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While drowning in swimming pools gets significant attention, the fact is that more children and teens fatally drown in lakes, rivers, oceans, reservoirs and other types of open water. It’s important to be aware of, and talk to your children about, the following open water dangers:
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and many families will soon be heading to the beach. Sadly, it’s also the time when many children drown: An estimated 1,000 children fatally drowned in a single year in the U.S., most of them between May and August. In addition, more than 7,000 children are taken to the Emergency Room each year because of a drowning scare.
Make sure you’ve got the right life jacket for your child—and that you’re putting it on properly to get maximum protection.
To many of us, Memorial Day is the official start of summer fun.
It’s a time to remember the people who gave so much for our country, a time to be with family and friends and a time to take a break and have some fun.
Whatever your plans are for this Memorial Day and beyond, here are a few tips to keep your adventures as safe as they are fun.
Para ayudar a los padres a recordar los pasos importantes para mantener a sus hijos seguros, Safe Kids y Tide desarrolló un nuevo gráfico interactivo que se enfoca en una variedad de riesgos en el hogar.
This blog was written by Isabelle Shafer, Safe Kids communication summer intern.
I grew up in South Florida, so I know how hot the inside of a car can get. When I was in high school, my friends and I would have to open our car doors and wait in the parking lot for the inside to cool down enough for us to get in. From time to time as I was growing up, I also heard stories about cars being so hot that kids left alone in them had died.
For many families across the U.S., summer is not only the time enjoy the warm weather and a break from school, it’s also the time where families are relocating into new homes. Growing up in a military family, a summer move to a new city was the norm for me every two or three years. In all, I moved 11 times as a kid, and although my family has dubbed ourselves “professional movers,” each time was as stressful as the time before.
Today’s moms and dads have a hard-won reputation for pushing their kids, at least when it comes to school and sports. Finish your homework. Study for that test. Don’t miss soccer practice. But parents may be less likely to stay on top of teens and preteens about matters that, in the scheme of things, are far more important than whether they make the varsity team or ace their SATs.
Consider the issue of road safety—which is truly a matter of life and death.
Q. How can I be sure I have the right life jacket for my child?
Great question! Making sure kids are wearing the right life jacket is one of the best ways to keep them safe while boating and participating in water activities. Here are a few tips to remember when choosing a life jacket:
This blog was written by Madi Hawkins, Safe Kids Public Policy summer intern.
In my first days at a Safe Kids intern, we released “Hidden Hazards: An Exploration of Open Water Drowning and Risks for Children," which discusses the dangers that confront kids in open water like lakes and rivers. It brought me back to an experience I had when I was about four years old.