We were invited to Shriners Hospitals for Children® in Tampa, FL to learn about some great safety tips to stay on track for a safe Summer. We want to share with you how to educate yourself and your children to prevent injuries this Summer. My local Shriners Hospitals for Children® caters to orthopedic but there are chapters across the nation that can help in regards to orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, and burns, regardless of a family having the ability to pay for medical treatment.
By educating families, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, along with myself, really want to help prevent injuries and encourage everyone to have an enjoyable Summer without a visit to a trauma center.
June 21st officially starts Summer. It may already be a scorcher where you are and you are ready to go out and have lot s of fun with school being out. Did you know that June is National Safety Month?
The Summer months are often referred to by hospitals and medical professionals as the “trauma season”, which sadly the news stories are already flooding the headlines: Boy 4, drowns at wedding, Girl 3 Drowns in above ground pool, in prior years, lawn mower accidents. Accidents are bound to happen but most can be prevented.
10 Safety Tips to keep your family On Track for a Safe Summer
1. Apply sunscreen and reapply according to bottle as sweat and water can wear it down. Wear a hat on your head to protect that noggin!
2. ALWAYS swim with an adult. Adults, gates and security measures should be taken around both in ground and above ground pools and special attention given when out around lakes, ponds, and the ocean.
3. Wear a life jacket when near the water. This is for both children and adults!
4. Never play on or around lawn mowers. My local Shriners Hospitals for Children® has actually treated one of the biggest headlines in the news a few years ago of a little girl in Florida, losing her legs in a lawn mower accident. Please be vigilant in making sure children are supervised if another adult is mowing the lawn. This includes locking doors and not playing outside during this time. If the family buys a used lawn mower or even new. Make sure the safety features are not disengaged. Children are fast. Every precaution should be taken to prevent this machinery to cause harm to one. This also includes not letting children go for a “ride” on the lap of an adult.
5. Do not let children near fire pits, campfires, or grills. After a toddler I know had his hand burned, his parents put a full size round baby play yard around the Father while grilling so the young child could not go near him again.
6. Swing, sitting down. Many injuries come from children being acrobats and fearless.
7. Do not push or shove others on the play ground. Injuries during the school year occur often due to this, let’s not forget manners and waiting our turn.
8. Slide feet first. One child at a time. Parents, please do not slide with your child on your lap, it can cause injury if their leg gets stuck and friction bends it back.
9. Wear a helmet. When on a bike, most every state has a law that if you are under the age of 16, a helmet is required.
10. Wear the appropriate apparel and shoes for your Summer adventures. Sneakers for the playground will prevent tripping. Water shoes near the pool or splash pad, will prevent slipping. Wearing loose clothing during play can cause injury without even thinking about it.
During our tour of Shriners Hospitals for Children® I learned so much about the amazing things they do on a tiny budget. Most of the funding is from donations. This wall is all donations over $500,000, many in to the millions. Most, from individual people, not corporations. Through donations and fundraising, Shriners Hospitals for Children® stays open for your child and your family.
I met a beautiful girl named Grace at the event. She had been adopted by an amazing set of parents, knowing she would lose her leg. with the help of Shriners Hospitals for Children® she has had multiple surgeries and learned to walk with a prosthetic. She has a wheel chair but she is so persistent and wants to walk around, sometimes without even using her prosthetic! Children are amazing and will conquer anything that comes their way. Shriners Hospitals for Children® will be there for any of the uphill battles!
If you live near a Shriners Hospitals for Children® and want to make a contribution, toys and fun items for the group areas are always needed, the little tabs off soda pop cans, they weigh the most, take up little space, and bring in the most money. A company works with Shriners Hospitals for Children® to process them for recycling and help raise funds. This is something anyone can do at home, I already started my container! You can just walk these donations in to the front desk, they will not turn you away. One of the names on this particular wall in Tampa, FL is of a girl who has brittle bone disease. Her families’ fundraising efforts alone have brought in over $500K
With fun waiting rooms that cater to the children, the best in technology, and the heart of all the staff and volunteers, even though you may not want to ever want your child to be a patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children®, you would be well taken care of and treated with the utmost compassion. The hospitals would not run without volunteers. While touring we got to learn that volunteers not only give tours, play with the children, and help with fundraising, but they will drive from other areas of the state to transport patients to surgeries and appointments, if they do not have a way to get there. I got all the “feel goods” being there and love that they are right in my own back yard. It never felt like a hospital and they do that on purpose. It is a home away from home.
So please Stay on Track for a Safe Summer, even though the Shriners Hospitals for Children® are amazing in every way imaginable, they don’t want to see an influx in patients, they want you all to have fun and be safe, as do I!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Shriners Hospitals for Children®.
