Tag Archives: summer safety

Water Safety Tips

Another post from Walgreens’ site.

WATER SAFETY

  • Learn CPR.
  • Teach your children to swim, but do not assume that this alone will prevent drowning in young children.
  • Never leave young children unattended, even for a minute, in a bathtub, swimming pool, lake, ocean, or stream.
  • Fence all home pools and keep the gate closed and locked.
  • Always wear life preservers when boating, even if you can swim.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol when swimming or boating.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Never dive into water unless you know beforehand how deep it is.
  • Know your limits. Do not over-exert yourself.
  • Avoid standing on wet surfaces or being in water during a lightening storm.
  • Stay out of strong currents.
  • Do not overload your boat. If your boat turns over, stay with the boat until help arrives.

Summer Safety Tips – Car Safety/Child Car Seat Info

More safety tips from Walgreens’ website.

CAR SAFETY

  • Always wear a seat belt.
  • Obey traffic laws and drive defensively.
  • Do not drink alcohol and drive.
  • While driving, try to avoid any distractions from others in your car.
  • Keep your vehicle properly serviced, especially before going on a long trip. Keep an emergency kit in your car.
  • Take the weather into account before venturing out on the roads.

INFANT AND CHILD CAR SEATS

  • Car seats are required by law for children under 40 pounds.
  • The safest position for an infant car seat is rear facing in the back seat.
  • In most models, the infant seat is used AT LEAST until the child reaches 20 pounds and 1 year of age. (Some experts recommend rear-facing child seats until the child is 30 pounds; check the weight restrictions on your specific seat.) At that point, a forward-facing seat can be used. This may require a new car seat — it depends on the model.
  • Booster seats should be used for children 40 to 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring that children up to 8 years old or 80 pounds be put in booster seats.
  • Read the car owner’s manual to determine the safest place to fasten a car seat in YOUR car.
  • Know how your car seat is designed to be used. Read the instructions carefully.
  • Adapters may be needed for certain types of cars or certain seat belt types.
  • For more information call your car seat manufacturer, car manufacturer, or the State Highway Safety Office.

Summertime!

Summer is finally here! And this is a good time to go over safety rules for kids. Every kid, no matter what his or her skin tone, should be wearing sunscreen when playing outside. Hats and/or sunglasses can protect kids’ eyes and skin – don’t forget to protect little ears!

It’s really important to go over swimming safety now. If the child is a swimmer in the parents’ eyes, then the au pair must be watching him or her all the time – no texting or chatting with friends. If the child isn’t a swimmer, the au pair needs to be within ARM’S REACH at all times when they are in the water. Oh, and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen after swimming!

Bike helmets are another huge safety requirement. They dramatically reduce the possibility of serious injury or death. Adults need to model this behavior by always wearing a helmet when biking – our brains are important too! Kids shouldn’t get the idea that helmets are ‘only for babies.’

Summer schedule changes need to be discussed now too. Kids are out of school and need supervision – but the rules for au pair working hours remain the same.

Summer in the Twin Cities is amazing – one of the reasons people live here. Get out there (safely!) and enjoy it before the snow flies again!Jumping Spoonbridge