Summer Safety

School is almost out and warm weather is finally upon us after a long and grueling summer. Summer is a time for having fun in the sun! Children and teens should be able to have fun, as well as being safe. Since this winter and spring made it extremely difficult to enjoy the weather everyone should take a few moments to discuss Summer Safety Tips with your sons and daughters.

 

1. Children and teens shouldn’t talk to strangers – It is extremely important to remind your children and teenagers to never talk to anyone they do not know. There are numerous stores that highlight the risk of talking to adults that teens do not know. Explain to your children or teens know that if they see someone suspicious that they don’t know they should immediately either run away if they are alone or go somewhere where there or other people. Vehicles can be extremely enticing to a child or teen. Remind them to never go into a vehicle with a stranger. If someone tries to force them into a car tell your child they should run away to a public place for help or start screaming loudly. Bring as much attention to them as possible.
2. Water Safety – In the summer time children and teens love being in the water, especially when it is hot. Whether it is a beach, pool, lake or river all children should be aware of water safety. Children or teens that don’t know how to swim should stay in the shallow end of the water. Children and teens should also always swim at places that have life guards. In the event that something was to happen they would have someone there to help them. When it comes to pool safety small children should always be accompanied by adults, never walk away assuming that a child is safe. It only takes an inch or two of water and time unattended for a tragedy to happen. For parents who own pools in their homes they should be aware that children can get into trouble when they aren’t looking. Make sure that when the pool isn’t being used there is a cover over it or a gate that children can’t get into with an adult.
3. Monitor you child or teens Internet use - During the summer time Children and youths' have more free time to use the Internet and computer. The Internet provides access to games, educational resources, social networking and it also can be a dangerous one as well. This points directly to tip number one that children and youth’s should never talk to strangers. When youth are on the Internet they may go on chat website where they have no idea who they are talking to. Some things that you can do to make sure you’re child or teen is safe is to block certain websites on you’re computer or get child monitoring software.
4. Safety in numbers - Your children and teens probably will want to go to summer camp, vacation trips with friends or teams, and other outings. Tell your child or teen to always stay with a group when they are out. This includes when walking to a friends house, the pool or even on their way home. Relying a cellular telephone to make a child feel safer by talking to them as they walk, only serves to divide their attention from their surroundings. Walk with your child, ride a bicycle, walk the dog or better yet drive them to their destination.
5. Educate Your Child or Teen about drug and alcohol use - Children and Teens are under constant pressure too experiment with drugs and alcohol. Teens who are talked to about drug and alcohol use by their parents are at a much lesser risk of drug and alcohol us than those parents who don’t. Summer time gives children and teens more time to associate with friends that may offer those drugs or alcohol. You can also encourage your children to talk to you about these kinds of issues so they know they don’t have to hide them.