Summer Safety Tips

The end of the school year means that kids from kindergarten to high school graduates are at home while their parents continue to work. Spend a few minutes setting some ground rules that will insure healthy activities and an injury free vacation.

• Clear plans for each day’s activities set in advance with an emphasis on regular schedules and predictability.
• Any variation in plans requires immediate notification of one or both parents.
• Limited use of videos, computer games, and television with set guidelines for the time allocated to each activity or the shows watched.
• Consider going to the library and developing a summer reading list.
• No friends at home unless an adult is present.
• Store alcohol and prescription drugs in a location inaccessible to children.
• The same should be done with firearms as well with the addition of trigger locks.
• Have a home first aid kit available and its contents reviewed along with instructions on when to use it.
• A list of emergency phone numbers posted next to the phone.
• The name of a friend or relative who is at home during the day who could be called in the event of a serious problem.

"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.