Outdoor Safety Tips for Children

Summer is the perfect time for children to explore the great outdoors. School vacations and warm weather mean many opportunities for adventures in nature. With any outdoor excursion that you and your family embark on this summer, it is important to take precautions to avoid possible accidents and know what to do in the event of an accident.

Share these tips with your kids before summer arrives so you and your family are prepared!

Sports Safety

Children have a lot of energy, and it is always good for them to be active. Sports are also an excellent way to hurt yourself in the process. Children should be careful when playing sports, hiking, biking, spending time by the water, or spending time outdoors in general.

To avoid sports injuries specifically, children must wear the correct protective gear, including helmets for sports such as baseball, softball, and football. The fields or courts must be inspected for hazards before any game begins. Children should warm-up and cool down before and after games to help prevent injuries due to overexertion. They should familiarize themselves with the rules of any game before participating.

Bicycling

Riding a bike is also a perfect summer activity that allows kids to get the exercise they need, even when there aren't enough kids for a team sport. Again, wearing a helmet that properly fits and protects your child's head is the top priority.

Children can speed up and lose control of a bicycle, and a helmet prevents traumatic brain injury. Children should also not be allowed to drive near roads unless they have first followed road safety rules. It is essential to teach children to move in the same direction as traffic, comply with traffic safety laws and signs, and carefully observe their cars.

The camping

Before sharing the outdoors with your child, educate them about the dangers that can occur. When camping, it is essential to wear suitable clothing: bring warm clothes for the night and protect yourself from the sun during the day. It would be best if you had comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, food and water, and insect repellent, at a minimum.

It would help if you also created a plan for the children if they get lost in the woods (a whistle and flashlight are good ideas) and tell them to avoid poison ivy and any plants they cannot identify. Lastly, if your child will be around any body of water, they must wear a life jacket at all times. Even if they can swim or don't plan to get into the water, they could slip and fall. Children should never swim without adult supervision.

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