12 tips to help keep kids safe this summer

Children's has one of the busiest pediatric emergency programs in the country, with about 90,000 visits each year. We love kids here at Children's, but we'd rather see them safe at home. With Memorial Day weekend upon us, we compiled a list of basic tips, with help from our injury prevention experts, to keep kids safe all summer. Together, we can make safe simple.

For more safety tips, read about Making Safe Simple.

Sun and heat

1. On hot days, make sure kids drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

2. Make sure kids are covered. Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to the entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after sweating heavily.

3. When heat and humidity are high, reduce the level of intensity of activities.

Water

5. Never leave kids alone in or near a pool or open water. In open water, kids should swim with a buddy.

Fireworks

6. Don't allow kids younger than the age of 12 to use sparklers without close adult supervision. Don't allow them to wave sparklers or run while holding sparklers.

Playground

7. Always watch kids on a playground. Make sure the equipment is age appropriate and surfaces underneath are soft enough to absorb falls.

8. Kids younger than 16 shouldn't be allowed to use riding mowers, and those younger than 12 shouldn't use walk-behind mowers.

Bike and wheel-sport safety

9. Make it a rule: Wear a helmet every time you ride a bike, skateboard, scooter or use in-line skates. Skateboarders and scooter-riders should wear additional protective gear.

ATVs

10. Every rider should take a hands-on rider-safety course.