I’m babysitting some neighborhood children this summer before I head back to college in the fall. The kids are pretty well-behaved, but they’re still kids. And when they get together in groups, they can be a handful.
I’m worried about the children getting hurt. What types of injuries should I be most concerned about?
Summer is the best time for kids to get outside and play with their friends. Although most children today spend more time indoors than outdoors, the risk of injury hasn’t really changed.
Summertime activities offer a chance to make memories and have some fun, but they’re not without their risks. According to Ankin Law Office, children are sent to emergency rooms each year after suffering injuries related to lakes, swimming pools, skateboards, bicycles, trampolines, sunburns, firecrackers, falls, insect bites and more.
One of the biggest concerns in the summer is swimming pool accidents and drownings. Kids can have a great time swimming in pools, but there are also many ways that they can get injured. Drowning is the biggest concern, which is why you should be supervising the children at all times if you take them to the pool, a lake or the ocean.
About 5% of all spinal cord injuries in children are caused by diving accidents, so you may want to ban diving if you’re at the pool.
If the kids like to ride their bikes or skateboards, you have to worry about broken bones, concussions, sprains, cuts and bruises. Thousands of children are injured each year while biking or skateboarding. Severe or even fatal injuries are possible, so it’s important to make sure that the children are safe when they’re engaging in these activities.
For maximum safety, kids should be wearing helmets, knee pads and elbow pads. Simply wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head trauma and brain injuries by a whopping 85%.
Playgrounds and trampolines can also be dangerous. Playground equipment can be fun for kids, but they’re not always well-maintained. Many children walk away with skinned knees, broken bones and serious cuts after playing on the playground.
Trampolines are especially dangerous, especially if two or more children are jumping at the same time. Many trampoline-related injuries are caused by kids colliding into each other while jumping. If the kids will be using a trampoline, make sure that you supervise them at all times and that they follow the rules. For maximum safety, the children should take turns jumping one at a time. Ideally, there should also be netting around the trampoline to keep kids from falling off and hitting or getting stuck in the frame.
Burns and insect bites are a few other injuries you should be worried about. Sunburn can not only be uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Make sure that the children wear sunscreen each time they go outside – at least SPF 15. Hats and sunglasses offer further sun protection. If the kids will be playing in the water, you’ll need to reapply the sunscreen frequently to prevent burning.
Don’t forget to protect kids against bug bits by putting on bug spray each time they play outdoors.
About Sky Line Net Installations:
Sky Line Net Installations Inc. is a 100% independently owned Canadian Company. Specializing in design, engineering, supply and installation of sports and industrial barrier netting systems since 1980, we are considered the leaders in innovative design and performance throughout Canada. Our expertise allows us to match the best pole and line support materials along with the best foundation designs to the finest netting materials for our customer’s requirements anywhere in Canada.
In 2002 we became affiliated with Coastal Netting Systems in California. Coastal is recognized for their excellence in engineering and manufacturing of the finest steel poles for the netting industry in North America. We have hundreds of successful pole and netting systems in place in all types of environments. With decades of design engineering and field experience we stand behind our products and performance with the best warranties available.
Contact:
Phone: (604) 328 – 1474
Email: info@skynets.ca
Web: https://www.skynets.ca