-335-4760 TO ENSURE YOUR

CHILD HAS A SAFE AND HEALTHY

SUMMER!