5 Tips to Help Keep Your Kids Safe - School Holidays

After time indoors, we can start to safely venture outside during the school holidays. But this doesn't mean we can just throw caution to the wind when it comes to safety. As you start planning holidays, camps and all sorts of outdoor fun, make sure you are also planning for the health and safety risks to help keep your child safe. Accidents can always happen and the best way to make sure you're prepared for those accidents is to have a plan in place. According to a Holiday Safety Ranking Report, unintentional injuries escalate during school holidays, with children facing increased risks from drowning, falls, biking and other wheeled sports. It's easy to understand how parents can be apprehensive about their children, but with helpful tips, parents can ensure they're keeping their kids safe. 1. Head injuries Bike accidents are one of the most common injuries for children, but according to the Bike Helmet Safety Institute, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head and brain injury by up to 88 percent for adults and children. Additionally, trampolines and playgrounds also present an opportunity for kids to get injured. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries such as concussions. To help prevent any playground injuries, check that they have soft material under them, such as wood chips, sand, or mulch. Concussions are also common in the summer due to jumping on a trampoline. Most trampoline injuries involve a collision between two or more people, so one of the best ways to make sure this doesn't happen is to only allow one person on at a time. It may also help to attach a net around the outside of the trampoline to prevent falls. 2. Bug bites Anytime being spent outdoors can lead to a higher risk of bug bite exposure. To prevent tick and mosquito bites, you'll of course want to use bug spray on your kids (preferably repellant that contains at least 20 percent DEET), but you will also want them to wear clothes that cover vulnerable areas such as the ankles, lower legs and knees and steer clear of areas where bugs reside. Ticks typically use tall grass and other low-to-mid height plant life to hide whereas mosquitoes are found in dark areas near water, so at the very least, you'll want to avoid staying in these areas for too long. However, in the event that your child does get bitten, BENADRYL Extra-Strength Itch Stopping Anti-Itch Cream can provide relief for minor pain and skin itching. Last but not least, another sure-fire way to avoid bug bites is to keep food contained. Mosquitoes are drawn to water and ants love sugary treats, so make sure your kids keep food sealed and cover drinks when they're done with them. 3. First-aid kit Be prepared: a well-stocked first aid kit is always handy no matter what. Some of the essentials include Band-Aids, Water Block Flex Adhesive Pad, Bandages, Head ache and pain tablets, eye drops (VISINE) for Redness + Irritation Relief, which are all guaranteed to help you stay prepared at all times. 4. Water safety Water activities are great ways to have fun and exercise. And with the summer heat, swimming at the pool is also a great way to make sure your kids don't overheat. To ensure they're staying safe, parents should closely supervise their kids whenever they're near or in the water to prevent drowning and know CPR if possible. In addition, if you and your kids decide to enjoy a day away from the pool (lake, bay, river, creek, ocean), make sure everyone (adults included) wears a life jacket in case of emergency. In Victoria pool fencing is madatory. A four-sided isolation fence, with self-closing and self-latching gates. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren't supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should completely separate the house and play area from the pool.