For many of us, summer means outdoor fun. As the weather warms up and schools start to let out, chances are good your kids are going to be spending a lot more time participating in outside activities.

Whether going to the pool, skateboarding, bicycling, or even just more time on the playground blacktop, there are a lot of safety considerations to keep in mind when you plan your fun in the sun.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a great checklist of tips to help your kids reduce their chances of injury. Here are a few just to get you started:

• Protect yourself against direct sunlight. Avoid burns and heat related injuries by staying in the shade whenever possible. Wear sunscreen of 15 SPF or greater, and limit direct sun exposure during peak hours (10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
• Before prolonged physical activity, make sure your kids are well-hydrated. Frequent water breaks should be instituded during intense activities lasting 15 minutes or more.
• Never leave children unsupervised near a pool.
• Beware of insect bites and stings. Avoid scented soaps, perfumes or hairsprays.
• Check playground equipment for hazards, such as open hooks or protruding bolt ends. Make sure metal slides are cool to prevent arms and legs from getting burned.
• When skating, skateboarding or bicycling, wear appropriate protective equipment such as helmets and padding.

Check out the AAP’s site or right here at the AMW Safety Center for more information to help keep you and your kids on the right side of safe this summer.

This year, the East Coast has seen a series of historic winter storms that have forced closures of schools, federal government offices and transit. For kids, it can be fun to have time off of school and play around with friends in the winter wonderland, but it’s not all fun and games.

In ice and snow, it’s very easy for accidents to happen, so the safety of your family is very important for you to consider. If you live in an area affected by winter storms, and especially if your region is unaccustomed to this year’s extremes, you need to be extra cautious in being prepared for the weather.

The folks at Kids Health have a lot of great tips that can help make sure you and your family make it through this winter as safely as possible. Continue reading Avoiding Cold-Weather Hazards This Season »

 

As Thanksgiving approaches, more than 40 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday long weekend. Whether you travel by road or by air, there are always considerations you need to make in advance to ensure you and your family have the safest trip possible.

Just like defensive driving, here are a couple of tips from AAA for defensive flying Continue reading Practice Defensive Flying During Your Holiday Travels »

 

As colder weather begins to roll in, you will want to start thinking about winter weather safety for you and your kids. One of the dangers parents need to be aware of is frostbite, which happens when body tissue becomes frozen.  Children are usually at a greater risk of frostbite than adults because they tend to lose heat from their skin faster than adults, but also because they might not be so quick to come in from the cold if they are out having fun.

Suiting your kids up in warm winter clothes is the first step in protecting them against frostbite. At Kids Health, they warn to also watch out for frost nip, an early warning symptom for frostbite. This usually happens to areas that are exposed to the cold, like cheeks, ears, nose, fingers and toes, which become red and numb. This can be treated at home by doing the following Continue reading Protect Your Kids From Frostbite This Winter »