By Sue Matzick, Denver Health’s Injury Prevention Coordinator, and Paramedic

This summer nearly 3 million children 14 years old and younger will be rushed to emergency departments for serious injuries that are preventable. Almost half of all unintentional injuries and deaths occur between May and August because children participate in more outdoor activities.
Enjoy fun and safe summer activities by following these safety tips:
Bicycle Safety

• Always wear a bicycle helmet.
• Reinforce bicycle safety rules, traffic signals and rules of the road.
• Stop at all intersections and look both ways before crossing the street.
• Always use hand signals.
• Establish rules about appropriate places to ride.
• Make sure bicycles fit the height, weight and age of the rider.
• Inflated tires, working brakes, flags and reflectors make for a safe bike ride.

Skateboard, Rollerblade and Scooter Safety

• Wear a multi-sport helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads.
• Never ride in the streets.
• Never grab onto a car or bicycle.
• Check out the area for hazards (holes, cracks, gravel, etc.).

Pedestrian Safety

• Children 10 years old or younger should never cross the street alone.
• Never allow children to play in the road, in parking lots or behind cars.
• Always walk on paths or sidewalks.
• Look both ways (left, right, and left again) when crossing the street.

Water Safety

• Be sure to use sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
• Never leave young children unattended near water.
• Always use a fence/gate with a lock to keep children away from pools or lakes.
• Empty and turn over all water containers, like plastic and inflatable pools, after use.
• Use life jackets in lakes and around boats, even if the child knows how to swim.
• The suggested age for children to learn to swim is four years old.
• Teach children to never run push or jump on others around water.
• Teach children to never swim alone and always swim with a buddy.

Motor Vehicle Safety

• Every one in the vehicle should be wearing a seat belt or be in a car seat or booster    seat.
• All children 12 years old and younger should sit in the back seat and never in front of air bags.
• Never allow anyone to ride in the back of a pickup truck or on a passenger’s lap.
• Never allow children to play in or around cars or trucks.
• Never leave children alone in a car. The temperatures in a car can reach deadly levels within minutes.
• Always lock car doors and trunks and keep the keys in a safe place out of the reach of children.
• Check if seating surfaces, seat belts and car seat parts are hot from the sun prior to buckling up.

Playground Safety

• Check playground equipment since it can be hot from the sun and lead to burns.
• Be sure children are within sight and reach at all times. 
• Be cautious while climbing on high or slippery surfaces.
• Wear appropriate clothing and shoes while playing

Take time to join in the summer fun, but remember always think safety first!