Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones teaches kids in Houston as part of his national water safety campaign.

Fun in the Sun
These tips will make your summer the best yet.

For most kids, summertime means enjoying the great outdoors. From attending pool parties and picnics to shooting hoops at the playground, there are plenty of ways to have fun in the sun. Summer brings its own set of hazards, however. Make sure your season is a safe one by keeping these safety tips in mind.

The American Cancer Society wants you to remember to slip on a shirt to protect your skin from the sun, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap some sunglasses around your face.

Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap! Sun-filled days can make you feel good—after all, sunshine is a source of vitamin D. But getting sunburned is no fun. It hurts and can damage your skin for life. Memorize this phrase to help you remember what to do before heading out into the sun: "Slip, slop, slap, and wrap!"

But no matter how much sunscreen you put on, you should try to limit your time outside when the sun's rays are strongest. In most places, that is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

In the Swim Swimming and splashing are great ways to get some exercise during the warm weather. You probably already know that it is not a good idea to swim alone. And if you don’t know how to swim, fun times at the beach or the pool can be even more dangerous. Approximately 10 people drown every day in the United States. Many are kids and teens.

Cullen Jones teaches Jamiya Hoyt, 9, of Houston.

That's why the USA Swimming Foundation wants young people to learn how to swim. The group is working with Olympic gold medal winner Cullen Jones, 25, on a program called Make A Splash. It is offering swim lessons for kids, especially those who live in big cities.

When Jones was a child, he nearly drowned at a water park. Now, the swimming champ is traveling across the country to help spread the word about swimming fun and safety.

Every small child in the water must have a parent or a caregiver close enough to reach out to the child if he or she needs help. An adult should be just a fingertip away, explains Dr. Garry Gardner of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (Pediatricians are doctors who treat children and teens.)

Play It Safe When you bring out the bikes, in-line skates, scooters, and skateboards from winter storage, don't forget the safety gear. Knee and elbow pads and wrist guards are a good idea, but helmets are a must, even if it isn't required by law in your state or community. Gardner says he sees kids with serious head injuries every summer. "It wouldn't happen if they were wearing bicycle helmets," he says.

Ask an adult for help in making sure that all your equipment fits you properly, including your bike. You might be surprised to see how much you have grown since last summer!

You can help make sure younger kids are safe when they play too. Organize a playground safety check in your neighborhood or local park. Check that playground equipment is on a soft surface. Soft padding, such as a mat or shredded rubber or wood chips, provides a soft landing for kids who fall down.

There are other ways you can make sure your local playground will be fun and safe this summer, the AAP says. Check slides and swings for metal parts that will get hot in the sun. Those parts could burn skin on a very hot day. In addition, look out for hooks that aren’t attached firmly or screws and bolts that are sticking out of equipment. And never attach ropes or leashes to equipment. That could create tripping or choking hazards.

Riding Safely Even if you are too young to drive, there are things to think about when it comes to cars and summertime safety, Gardner says. Of course, always buckle up—that's a good idea year round, he says, but still important to remember in the summer. Why? "There's a lot more driving that goes on in the summer," he says.

There are two other warm–weather dangers for little kids, and you can help prevent them. First, Gardner says, "children should never be left alone inside of a car, even for a minute." That applies to pets too. Even with windows open, the temperature inside a car can soar to dangerously hot levels within minutes.

Also, a car that is just parked in the driveway at home, with nobody in the car, can be dangerous for little kids. That's because driveways sometimes become a play area during the summer. Gardner advises kids to stay away from driveways and find safer places to play. Grown-ups can also help, he adds. Adults should always walk all the way around a car to check for kids they might not be able to see while in the car before backing out of a driveway. Share that tip with all the drivers in your family!

So whether you are spending your summer in the country, at the seashore, in the city, or on a road trip, following these tips can help make sure that you stay safe and healthy. A safe summer is a fun one!

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