Summer Safety Tips

Stay Hydrated: It doesn’t matter where you live, but if you are in a location with hotter temps you should be even more cautious of your family's hydration. Carry water with you if you plan to be outside for more than 30 5. minutes. There are so many options of bottles that will keep water cold even in hot temperatures. Kids often do not remember to drink as they are playing so take a mental note to encourage them to drink water often throughout the day. If you have an infant, remember they can also become dehydrated, so on these hot days it’s ok to offer them extra milk, and/or water!

Wear a Helmet: Start this habit early, teach your young toddlers they should never ride a bike or scooter without a helmet. Educate them on why it is important for everyone to wear helmets and don’t forget to lead by example and wear a helmet yourself!

Getting Separated: Establish a family protocol on what you and your child should do if they get separated from you in a public place. Talk to them about the importance of holding hands and staying close to you. Don’t forget to also teach them what YOU want them to do if they do get lost, or if someone tries to talk to them. Talking to your children about these protocols and reteaching often, can keep them calm and provide less panic if they do get separated from you.

Be Present: It’s easy for us moms to get distracted talking to friends, or looking at our phones. Even if you take your kids to the same places over and over, remember bad things can still happen. Keep an eye on them! If you are by water, be extra cautious and do your best to not get distracted! Teach your children what you expect from them while you are out doing your activities and also teach them what you are not ok with. The most important thing is to just be present, have fun and make memories together!

Use Insect Repellent: As you are spending more time outdoors, there are many ways to keep bugs away from you and your kids. There are plenty of bug/insect repellents on the market that you can find that suit your families needs. You can also find lots of essential oil recipes to use too! If you are eating outdoors, or camping don’t forget about the outdoor candles and bracelets you can use for insect repellent.

Maintain Healthy Eating Habits: During the summer months there tends to be a lot of gatherings and fun, with those usually come treats! As the parent, take note of what nutritional food your children are eating and what treats they are eating. This can help avoid too much sugar, as well as making sure your children are eating enough good food to give them the energy to have fun during the summer.

Beware of Hot Cars: This may be common sense, but it’s never wrong to have a reminder. Check the back seat when you get out of your car, even if your kids are not with you, it’s just a good habit to create. Put up your sunshades and park in the shade when possible. Take note of where the sun is and what direction it will move the duration of your stay when you park. Try to keep your children’s car seats out of the sun. If you have black car seats, consider covering them while your car is parked outdoors to keep buckles, and their seats, out of the direct sunlight. Get fans for rear facing car seats, and clip them in a safe place so your infants can’t reach them, and they won’t fall if you go over a bump. If possible, cool your car down for a few minutes before you start buckling those babies, get the air flowing, back seats are hot, and rear-facing babies get even hotter! It’s good to just be aware of these things to help your kids stay cool!