Summer is an excellent time to get the kids outdoors to enjoy fun activities that help them connect with nature while meeting their daily physical activity goals. School-age kids and teens should get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. This should include muscle strengthening and bone-strengthening activities at least three days a week.
With schools out and warmer weather, it’s a great time to explore community pools, conservation areas, and neighbourhood playgrounds. Kids can improve their strength climbing a tree or crossing the monkey bars. They can improve their endurance playing a game of tag, playing hopscotch or swimming in the lake. In other words, just giving kids a chance to play and be kids everyday is generally enough to do the trick.
Summer fun can easily be spoiled when we don’t heed basic safety protocols. Whatever activity you enjoy with your children, there are ways to keep everyone safe and having a blast. Below are a few summer safety tips to help you keep the kids safe this season.
Table of Contents
- Summer Sun Safety Tips
- Air Quality Safety Tips
- Water Safety Tips
- Heat Safety Tips
- Playground Safety Tips
Summer Sun Safety Tips
In Canada, the UV Index is highest in the summer months. It is a good time to start taking more precautions.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to swimming or outdoor activity and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or heavy sweating
- Choose long sleeved clothing with an appropriate UPF rating
- Wear wide brimmed hats to protect the face, tops of ears, and back of neck
Air Quality Safety Tips
As the world faces an increasing number of wildfires, a reminder to keep a close eye on air quality warnings before taking the kids outdoors for any extended period, and in particular, for physical activity.
During exercise, we tend to breathe through our mouths, which unlike noses, don’t have a natural filtration system for pollutants. Exercising in a highly polluted environment has been linked to cardiovascular health risks.
Smoke can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness level or health and those most susceptible in its health impacts include older adults, young children, women who are pregnant, and people with heart or lung disease and asthma.
- Check the Air Quality Index (AQI): Before heading outside to play, check the local AQI to determine the air quality in your area. You can find this information from local weather apps or websites. If the AQI is in the unhealthy range, it’s advisable to limit outdoor activities or find alternative indoor activities instead.
- Play in the Early Morning or Evening: During summer, the air quality is generally better during the early morning or evening hours when the temperatures are cooler. Encourage your kids to engage in outdoor activities during these times to minimize exposure to potentially higher levels of air pollution.
Water Safety Tips
- All children should be supervised by an adult when they are in or near the water
- The Lifesaving Society recommends a supervision ratio of 1 adult for every two young children and one adult for every baby[i]
- Always designate an adult to supervise children in the pool. A good trick is one used by airplane pilots. When a change of control is coming, the pilot currently flying says to their co-pilot “your airplane”, to which the co-pilot responds “my airplane”. The same can be applied to “your kids” when handing over supervision duties to ensure that someone is always paying attention, and not just assuming the other person is watching.
- PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) or life jackets should be worn by all infants and toddlers who are swimming or playing near or in the water[i]
- Wear properly fitting PFDs or life jackets for all boating that are certified by at least one of the following: Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, or Fisheries and Oceans Canada [1]
- Choose brightly coloured swimwear for children to improve their visibility – avoid white and blue swimsuits as they are very difficult to see underwater
- Supervise children for any water play, including a water table or splash pad
- Wear footwear in public spaces to prevent fungal infections
- Check swim diapers and take children for bathroom breaks every hour[ii]
- Change diapers in a designated area away from the poolside to prevent recreational water illnesses[ii]
- Do not go into the water with any open cuts or wounds2
- Shower before and after using public pools
- Dry ears thoroughly after swimming[ii]
- Check the water quality prior to swimming[ii]
Heat Safety Tips
- Ensure your child is drinking an adequate amount of water for the temperature and their activity level
- Wear light-coloured, loose clothing on hot days
- Avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day
- Consider an oral rehydrating solution, such as Pedialyte, to replenish electrolytes during heavy activity on hot days
- Take more frequent rest breaks, particularly to get out of the sun on hot days
- Never leave children in a vehicle on a warm day
- Babies and young children are more prone to heatstroke than adults, avoid putting a cover over the stroller or car seat because it traps heat and raises the temperature inside. Instead, try using a fan to keep air circulating.
- Monitor for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
Heat Exhaustion: a heat illness that can occur with prolonged exposure to a hot climate or when a person has not been drinking enough fluids[iii]
Signs and symptoms can include:
- Increased thirst
- Weakness
- Dizziness or fainting
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Irritability
- Headache
- Increased sweating
- Cool, clammy skin
- A raised body temperature, but less than 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)
Heat Stroke: a more severe heat illness which is a life-threatening medical emergency. In this case the body fails to regulate its own temperature and fevers can increase to dangerous levels.[iii]
Signs and symptoms can include:
- Severe headache
- Weakness/dizziness
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- No sweating
- Flushed, hot, dry skin
- Temperature of 104 degrees F or higher
Playground Safety Tips
- Wear well-fitting, non-slip shoes
- Ensure children are supervised and playing on equipment that is appropriate for their developmental level
- Make sure that your child can reach and climb the equipment on their own
- Look for proper surfaces under equipment such as wood chips, sand, or synthetic materials that are soft and will help absorb the impact of a fall[iv]
- Check your child’s clothing for drawstrings or other cords which could become trapped in play equipment[iv]
Remember that play isn’t just for kids. This summer, we encourage adults to play everyday too. It promotes creativity, relaxation, and good health, plus it’s just plain fun. When’s the last time you climbed the ladder at the playground and went down the slide? Evidence suggests that even brief bouts of activity throughout the day can have positive effects. If you can’t find a set time to get in a workout each day, joining the kids sporadically throughout the day could also work for you.
Follow these summer safety tips and have fun with the whole family!
References
[i] Water Safety for Young Children, Information for parents from Canada’s paediatricians, www.caringforkids.cps.ca
[ii] Steps for Healthy Swimming, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[iii] Heat Illness, www.kidshealth.org
[iv] Playground Safety, Information for parents from Canada’s paediatricians, www.caringforkids.cps.ca
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