Summertime Sun & Water Safety

By Kessa Dunlop

The nice weather is finally here! Time for more outside activities, and with that comes some extra precautions to ensure your child is kept safe!

Sun Safety:

Your child may become dehydrated when spending time in the heat. Offer them water frequently. (You could model this great habit for them too!)
Take breaks from the heat! Go inside or find a shaded area especially between 10am and 4pm when sun is strongest.
Infants should avoid sun exposure. Dress them in lightweight clothes that cover their arms and legs and don’t forget a sun hat. They will become used to it eventually.
- Start applying sunscreen to children once they reach six months of age.
Reapply sunscreen on children every two hours or more frequently if they are in the water.
- Use sunscreen every day, even when it is cloudy, as skin damage from UV rays is still possible.
Avoid excessive physical activity on hot days.

Water Safety:

Children under five are at the greatest risk for drowning – most happen when a parent or guardian is distracted.

Ponds, wading pools and buckets are all drowning hazards for young children – only 2.5 cm. of water is needed to drown.

Infants, toddlers and those learning to swim should ALWAYS be within an arm’s length of the person watching them.
Drowning can be silent! You may not hear splashing sounds or calls for help, so supervision is key. Appoint a designated ‘water watcher’ so there is no confusion about who is responsible for watching a child in or around water.
Life jackets should be worn by young children near water. Ensure life jackets meet Canadian safety standards and are properly fitted. When boating, children should always wear a life jacket.
- Inflatable swim accessories do NOT replace a life jacket. They create a false sense of security and are NOT an effective lifesaving tool.
Set ‘pool’ rules:
- Enter feet first.
- Always have an adult present.
- Keep surrounding areas clear to avoid tripping/falling into the water.
- Wear a life jacket if learning to swim, etc.
Encourage children to come out of the water to rest or catch their breath.
Get out of the water at the first sign of thunder/lightening.