Outdoor Summer Safety Tips for Children

From the teachers and staff at Duval Virtual Instruction Academy, a tuition-free public virtual school available to families in Duval County, Florida.

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School’s out and summer is here at last! The great outdoors are calling kids of all ages for a little fun in the sun. Along with the summer fun, potential dangers could be lurking. It’s important for parents and caregivers to be aware of what they are and how they can be avoided. The teachers and staff of Duval Virtual Instruction Academy have listed some helpful tips to keep them safe all summer long!

Play Smart

Summer playground injuries bring thousands of kids to the ER each year. Most of these injuries could be prevented with a little planning and adult supervision.

  • Check the playground equipment to make sure it is safe and well-maintained.
  • Make sure you check that metal slides and equipment are cool to prevent burns.
  • Be sure that your child’s clothing is playground-friendly. Loose strings (like on hoodies) should be removed or tucked in and avoid any loose clothing that could catch on the equipment. Closed-toed shoes are also recommended.

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Beware of Bugs

  • BEES
    Summer’s peak blooms also bring bees. Beware of the pesky pollinators and keep your children free of scented soaps, perfumes and hair products as well as floral-patterned clothing.

    • Do not leave any open food or sugary drink containers sitting outside around where they are playing.
    • If you do happen to see any bees landing near or on your child – remain calm and gently blow or swat away.
  • MOSQUITOS
    • Mosquito-transmitted illnesses are also a summer worry.
    • Use a repellent that contains no more than 30% DEET.
    • Use the repellent on the outside of their clothing and on exposed skin. Avoid getting it near the eyes and mouth. When applying to the face – do not spray directly, instead spray a little in your hand and then apply. For an alternative to sprays, try insect repellent pads that clip on to their clothes.
  • TICKS
    • Ticks are another troublesome terror of summer. They tend to thrive in warm, moist, woodsy areas.
    • Ideally, kids should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants while playing outside – but in the high heat summer months that is hardly realistic.
    • Checking children thoroughly followed by showering or bathing within two hours of coming indoors will help prevent the ticks from attaching themselves.
    • If you do happen to find a tick either embedded or crawling on their skin – gently remove with tweezers without twisting which could lead to the mouthparts breaking off and remaining embedded in the skin.
    • The University of North Florida is currently accepting tick samples for identification and laboratory testing of tickborne disease agents. There is no charge for this testing.

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Waterwise

Swimming is one of the most popular summertime activities for kids. It’s a great source of exercise while having fun – but it’s important to keep it safe.

  • Without question, always supervise children while in or around the water – even in shallow water. (Drowning is among the leading causes of accidental death in children, ages 1-4.)
  • Be alert. Stay off cell phones while children are in or near the water.
  • Children should swim only when certified lifeguards are on duty or if an experienced swimmer is watching.
  • Don’t rely on water wings or floats. They are not meant to save lives.
  • Learn CPR so you’ll be prepared in case of an incident.

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Keep Cool so You Don’t Feel the Burn

Just one bad sunburn as a child is all it takes to double the risk of developing melanoma, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

  • If possible, plan outside play for either early morning or evening, trying to avoid the peak sun hours of 10am to 4pm.
  • Whenever outside, use sunscreen with at least 15 SPF and UVA and UVB protection.
  • Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
  • Most of the sun’s burning rays go right through clouds – so use sunscreen even on cloudy days.
  • Eyes need sun protection too! Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.
  • Remember to keep the kiddos hydrated while outside at play – taking mandatory fluid breaks (while in the shade) will help prevent dehydration.

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Duval Virtual wishes you a healthy and safe summer break! Check out Duval Virtual Instruction Academy, with certified-teacher support, the Calvert curriculum – which is a blend of texts and online learning, and an active school community – you may find that a virtual education is the right fit for your family.

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