Water Safety Tips
- Make sure an adult is constantly watching young children in water.
- Children should never swim alone or in unsupervised places.
- Walk, don't run, around swimming pools or on docks.
- Never push another person into the water or hold another person under water.
- Keep small children away from buckets containing liquids, like 5-gallon buckets.
- Never drink alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing.
- Enroll children over 4 years in swimming classes.
- Learn adult, child and infant CPR.
- Do NOT use air-filled swimming aids (water-wings) in place of life jackets or life preservers for children.
- Do not dive into water less than 9 feet deep.
Sun Safety
- Always wear sunscreen; the sun is the main cause of skin cancer
- Research has shown that two or more blistering sunburns as a child or teen increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. It is very important, therefore, to protect babies and children from sunburn.
-American Academy of Pediatrics - A baby's sensitive skin is thinner than adult skin and will sunburn more easily. Even babies and children with naturally darker skin need protection.
- Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight.
- Dress your baby in clothing that cover the body (don't forget the HAT!)
- Clothing made of cotton is both cool and protective.
- Children should wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect their eyes.
The power of the sun:
- The sun's rays are the strongest from 10 am to 4 pm. Keep children out of the sun as much as possible during these times.
- The sun's rays can bounce back from sand and concrete, so be careful in these areas.
- Use sunscreen even on cloudy days because the sun's damaging rays can come through the clouds.
