Top Summer Safety Tips (+Giveaway!)

We're getting summer ready with an extra special Wellness 101! The doctors from 3MD | THREE MOMMY DOCTORS™ are here to share some top summer safety tips to help you prepare for fun in the sun. Check out their advice below, then head to the bottom of the post to enter for a chance to win a prize package of summer essentials! (We've got THREE sets we can't wait to give away.)

Summer is right around the corner and warmer weather means more time outdoors and in the water. Playing at the beach, by a lake or in a pool can be a real treat on a hot day. Following simple water and sun safety tips can help prevent injuries and ensure some summertime fun.

WATER SAFTEY

Swimming is a standard activity in the summer, but drowning is a real risk. Even children who know how to swim are in danger of drowning. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old, and is the third leading cause of injury-related death among children 19 and under. And of these, most drownings occur in home swimming pools.

Top 10 Water Safety Tips

1. Never leave a child unattended around water. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
2. Put your phone and other distractions aside. Give young children 100% of your attention when they are near or around water.
3. Empty all kiddie pools, tubs, buckets and containers immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach.
4. Teach children basic water safety tips. Don’t rely on life preservers, flotation devices, or other equipment to make a child “water safe.”
5. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.
6. Never prop the gate to a pool area open.
7. While at the beach, swim only in lifeguard-protected designated swim areas, and check local weather conditions.
8. Protect the neck. Do not dive in headfirst if unclear of water depth.
9. Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) - every second counts, and in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life.
10. Keep a first aid kit poolside or easily accessible when traveling.

SUN SAFETY

Although sun exposure is an important source of vitamin D, repeated unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin, eye and immune system damage, and can lead to potential skin cancer. Most kids get much of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it's important for parents to teach them how to enjoy the sun safely. Taking the right precautions early on can greatly reduce your child's chance of developing skin cancer.

Top 7 Sun Safety Tips

1. Make sure your sunscreen has both UVA and UVB protection, usually labeled as “broad-spectrum.”
2. Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, which helps prevent sunburn and tanning.
3. Apply sunscreen to dry skin at least 15 minutes BEFORE going outdoors, and reapply every two hours or earlier if swimming/sweating.
4. Apply sunscreen generously. Dermatologists recommend using 1 ounce (enough to fill a shot glass or roughly the size of a golf ball) to cover the exposed areas of the body.
5. Avoid using sunscreen on babies less than 6 months old. Ideally, parents should avoid exposing babies younger than 6 months to the sun’s rays.
6. Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun is strongest between 10 AM and 2 PM. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
7. Throw out any sunscreen older than two years old, or if the expiration date has passed.

Summer is a season for outdoor activities and recreation. However, child and family safety needs to remain a top priority. Other things to consider while spending time outdoors are hand hygiene and pesky insects. Simple measures such as using hand sanitizer and insect repellant can make for a happy and healthy summer vacation.  

Follow these simple tips to keep it safe and fun under the sun!

To get a head start on summer fun, we're giving away this exclusive prize package of essentials! Three lucky readers will receive a kidSTAT Hospital-Grade First Aid Kit plus a selection of Honest goodies (Honest Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+, Honest Bug Spray, Honest Organic Healing Balm, Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray, Honest Wipes).

To enter for a chance to win this Summer Essentials giveaway, simply enter a comment by using the Rafflecopter entry form below telling us your favorite part about summer. You also have the option (although not required) to earn two bonus entries by subscribing to our blog and following our Pinterest page. No purchase is necessary to enter or to win. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents 18 years and older. The giveaway will run until 11:59 pm PST Friday, June 17th. Three winners will be chosen at random. Odds depend on the number of eligible entries received. Click here to read the complete giveaway rules.

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The information contained on this post is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient and his/her physician. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.