It seems like summer just started but we’re already getting paperwork for the next school year. Why???? It’s too soon to be over! With only a few weeks of summer vacation left, my family really needs to get out there and have some fun while we still can. The only problem with being more active is the chance that someone could get hurt and be down for the count. We’re all too familiar with sicknesses, sunburns, and injuries during vacation. So, any tips we can find to lessen these are completely welcome.
Recently, Stanford Children’s Health published a post highlighting a few safety and injury prevention tips. Stanford Children’s Health is a healthcare network focusing on caring for kids and expecting moms. The article focuses on four main areas that parents can pay attention to — helmet safety, water safety, sun safety, and hydration and heat safety. Trying to maximize the last bit of summer we have left, here are some ways we plan on implementing these tips.
Stanford Children’s Health — Helmet Safety
My family and I enjoy riding our bikes together but it’s been ages since we last did. Our poor bikes have been gathering dust since last summer. It’s high time we cleaned them up and took them for a ride. We know it’s kind of goofy-looking and it gets sweaty but we always make sure to use our helmets. Munchkin already had a pretty nasty face plant, in addition to several other minor bruises and scrapes, while biking so we don’t want to take any chances. Frans and I gear up as well as a precaution and so we lessen the embarrassment factor.
Stanford Children’s Health — Water Safety
When it’s hot outside and the sun is beating down, nothing sounds better than playing in the water. Swimming in a pool, at a waterpark, in a lake, or at the ocean is a ton of fun but this presents its own set of dangers. In the Netherlands, where Frans is from, the most populated areas are below sea level. From a young age, children learn about water safety and how powerful water can be. We made sure to instill this mindset in our daughter. Even now, though Munchkin swims better than me, we make sure she’s never in the water alone and keep a close eye on her.
Stanford Children’s Health — Sun Safety
Living in California, we have a love-hate relationship with the sun. The sun shines every day here and helps lift our moods. Even during the winter and when it’s raining, the sun still manages to peek out at some point during the day. But, the sun here is also extremely strong!
Despite regular application of sun lotion, Frans and Munchkin often battle with sunburns. After just a half hour in the sun, they have to reapply or they’ll be red the next day. The worst is when it’s overcast and they end up burning just as bad, if not worse. You can’t underestimate the strength of those UV rays! I don’t burn as easily but I’m still careful and take extra care when it comes to my face to prevent more freckles.
Stanford Children’s Health — Hydration and Heat Safety
It’s a given that, when you’re active, you need to drink water. This is even more vital when the weather is warm. Whenever we head out, we make sure we have plenty of water nearby and that we drink it regularly. Heat exhaustion should be prevented at all costs. Having someone get dizzy or even faint is NOT a fun way to spend family time.
Though these tips are not revolutionary, they are great reminders for parents. Let’s make sure to keep safe this summer and through the new school year. You’ll want to check out the full post with expert tips from Stanford Children’s Health here. To learn more and to find a location nearest you, visit the links below.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stanford Children’s Health. The opinions and text are all mine.