Author: Nichole Arnold
I’m the owner of Mommy Needs a Bottle . I’m a 30- something wine enthusiast that resides in Tampa, FL. I love family traditions, traveling, cooking, baking, reading, fashion, tattoos, beauty products, and being a Mommy! I have a background in marketing, public relations, copywriting, and sales.
when i was a nurse I i saw what they do for kids,,they are a wonderful organization
What a great article.in a world with so much chaos,it’s really great to hear good.thanks so much for sharing.
These are all great tips! I would add to number 6: don’t “bail” off the swing! My brother broke his arm when he was 7 because he jumped off from way up in the air. Back then, we just had blacktop under the swings, but I think even with the wood chips and what not now, landing on your arm from that height is never good.
What a beautiful place/hospital for childhood care. These are also absolutely wonderful tips for a very safe summer vacation with the family. While having fun and relaxing definitely tops the list for my son during his summer vacation, I never take a vacation from being a mommy, and that means taking utmost care of my precious cargo!
i love theses pics.
I love that there are events like this to help to raise awareness for both the parents and the kids as to safety precautions. These are amazing tips and so easy to remember but also easy to overlook. Preventable accidents always can be so devastating.
When I was growing up, my mom would always talk about how important it was to donate money to the Shriner’s hospitals. We are very fortunate to have a healthy family, but that can also change in an instant. Thank you for such a great post to keep my family safe this summer.
I have always heard that the Childrens Shriner Hospitals are so awesome! Whoever works there is a Saint! God bless them all for the work they do for children when they need it the most. We must keep our Children safe. Every tip you named is one that is necessary for our childrens well being. Thankyou for sharing!
These are definitely some great tips for keeping kids (and parents) on track this summer. I’m going to be all about the sunscreen this summer! Summer JUST started and it already feels like late August hot. Sunscreen is going to be my best friend this summer!
These are just great tips, that everyone should follow. I live in Florida, so I know just how important sun safety is.
All that advise seems intuitive to me but I guess some need a reminder. No one wants a child to be hurt! I have heard of Shriner’s and know them to be a very good hospital.
These are really great tops for keeping children safe during the summer–The Shriner;s hospital is one of the best children’s hospitals and deserve all the contributions it can get.
These are great tips. Tammilee is right. These are easy to remember, but often overlooked. Kids love the outdoors and we should always keep them safe.
So very true! We need to be aware of ways to keep our kids safe – summer time and all year round!
I plan on having lots more fun this summer. That means safety will be really important too! Shriners sounds like a great organization.
these are some fantastic tips!!! Now that my daughter is getting older, I really need to keep these kinds of things in mind!
I think Shriner’s Hospital is a wonderful organization. I actually know a girl that has been there and her parents had nothing but great things to say.
I’ve only got a teenage stepson, so fortunately summer break will be a breeze for me, but these are great tips! I’m always on his case about sunscreen, but after I tell him that sunscreen is the major reason he thinks I look so much younger than his father, he generally listens 😉
These are all such great tips. I am pretty crazy about putting on sunscreen, wearing helmets, and swimming safely, so it is good to know that I am doing something right. I need to be more diligent at the park, though.
These are all great tips to have a safe summer. They are very common sense ideas but a reminder doesn’t hurt. Hopefully this will prevent many children from having to visit the hospital this summer.
These are all great summer safety tips. As lovely as Shriner’s looks, we’ll be following the tips so we don’t have to pay a visit there!
It would be best for kids to be in the playground or out swimming during summer. It’s also important that they take extra precaution and avoid dangerous areas.
Wow I had no idea that summer was “trauma season” but it totally makes sense. These stories break my heart. Way to go Tampa for this safety get together. I only wish more hospitals would do this!
These are such great tips! The worst thing to happen during summer is getting hurt.
These are really great tips. I am always doing my best to make sure my daughter is safe every summer!
What a great event! I don’t have kids myself, but it doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking when a child dies or is seriously injured. It’s good that places are putting on events like this to bring awareness and to remind people of the simple things that can prevent huge tragedies. I like how you mentioned the little girl who wants to walk without her prosthetic. Children truly are amazing.
Oh she was such a doll!!! She is the girl in the blue dress, her father was just such a light to talk to and only had amazing things to say about Shriners Hospitals and how they have helped Grace since she was little even with surgeries on deck!
We are blessed to have a Shriners Hospital hear in Philagelphia. They are wonderful! Supporting them is a no-brainer. These are all good tips. I have to constantly remind mine to apply sunscreen and drink lots of water.
Great tips! Summer also comes with the risk of sunburn and insect bites. Better protect skin with some lotions.
