Play it Safe!

Children's Hospital Boston Tips for a Safe & Healthy Summer

07/05/2006

Now that the warmth of summer has arrived, children are heading outdoors to participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities. Although children find these outdoor activities enjoyable, they often prove to be more dangerous than many realize. Sports injuries increase during the summer, and the number of child drownings skyrockets.

The Children's Hospital Boston Injury Prevention Program strives to protect and improve the health and well being of children and adolescents in Boston. The Injury Prevention Program, an initiative of the Children's Hospital Trauma Program, identifies the most common childhood injuries and collaborates with community agencies and organizations to develop programs and initiatives to educate patients and families about ways to prevent injury.

Summer Safety Summer is the long-awaited time of year when children head outdoors to play, and adults fling open windows to let sunshine and fresh air in. But it is also the most dangerous time of the year.

Poison Ivy As children and adults alike head outside this summer to enjoy the weather, they are at an increased risk of being exposed to the plant which causes an irritating rash caused by simply brushing up against the plant.

Traveling with Diabetes Families must plan wisely when picking a planning a vacation. And when traveling with a child who has diabetes, those decisions can be even more challenging.

Hydration With the warm weather and school out for the summer, it is far more likely that children playing in the sun could experience hydration problems.