Essential summer safety tips for your family

Summer is here, bringing with it pool days, barbeques and family vacations. To ensure you have a fun and safe summer, we've outlined some essential tips to keep your family protected while enjoying the summer sun. 

Stay hydrated.

Children are more prone to dehydration as they generate more heat but sweat less compared to adults. To stay well hydrated, children ages 1-3 need about 4 cups of beverages per day (including water or milk). This increases to 5 cups for 4–8-year-olds and 7-8 cups for older children. Focus on hydration before, during and after activities. If you have young athletes, ensure they drink water every 15-20 minutes during play. Make hydration fun by customizing water bottles, adding fresh fruit or cucumber slices for flavor and setting a good example by staying hydrated yourself. 

Prevent overheating.

Dehydration and heat can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is caused by excessive sweating and should settle once the child is moved to a cool place and rehydrates. Heat stroke is more severe and requires immediate medical attention if: 

• the child is confused 
• has a rapid pulse 
• has a temperature over 103 degrees.  

To prevent these conditions, dress children in loose, lightweight clothing, plan activities for cooler parts of the day, rest often and never leave children in a parked car. 

Use insect repellent.

Summer pests like mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and flies can spread harmful diseases. Using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellent is recommended. Always apply insect repellent after sunscreen and dress young children in lightweight clothing that covers arms and legs.  

Tickborne illnesses also increase from April to September. Common tickborne illnesses in KS and MO include Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), and Tularemia.. Symptoms can range from fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting.. Most tick bites do not cause tickborne illness. If you find a tick, remove it promptly and monitor your child for any symptoms. Be sure to use EPA-registered insect repellents, wear long sleeves and pants and perform tick checks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas – prevention is key.  

Ensure water safety.

Always supervise children around water and teach them to swim. Use life jackets when boating or near open water. Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death for children 1-4 years. Important water safety tips include installing a non-climbable fence around all 4 sides of your pool, utilizing a self-latching, self-closing gate for entry into the pool area, removing toys from the pool area when not in use, learning CPR and keeping a phone nearby in case of emergencies. 

Protect against sunburn.

Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to all exposed skin and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating. Wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses and seek shade during peak sun hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Stay safe and enjoy your summer!