Staying Safe Over Summer
This week many schools will be breaking up for the summer holidays! Hopefully there will be some nice weather around the corner and many of us will be able to go outside and enjoy the sun. The last thing many parents or guardians want to be worrying about is the safety of their children but many do. There are some obvious things to consider over summer such as do you have a responsible childminder for while your at work and making sure you know where your children are at all times. There are also some issues you may not have considered. Here are some of Centaurs top tips for keeping yourself, children and others safe this summer!
- Avoid getting bug bites! Don’t use scented soaps or perfumes. Avoid dressing in bright colours or flowery prints. Use insect repellant spray or in sunscreen. When going outside at night when lots of insects come out cover up and during the day avoid areas with a large insect population.
- Protect against the sun. Wear sunscreen making sure its waterproof if you plan on swimming and reapply it every two hours, especially if its particularly hot. Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from bright UV rays.
- Keep hydrated. Make sure that you have a bottle of water on you at all times and remember that caffeinated drinks can actually make you more dehydrated.
- Take breaks from the sun to avoid getting sun stroke and sunburn. Find a cool, sheltered spot and spend half an hour out of the heat.
- Do not climb or play around areas that appear unsafe, for example they have perturbing bolts, they have gravel or course material underneath and around the play equipment and make sure the play equipment isn’t overheated from the sun.
- Always wear shoes when out and about. If you are going into water find footwear which is suitable as their can be sharp rocks at the bottom of the water that you can’t see.
- Stay safe when you are swimming. Be sure to avoid swimming in reservoirs and lakes or too far out at sea and be aware of changing tides. There may also be creatures such as jellyfish lurking under water that you can’t see or that have washed up on the shore. Remember jellyfish can still sting you even when they are not in water.
- If you are riding a bike, wearing Heelys, riding a skateboard or others be sure to wear a helmet that is the correct size and other protective gear. Also avoid doing anything that you are not confident at such as riding a bike on or near a road.
- Be aware of dangerous plants you may come across in the countryside such as nettles, giant hogweed, thorny plants and most of all poisonous plants. Never eat fruit berries or leaves that you find outside unless you are 100% certain what they are.
- Always keep your barbecues outside. Remember barbecues give off an odourless colourless gas which is poisonous and can build up indoors causing carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. This includes tents and anywhere there is inadequate ventilation.
- Remember to stay safe with fireworks. You can still buy fireworks all year round so it’s important to remember to wear safety gloves with sparklers and stay a safe distance away from lit fireworks.
In case of emergency it is always good to have an understanding of first aid. If you want to know more you can come on one of our Parents First Aid Awareness courses and you can even bring your child! Most importantly this summer have fun. Always keep safety in the back of your mind but make sure you make the most of your summer!