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Jennifer Rodriguez, BS, CIMI, CPST, Injury prevention coordinator, Injury Prevention Program, MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach

The summer season brings the hot sun, trips to the pool and beaches, and fireworks lighting up the night sky. This summer, keep safety top of mind, so your family can enjoy the fun, while staying happy and healthy.

Sunburns are caused by overexposure to UV rays and can cause long-term damage to skin and increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. For babies and toddlers, their skin is delicate, thinner, and produces less melanin, a skin protecting pigment – making it even more important to protect them from the sun. Tips to help protect your child from the sun:

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children. For every child who dies from drowning, another eight receive emergency department care for near drowning accidents. The best way to prevent this from happening is to be water safe.

One in every five children under the age of 15 that die in traffic crashes were pedestrians. The main risk factor being high speed or distracted drivers not paying attention to the road. One of the best ways to prevent a pedestrian related injury or death is to be seen — kids and teens should wear bright clothes or reflective gear to make them more visible to others. Tips to remind your child and teen on ways to be safe on the road:

Protect your family by preventing bites and diseases, like West Nile virus and Lyme disease, which can be transmitted by insects.

Fireworks can be a spectacular event, but they also can cause serious injuries.

These are just some of the ways to keep you and your family safe during the summer. To learn more about ways to keep you and your family safe visit millerchildrens.org/injuryprevention.

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