BIRMINGHAM (May 27, 2024)—For some families, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer. This means families will be spending more time outdoors. While this may be an exciting time, health experts warn it can also be potentially dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken.
“A lot of people are outdoors with their families and their children playing on playgrounds, using ATVs, sometimes swimming in pools and lakes,” said Dr. Alicia Webb, a pediatric emergency physician at Children’s of Alabama. “We tend to see a lot of injuries related to those activities.”
Webb says that during the summer, she and other emergency department doctors treat many patients with broken bones and cuts. She adds that there are numerous ways parents can protect their children, including making sure they are prepared before they step outside with their children.
“The Alabama heat and the summer humidity can be really dangerous if you are unprepared for it,” said Webb. “It is important if you are doing those activities outside to make sure you bring plenty of water, take breaks to make sure you are drinking water to stay hydrated and take breaks to make sure you stay out of the heat.”
One place you will see many families is the playground. Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment allow children to get fresh air, have fun, and exercise. Even though playgrounds can be fun for children, Webb warns that they could be a potential safety hazard.
“We do see a lot of broken bones from children who either fall off monkey bars or slide,” said Webb.
More than 200,000 children are treated in emergency departments across the United States for playground-related injuries each year. However, Webb says many of these accidents can be prevented with careful supervision. She says parents should make sure their children are taking turns and only one child is going down the slide at a time. Children should also know how to use equipment properly, such as sliding feet-first, not climbing outside guardrails, and not standing on swings. Also, remember that playground equipment can get very hot in the summertime. If the equipment feels hot to touch, it is probably unsafe to play on. Contact burns can happen quickly.
Another popular activity for families during the summer is attending a barbecue. Each year, fire departments respond to fires involving home grill fires.
“It is important that we are supervising young children at a barbecue,” said Webb. “Often, there are hot things around, whether it be a grill or fire; make sure children are not getting close to those areas where they can get burned.”
One way to protect children is to create a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around the grill. Also, keep matches and lighters away from children. Webb also advises parents to take precautions if there are sparklers or fireworks at the barbecue.
“Sparklers can burn over 1,000 degrees and be really dangerous in the hands of a young child or even an older child who is not expecting it to be so hot,” said Webb.
Webb also says parents should supervise their children anytime they are around a body of water, whether that be a pool or a lake.
For more advice on how to keep your child safe while outdoors, click here.
