Fire And Water: Summer Safety Tips To Prevent Child Drownings And Burns

Fire and water may be opposing forces of nature, but both are leading causes of injury in children, especially during the warm summer months.

Here are tips to help keep your children safe from drowning and burns this summer.

Drowning

When the summer heat hits, kids may want to jump into the nearest body of water. While cooling off and splashing around can be fun, there are risks involved.

Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in children between the ages of 1 and 4. Three children die from drowning in the US every day, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD).

People who survive drowning may suffer from severe, lifelong disabilities, including brain damage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

6 Summer Safety Tips To Prevent DrowningMake Sure Your Children Know How To Swim.

Formal swimming lessons can decrease the risk of drowning, especially in young children between the ages of 1 and 4, the CDC says.

Always Supervise Children When They Are Near Water.

Choose at least one person to be the designated watcher, even if there is a lifeguard present, the CDC recommends.

Make sure this person is responsible and a strong swimmer. Because drowning can happen quickly and quietly, the watcher should stay away from all distractions.

Learn CPR.

Administering CPR on a child who has drowned can save his life.

Fence Off Pools.

If you have a backyard swimming pool, completely fence it off on all sides with a self-closing, self-latching gate, the CDC recommends.

Do not let your children into the fenced off area without proper supervision.

Wear A Life Jacket.

Make sure the life jacket is US Coast Guard approved.

Remember that inflatable and foam toys are not substitutes for safety devices.

Check The Weather.

Before you head toward the water, make sure no storms are in the area. Wind and lightning can be very dangerous.

Burns

Burns are another main cause of injury in children, the NICHHD reports.

Each day, more than 300 children in the US end up in the ER for burn treatment. Two children die every day because of burns.

Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

3 Summer Safety Tips To Prevent Burns

1. Practice Campfire Safety.

Only build campfires in designated areas that are at least 15 feet downwind from flammable objects, such as brush or your tent, the American Burn Association (ABA) says.

Have water available nearby, just in case. Fully extinguish campfires with water. Do not bury them.

And make sure you keep your children at least 3 feet away from the fire.

2. Follow Fireworks Safety Procedures.

Fireworks are fun to watch, but they are best handled by an adult who knows what he is doing. Keep kids at a safe distance from where the fireworks”including sparklers”are being lit, says the ABA.

Store leftover or unused fireworks well out of children's reach.

And always follow all state and local laws before setting them off.

3. Keep Kids From Setting Fires.

Curiosity and temptation can get the best of kids. That's why adults should keep firesetting materials like lighters, propane, and matches safely out of children's reach, the ABA explains.

An Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center physician can provide you with more summer safety tips.