The summer months are the most conducive to child accidents: It is shown that in June, July and August there is a greater number and severity of injuries due to accidents, and we are not only referring to falls, which take many children to the hospital.
In addition, if you have children between one and four years is when you should be more attentive, since children who are included in this age range are the most exposed to the risks. Anyway, all parents and caregivers must be attentive and today we are going to focus on the different childhood accidents in summer and how to prevent them.
There are several safety tips that we must take into account during any time of the year, but in summer with school vacations, the day that lengthens, the most frequent departures from home, trips ... there may be more risks. Let's see each one of them.
Drowning every day
In just 20 seconds a child's drowning can occur, and practically every summer day the news speaks of such accidents on beaches or swimming pools. Therefore it is important not stop watching children at all times, bathe with them even if they are older and follow the basic safety standards.
It is convenient to initiate children as soon as possible in the world of swimming so that they gain confidence with the environment, learn to float and breathe; appropriate life jackets or floats must be put on (well-secured vests to the body or polyurethane floats attached to the waist) with our supervision, avoid heat stroke or digestion cut ...
On the beach, fun and safety
In addition to the basic safety tips to prevent drowning in beaches, rivers, lakes or swimming pools, there are some other aspects to consider to be safe on the beaches and prevent accidents. Follow the indications of the first aid stations, avoiding the bathroom if there is a red flag, if there are waves, currents, risk of jellyfish stings ...
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and maintain good hydration throughout the family. Do not lose sight of children: in many beaches there are crowds and it is easy to get lost and lost.
A safe pool
There are certain precautions to keep in mind if we go to the pools with children. In the pool we also have to prevent drowning and sunburn, as well as heat stroke or digestion cut. In addition, for a safe swim in the pool we must take into account that children cannot run nearby or practice reckless behavior.
Sun protection, essential
Special mention deserves this section to which we have already referred to in the previous points. Sun exposure can cause sunburn, heat stroke or heat stroke, so we should protect children from the sun (physical barriers and sun creams), in addition to avoiding the central hours of the day in the sun, staying as fresh as possible, being well hydrated ... These basic tips will prevent from burns to falls, fainting ...
Eye to poisoning
To prevent poisoning, it is necessary to maximize care in food handling and ensure that the food is in good condition and high temperatures or poor preservation have not affected its quality.
It is very important to wash your hands well, avoid eating raw foods (except well washed fruits and vegetables, of course), homemade mayonnaise, water of uncontrolled origin (beware of exotic holiday destinations) ...
In the field, control the ingestion of seeds or fruits of poisonous plants, that ornamental flowers, piles, medications or toxic products (special attention to rental apartments) are not available to the little ones who try everything ...
Physical activity and healthy sports
The practice of water sports is more frequent at this time, but it has to be carried out with total safety, in the same way as any other sport. Many children learn to swim on vacation, but remember to watch them at all times, in the sea or the pool, so that the bathroom is safe.
Do not forget items such as lifeguards (vests in the case of surfing or if we go away by boat ...), helmets, protectors for "land" sports ... Remember that heat is an excuse not to wear the helmet if it is going to be done bicycle or skating.
Blows, falls and bruises
This section is related to the previous one. As we saw recently, falls are more frequent in summer and we must be attentive, because sometimes the "freedom" that is associated with free time, the greatest movement, exercises, games ... can be accompanied by some scare if we are not attentive .
Do not lose sight of children and avoid reckless actions, as well as exposure to unnecessary risks if they are too small to understand the danger.
Inspect the new environments you go on vacation. Check that the terraces or balconies of the hotel or apartment you are going to are safe and do not leave children alone in them. Be careful also to the new stairs to which the child is not accustomed, to the sockets without protection ...
Bites
Avoid bathing in the sea if there is a risk of jellyfish and if this or another marine animal produces a sting, puncture or any other injury, go to the lifeguard center.
Bites become another problem that affects children most during the summer, with mosquitoes in the lead (although these do not involve great danger). The best way to prevent bites is to apply insect repellent lotions suitable for children.
We are more concerned with other poisonous insects (attention to excursions in the countryside or to certain visits to exotic destinations), arachnids and the dreaded jellyfish.
Travel safe
In summer it is when more displacements occur and many of them are by car. In our vehicles, we must use the child restraint system well, that these are homologated and appropriate to the age and size of the child ... In addition, sufficient breaks must be made if the trip is long (every two hours) and of course, Logically, follow traffic rules at all times.
Other mistakes that are commonly made and that endanger children in vehicles are: putting them in the front seats, placing the rear-facing car seat in the passenger seat protected by a front airbag, unless it is deactivated, leave loose objects in the car, have the doors open ...
Finally, it must be remembered that there are also traffic accidents by bicycle, so we will avoid complicated or heavy traffic sections and we will be well protected. The abuses are other accidents related to the roads: it avoids that the small ones play next to them.
In short, you should follow these safety tips to prevent childhood accidents in summer, because we want it to be an unforgettable and happy time, to be remembered with love and without scares or visits to the medicine cabinet or hospital. Happy Holidays!
Photos | Thinkstock
In Babies and more | We can all make mistakes, this summer let's not let our guard down with our children, More safety tips for a summer with children, Accidents in the Spanish child population, don't we have something to do with parents?
