| Did you know that automobile accidents are the | | | | proper tire inflation, installing bicycle lights for night-riding, |
| leading cause of death for children over the age of 1? | | | | walking bicycles across streets within crosswalks, and |
| Or that each year over 400,000 children are treated in | | | | utilizing bike trails and sidewalks rather than riding in the |
| emergency rooms for bicycle riding-related injuries? | | | | street. |
| Did you know that childhood sun exposure may be | | | | Sun Safety |
| one of most significant contributing factors to skin | | | | Experts believe that prolonged and unprotected sun |
| cancer later on in life? Or that drowning is the number | | | | exposure as a child can significantly increase one's |
| one cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4 in | | | | chances of developing skin cancer later in life. |
| California? | | | | Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be |
| Summertime is a fun season for children, but it can | | | | applied and re-applied during outside activities. |
| also be a dangerous time of year. The good news is | | | | Waterproof sunscreen should be utilized during water |
| that parents who take the proper precautions can | | | | activities and should also be re-applied. Parents should |
| significantly decrease the likelihood that their child will be | | | | also consider encouraging their children to wear hats in |
| injured. | | | | order to protect their faces from sun exposure. Also, |
| Automobile Safety | | | | avoid the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays between 11 am |
| When traveling with young passengers, make sure | | | | and 3 pm. |
| that any children under the age of 14 are buckled in the | | | | Water Safety |
| backseat. Booster seats are recommended for all | | | | Parents should consider enrolling children in swim |
| children under 4' tall and under 100 pounds. Make sure | | | | lessons. Knowing how to swim is the primary way of |
| that all car seats are properly installed. Most local police | | | | preventing of water accidents. Parents should also |
| stations and fire stations offer free installation | | | | discourage children from ever swimming alone or |
| instructions. | | | | without adult supervision. Young children or |
| Bicycle Safety | | | | inexperienced swimmers should always wear personal |
| Along with youth automobile safety, parents should | | | | floatation devices. Pay attention to weather conditions- |
| also concern themselves with their children's bike riding | | | | get out of the water at the first sign of bad weather. |
| habits. In order to reduce to risk of serious injury, | | | | Parents should also caution children against excess |
| parents should encourage helmet use. Some experts | | | | strenuous activity, excess sun exposure, and excess |
| estimate that wearing a bike helmet may reduce the | | | | fatigue. |
| risk of brain injury by up to 88%. Other studies reveal | | | | In order to decrease the likelihood of serious injuries |
| that parents who wear bike helmets have children | | | | during the summer season, parents should teach their |
| who wear bike helmets, as parents serve as safety | | | | children the importance of automobile, bicycle, sun and |
| role models for their children. | | | | water safety. |
| Other bike safety precautions to consider: ensuring | | | | |