As the temperatures begin to rise and we finally say goodbye to winter, most families will find themselves spending more time in the great outdoors. There are countless benefits to getting your family outside, such as promoting exercise and curiosity, getting fresh air and helping develop social skills. However, with all these benefits comes some safety concerns. As you get outside and play this spring and summer, remember these tips for keeping your family safe!
Protect Your Skin
Since spring sun doesn’t often feel as intense as summer sun, many people decide to skip the sunscreen. The sun’s rays are in fact quite strong this time of year (and all year round!), and remembering SPF is extremely important. The first step in protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays is applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 about 30 minutes before you head outside. Be sure to apply sunscreen on any exposed skin, and reapply every two hours or immediately after being in water. Choosing clothing that protects your skin and finding shade when possible is also important to keeping your skin healthy.
Wear A Helmet
While outdoor physical activities are great for your families health, some of these activities can potentially be dangerous. Whenever riding anything with wheels, such as a bike, skateboard, scooter or roller skates, it is important to make sure your child is wearing a helmet that fits properly. Helmets can help absorb and cushion a blow to the head and are shown to reduce the risk of brain injury by 85%. Don’t forget to lead by example and make sure you’re wearing a helmet during these types of activities too!
Safely Enjoy the Water
During the warm months of late spring and summer, many families spend time by the pool, at the beach or on a lake. Between the months of May and August, drowning deaths among children increase by 89%. Making sure there are multiple safety measures in place when you’re by the water is crucial to keeping everyone safe. A few ways to ensure safety is to always supervise children in or anywhere near water, put barriers around the pool to restrict access, teach children how to swim at a young age, and wear a lifejacket when on a boat or in the water. Drowning is a real risk, and sadly only takes seconds. Water safety is an important topic that should be regularly discussed with your family.
Protect Against Bugs
Everyone loves the warmer temperatures this time of year – and so do bugs and other types of insects! As you and your family are heading outside, be sure to spray yourselves with insect repellant and wear proper clothing and footwear. Most insect bites will only cause itchy skin or irritation, but in rare cases there can be a risk of disease, like Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus. Other ways to stay clear of insects is to wear long sleeves and pants, stay away from stagnant water and avoid using scented lotions or soaps that may attract insects.
Bounce Safely
Trampolines are very popular among children and are a fun way to burn off energy and get some exercise. However, if they are not used properly or are set up incorrectly, serious injuries can occur. To ensure safety, never let more than one child on the trampoline at a time, don’t allow somersaults or flips, and never let anyone on the trampoline unsupervised.
Spring and summer are a fun time, and making sure everyone is safe will make your time outside even better. Planning ahead and taking necessary precautions can help you and your family enjoy yourselves while staying safe and healthy. If an accident does occur, Southwoods Express Care provides fast, easy access to medical care that is non-urgent but still requires immediate medical attention. With locations on the Southwoods campus in Boardman, on Struthers-Coitsville Road in Campbell and on Route 14 in Columbiana, Southwoods Express Care is open seven days a week.
