Sun safety

• Stay in the shade when possible, limit sun exposure during the peak hours of 10a-4p
• The 1^st line of defense against UV rays is covering up, wear a hat with a brim, sunglasses & light cotton clothing
• Apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater (PABA free) on both sunny & cloudy days - reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming or sweating

Babies under 6 months:

• Avoid sun exposure, dress infant in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts & brimmed hats that shade the neck
• A minimal amount of sunscreen (SPF 15) can be applied to open areas

Heat Stress

• The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels
• Practices and games played in heat should be shortened & more frequent water breaks should be given
• Clothing should be light-weight & limited to one layer of absorbent material
• Children should seek cooler environments or shade when feeling excessively hot or fatigued.
• Before physical activity, kids should be well-hydrated & not feel thirsty.  Children should hydrate every 20minutes during activity.  For the 1^st hour of exercise, water alone can be used, afterwards should be a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink  

Pool Safety

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment.
• To avoid serious head & spinal injuries do not allow 'rough-housing' or diving around pool
• Install a fence at least 4ft high around all sides of the pool, make sure pool gates self-close & self-latch at a height children can not reach
• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as 'floaties.' They are not a suitable replacement for approved, well fitted life vests & can give a false sense of assurance to children and parents
• Pool covers should not be free floating & should be completely removed when people are swimming
• Pools should be compliant with the Pool & Spa Safety Act, which includes need for anti-entrapment drain covers.  Visit www.poolsafely.gov for more information
• Whenever an infant or toddler is in or around water, an adult, who knows how to swim & can perform CPR, should by within arm's length, providing 'touch supervision.'

Open Water Safety

• Never swim alone, enforce the 'buddy system' for older children
• "Touch supervision' for younger children
• A lifeguard should always be on duty for swimming
• Never let your child swim in canals or fast moving water

Boat Safety

• Children should wear approved life jackets at all times, jackets should fit properly with all straps belted
• Adults should wear life jackets too, for their own protection & to set a good example.
• Adolescents & adults should be reminded of the dangers of operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol, drugs & even some prescription drugs

Children from 1 to 4 may be at lower risk of drowning if they have formal swimming lessons, however knowing how to swim should not be a substitute for supervision.  

Protecting your head

• Don't forget helmets for bicycles, skateboards, roller blades & scooters
• Check helmets every year for condition & fit.
• Knee & elbow pads & wrist guards are important too  

Tick Prevention

• Avoid wooded areas & high grass, particularly in the late spring and early summer
• If in the woods, stick to the center of trails and avoid brush. Wear long pants and sleeves, and tuck pant legs into socks to provide a barrier
• Bathe children nightly & take this time to inspect skin thoroughly for ticks.
• The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to remove ticks as soon as possible, ticks on for 24 hours or less have a very low chance of transmitting disease.
• DEET (at least 20%, i.e. Cutter Deep Woods) containing insect repellent should be sprayed on clothing if spending time in a high risk area

Insect Repellent

• DEET should be avoided if possible, especially in younger children (do not use under 2 years old), choose a product with permethrin or picaridin instead.
• Spray repellent on clothing instead of bare skin, do not spray on hands

There are many ways to prevent insect bites that are safe & easy:

• Choose clothes in neutral colors (bright colors & flowered prints attract stinging insects & dark colors attract biting insects)
• Wear long sleeved shirts & long pants, and tuck pant legs into socks
• Don't use scented soaps, shampoos or hair sprays