I like what Shriners do for kids in need. Thanks for the safety reminders -you know what they say about an ounce of prevention
What a great list of things to remember for summer for kids. It’s great for parents to read and also review them with your child(ren).
Shriner’s Hospitals does so many wonderful things for children. Thank you for making people more aware of safety tips and this hospital
These are some great tips. We all want our children to have fun during the summer break, however, it is also more important than ever to make sure that they stay safe too. Thanks for the reminder.
Grace sounds so sweet! Safety year round is definitely a priority but I had no idea that summer was specifically considered a trauma part of the year! It makes sense though, with all the extra outdoor activities and long days. Drowning is a huge fear of mine, and my son is definitely a little nuts when it comes to outdoor acrobatics. It looks like ya’ll had fun on your visit. Thanks for sharing!
Great tips that all parents/grandparents should read.
these are great tips to stay safe this summer!!
These are some really great tips! Summertime is such a great risk in some ways because the Kiddies are so much more active outside and away from home. I will definitely be making note and checking these during our summer fun.
OMG! When I was a kid we did most of those things and more…sure we got a scrape or a bump or two, but it was such fun. Today I know these are a big no-no, safety for the kids comes first, and it’s understandable.
Thanks for all of the info.
These are all great tips to have a safe summer, most people forget about wearing the correct sunscreen as well as wearing correct shoes
Swing sitting down! Now you lost me there. Just kidding. I remember as a kid standing up to swing, then flipping off or seeing who can jump the furthest followed by climbing trees, etc. The good ole days. Great tips for summer safety though.
All very common sense suggestions. You don’t want to ruin your summer with accidents.
Great initiative from the hospital. Not that all the points are unknown to all, but it is good to sum up everything for an educative session.
I cringe every time I see an adult giving kids a ride on a lawnmower. I love that Shriners help families in need regardless of their ability to pay.
I hope you don’t mind but I printed off the article and summer safety tips and am going to post on church bulletin board.
My grandparents were very involved with donating to the Shriner’s Hospital. We also have a local armory that holds yearly circus in town and its ran by the “Shriner’s” and money raised goes towards their hospital and organization.
Thanks for all the great summer tips !!
Please do share! I am so scared every Summer in Florida with the lawn mower stories, drownings, and all around preventable injuries! I can’t even wrap my head around how many go on worldwide!!
The hospital and everything about them sounds amazing. Thanks for all of the great tips.
These are great tips to be reminded of!
very great tips! campfires/grills and firepits always scare me when kids get rowdy around them!
Thanks for all of your safety tips. As for #6, it might be good to point out that if anyone, especially a child, is pushing a child in a swing, don’t push them too high or not straight. When I was about 8 another child pushed me too hard sideways and I hit the metal pole and chipped my front tooth. Kids also used to twist up the chains or ropes holding the swing while a kid was in the swing (although a kid could spin around and twist themselves up) and then let go and the kid would wildly spin around and around. I saw several kids get hurt that way. I hope everyone does their best to stay safe, but it’s great to know about Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in case anyone gets hurt.
Those are great points! I had my fingers hurt on more than one instance with the metal chains on the swings!
Great article. I preach these tips to my children every day. They usually cut me off and quote them to me.
The Shriners do wonderful work. These are great tips to remember. Being safe is always in season!
Thank you for the heads up on the tab tops of soda! I had no idea and that’s something we can easily do!
Thanks for all the great advice!! Such good information to have!!
You would think some of these would be common sense, but then you remember how often you hear about these types of accidents. It’s good advice!
All wonderful Safety Tips! I’m Agent Bot by the way. 😉
I have to admit that sunscreen is my biggest fail! I have an olive skin tone as well as my oldest so when I had my middle child who is PALE, it was so hard for me to remember to keep him out of the sun or protected from it. He’s had a little bit of sunburn on his cheeks and shoulders. :/ My youngest also has a bit of my olive skin, but I still lotion him up to avoid the sunburn.
These are great tips for keeping the kiddos safe during summertime fun!
Great tips. So many times kids aren’t in the right shoes or aren’t in any shoes at all and it can be dangerous based on the situation.
I would love to have the Samsung 16.3 Megapixel Smart Camera. It would be so fun to have and use!
I have a neighbor who lost a grandchild in a hot car. BE SAFE>
That is so heartbreaking 🙁
These are great tips. I think nowadays it’s so important that are kids have a trusted guardian watching them when they go out to play. The world just seems more dangerous now.
Valuable info shared and a great reminder to many just how quick things can happen. For many years I have heard of all the great thing Shriner’s hospital has done. And how awesome to have volunteers that are just there to help others any way they can
VERY GOOD TIPS!! But also tomorrow on July 4th – do NOT play or go around fireworks without an adult present!
