Safe Summer fun!

With about a month of summer left, there is still plenty of time to enjoy all that summer has to offer. Here are some safety tips to help keep the kids safe and happy!

Water safety

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in kids under age 4- A responsible adult should always be supervising children when they're in or around water.

Teaching kids how to swim can save their life and swimming is a great skill and fun too! In the Greater Hartford area, the following organizations have swim lessons for all ages and levels:

YMCA

Cornerstone aquatics center

JCC

School of Swimming

Other water safety tips:

• Always wear a coast guard approved life jacket while boating or participating in water sports

• Never dive into water unless you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so

• If you have a backyard pool, make sure it is securely fenced in

Sun safety

• Wear a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF and reapply often, even on an overcast or mostly cloudy day.

• If your child is too young for sunblock (under 2 months old) keep them in the shade!

• Use an umbrella or tent at the beach to sit under

• Consider wearing a "rash guard" type top that has built in sun protection

• Hats with a brim are great for protecting the face, scalp, ears.

• Choose quality sunglasses that are 100% UVA/UVB resistant

Heat

• Make sure your drinks plenty of water before, during, and after outdoor activities and if your child is participating in sports, make sure they get frequent water breaks.

• Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

• NEVER leave kids (or pets) in a car, even with the windows down, for even a few minutes.