How to Keep Your Kids Safe This Summer (page 2 of 2)

Pool Safety and More

rd.com: What precautions should parents take at the town pool?

Dr. Mickalide: Never leave your children unsupervised, even if there's a lifeguard. The lifeguard has a lot of responsibility, so the safest thing to do is to stay with your children to make sure they are not diving in water that's less than nine feet deep, that they're behaving appropriately in the pool, and they're able to swim without any impediments.

rd.com: What about at backyard pools?

Dr. Mickalide: The same point with regard to supervision applies. Also, as a parent, you should learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a telephone, and emergency numbers by the pool. Having the phone by the pool is helpful in two ways. First, if your kid has a near-drowning, you can call for help very quickly. The other is that you're not tempted to run into the house when the phone rings. Drowning is silent and sudden and parents don't realize how quickly it can happen.

If you are building a new pool, use four-sided fencing, which means that your home is separated from the pool by the fence. Your home should not be one of the four sides around the pool. If you already own a pool, consider retro-fitting your house with four-sided fencing. The fence should be at least five feet high with self-latching and self-closing gates. The same goes for a spa or whirlpool.

rd.com: What should parents be on the look-out for at backyard barbecues?

Dr. Mickalide: Keep kids away from the grill. If there's playground equipment, be sure that there's appropriate surfacing beneath it, such as mulch or fine sand. Make sure kids aren't wearing necklaces or clothes with drawstrings, so they don't strangulate themselves on the playground equipment or when they're climbing a tree. You also need to be wary of potentially poisonous plants and pesticides. Ask the homeowners if the area has recently been sprayed so you can tell your children not to go near those areas. If there's a wading pool and it's not in use, you need to empty it out so that kids can't stumble into it. Some people don't realize that a wading pool could be as threatening to a toddler as a large pool.

rd.com: What precautions should parents take concerning cars?

Dr. Mickalide: First, you need to buckle up every time you ride. Make sure you read your child-seat owner's manual as well as your motor-vehicle owner's manual for directions on proper installation of the child seat. You should never leave your child alone in a motor vehicle because it gets very hot, very fast. Cracking of the windows does not help. You should also lock the doors when your cars are in the driveway and keep keys out of reach. Kids love to go in the cars and play both in the passenger compartment and in the trunk.

rd.com: What should parents tell kids about pedestrian behavior?

Dr. Mickalide: The general rule of thumb is that kids under 10 should not be crossing the street alone. Parents are letting kids cross the street too soon, and it's one of the leading causes of death for children ages five to nine. Young children lack the ability to judge the speed and distance of the oncoming traffic. Parents need to be modeling and teaching proper pedestrian behavior. Cross at the corner and when you do cross, continue to look both ways because there will be new cars turning into your walkway or people that are speeding. Also, obey all the traffic signals.

rd.com: So is it safer for kids to just stay inside?

Dr. Mickalide: We want children out of the house -- having fun, riding their bikes. Physical activity is fantastic! You just need to be armed with the right safety information. Recognizing that there are risks is half the battle.

• Summer Season
• • Children's Health
• • Parenting Kids

• Swimming Pool Safety
• Keep your kids safe at the pool this summer.
• 
• 7 First-Aid Standbys You Should Never Use
• Update your first-aid kit and learn which common treatments can be dangerous to use in an emergency.
• 
• Beware the Dog Bite
• What parents, including dog owners, can do to protect themselves and their kids from dog bites.
• 
• The Less-Stress Family Vacation
• Hassle-free hints on traveling with kids.
• 
• Making Mud Pies
• Those outdoor experiences nourish the brain and body -- and nurture a love of nature.
• 
• The Power of Pretend
• It's not just fun for kids to use their imaginations -- it's how they grow into smart, adaptive adults.
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• How Does Your Garden Grow?
• Help kids explore the good earth.
• 
• The Power of Play
• Games and puzzles offer kids an array of cool benefits.
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