Summer Safety Tips and Preparedness for Kids!

School is out for summer and kids are excited for a few months off with fewer responsibilities! While we do want them to have fun during their summertime off, we also want them to be safe and responsible as well as prepared if an emergency occurs. Most children will be partaking in events outside including swimming, playing on the playground or participating in sports. They will also be hanging around the house and getting into things that adults at work might not be aware of and could be unsafe for the child. Whatever they might be doing, we want them to be safe and proactive about safety while still having fun!

Remember 9-1-1 for Emergencies
Remind them to always dial 9-1-1 when there is an emergency occurring. An emergency would mean someone was badly hurt or in danger, including themselves or others. Other times they would need to call 9-1-1 include if they see a fire or a car accident happen. When they do call 9-1-1, they should be prepared to provide the call-taker with as much information as they can such as who, what, when and where the emergency situation is taking place. This way, help will be on the way faster and can be more efficient to the person or persons in need of help. And always remember to stay on the phone with the 9-1-1 call-taker until emergency responders arrive at the scene. That way, the operator can ensure they have all the information they need to get to the emergency as quick as possible!

Supervision and Water Safety
Children need constant supervision around pools and any water environments to protect their safety. They should also always be wearing sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful rays. When it comes to children playing on bicycles, rollerblades or scooters, they should always be wearing a helmet to protect their head. These are just some basic safety guidelines Cell Phone Sally lives by!

Poison Safety
If they think they have come in contact with or ingested something poisonous, they should immediately contact the poison control center hotline number at 1-800-222-1222. It does not take much for a child to get sick as their metabolisms are much faster than adults and whatever they ingest gets into their bloodstream right away. Poison control centers in the United States receive 1.2 million calls each year due to accidental poisonings of children 5 and under. Let’s help prevent these accidents from happening. Tell your kids and other children and adults to memorize the toll-free number in case they ingest something accidently: 1-800-222-1222. For more information on poison control, please visit http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/default.aspx.

For a little fun, below is a link to an old classic Mr. Yuk Commercial!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLsONa3gKIQ