Summer is a great time for a kid to be a kid. Long summer days give kids plenty of time to play and have fun. However, emergency department physicians know the three-month period between spring and fall as “trauma season.” In fact, trauma centers tend to see double the amount of traumatic injuries in children over the summer months. The simple truth is more time spent outside tends to equal more injuries. However, as a parent, this does not mean that you need to shelter your child indoors all summer! The most important thing to prevent child injuries this summer is to make sure that your child is properly supervised. However, that is not the only thing a parent can do. The following are some of the most common summer dangers and ways parents can protect their children:
- Water: While boating and swimming are great ways to pass the summer days, water play of any kind can be dangerous for children. Make sure that your child never swims unsupervised and always wears a life jacket when on a boat.
- Bicycles: Bikes are by far the most dangerous toy, that nearly every child in America owns. This is not to say a child should not have a bike; rather it means that precautions need to be taken to keep children safe. New learners, especially will have their fair shares of spills. Make sure your child wears a helmet and knows how to make sure he or she is seen by automobile drivers.
- Playgrounds: Kids love the playground! But did you know that more than 20,000 children are seen for playground-related traumatic brain injuries in emergency departments across the country? In addition to proper supervision, injuries can be prevented by parents inspecting playground equipment to make sure it is good condition. Monkey bars related injuries are so high that experts often recommend that they be removed from playgrounds.
- Fireworks: Fourth of July is often the prime time for fireworks and children are often given sparklers to celebrate the holiday. Most parents are unaware though of the dangers sparklers present. Sparklers burn at 2,000 degrees, which is hot enough to burn some metals. It is best to leave fireworks to the professionals!
- Pets: The temperature is not thing the only thing that is heading up, up, up, in the summer. Dog bites to children also rise during the summer months. Teach your child to always ask a dog’s owner for permission before attempting to pet a dog.
- Trampolines: While jumping on a home trampoline can be fun it also tends to be an accident waiting to happen. Children younger than six years of age are at the greatest risk of injury. The best way to prevent injury, other than to avoid trampolines all together, is only to allow one child to jump at a time.
- Heat & burns: Summer means days filled with sunshine and evenings eating smores. Which means that if not care, can also translate to sunburns, heatstroke, and campfire burns! Keep children covered in sunscreen, well-hydrated and a safe distance from any open fire pit.
At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we are dedicated to helping injury victims obtain financial recovery for their injuries. If your child suffered serious injuries after being involved in a summertime accident, you might be entitled to compensation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we will take the time to carefully review your case and discuss your legal option with you. You can trust the Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help you, just as they have helped countless injured victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To schedule a consultation, please contact our office today at (816) 472-4673. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we strive to provide injury victims with exceptional legal services.