These are great tips. Shriner’s Hospital’s are awesome. Shriner’s do a lot of good work in the community also.
So sad that they call Summer time the “trauma season”. I also live in Florida and it’s so important that your children learn how to swim too. I’d never have thought to donate soda can tabs. Cool! These are great tips to keep everyone safe during such a fun time of year. Thank-you!
My husband and I have been saving the tabs since my visit, it adds up. I can’t wait to take my first Gaterade 32oz bottle in! I may not be able to donate cash money at this point in my life but any little bit helps. Also being able to drop off coloring books, crafts, etc for their activity room is so simple and can really brighten a day!
This is one of those times the ounce of prevention is worth the pound of cure. It may be hard to be very vigilant at all times, but it only takes a second or a minute to have something happen. It is good to get into a very reliable habit of thinking ahead and ensuring safety as much as possible, these are all good suggestions.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
These are great tips & reminders. Most are common sense but I am seeing more and more lately that common sense isn’t common anymore
I really enjoyed reading this post! There are a lot of safety tips here that I hadn’t even thought of before. Thank you so much for sharing this information!
I’m a law student and I really did not know states had a law where it’s required for some underage children to wear helmets.
Yep, I think when I looked up the documents there might have been one or two states that didn’t have the law. Most were age 16 and under.
Thanks for sharing this with us, things like the use of sunscreen can be easily overlooked.
I have two girls myself and this is great advice. I want to keep kids safe.
These are all great tips everyone should be reminded of.Thanks for sharing!
These are GREAT tips!! My granddaughter fractured her wrist by just falling down on the cement while it was wet & slipped. HEY another tip: NO RUNNING ON WET CEMENT!! Sometimes you can be right there watching them & there could be an accident My grandson just fractured his wrist because his sister was twirling him on his parent’s office chair. Their new ride went to fast and he went tumbling off. I downloaded the SAFETY WORD SEARCH for the grandkids to do & learn.
These are great tips Always good to revisit them. Thanks for the article and reminders.
Those are great tips. I didn’t know about going down a slide that could hurt a child.
These are some all important tips to keep your kids safe and on track. Helmets are a very great idea to minimize injury.
That’s some great information to help keep your children safe. Also if you happen to own a pool remove floats, balls and other toys from the pool after use so that children are not tempted to reach for them.
Great tips that EVERY parent should heed!
This article is full of helpful tips on how to not have accidents involving your children.
I love the shriner’s hospital they have helped a lot of our kids in our community
good list of tips to remember. we don’t have a lawn mower since we rent, but i could see how keeping the kiddos away from it is a good idea.
with a daughter and son with children I will share this great information with them
These are excellent tips!! What an awesome hospital, I’ve heard great things about them and the environment looks like a great place to take the worry out of sick kids!
Thank you for these common sense tips on child safety. Everyone needs to keep in mind precautions that help keep kids safer.
Fabulous post! Thank you for sharing these amazing tips! I will share and thanks again!
It is SO important for both kids and adults to wear helmets!
Very good tips and great photos. Thanks for sharing.
I have seen many people giving their kids a “ride” on the lawnmower and I cringe every time.
Safety 1st!! Good tips, you can never be to safe!! Also, I love Shriners and their organization. They do wonderful things for children.
These are some great tips–I really want my son to take swimming lessons soon!
Lots of great tips which are all very useful and helpful. Thanks for sharing
Apply sunscreen and REAPPLY — many people forget to reapply and that is so important.
This was a great article. You can never be to careful with your children. I can understand why this is trauma time for the hospitals. People tend to get careless at times. Thank you so much for sharing
All really good tips! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing these great summer tips! The sunscreen one really hit home for me since my step-father, who lives in Florida, just had some cancerous spots removed.. When I was a kid I literally sun bathed with baby oil at the beach! But we know better now, thankfully!
Good list of tips. Wearing a helmet is so important.
I had no b idea professionals referred to this as trauma season. These are excellent reminders and tips. Many we overlook thinking ‘it’s just for a minute ‘ or ‘that’ll never happen to us. Scary and something we all need to be more diligent about.
These are all great tips. I definitely relate about wearing a high SPF sunscreen as I get sunburned very easily. It’s important to always wear sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy outside–in fact, that’s when it’s even more dangerous as far as getting sunburned, since people think it’s safe because it’s cloudy so will stay outdoors longer! Thanks for posting!
Great tips to keep kids safe.
These safety tips are very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this very important, LIFE SAVING post! These safety rules cannot be repeated often or widely enough ~ and a surprising number seem to be forgotten or overlooked (at least based on my observations.)
I’ve tried to do my part by sharing/posting this EVERYWHERE I can think of!
P.S.
I agree ~ Shriners’ Hospitals are the best!
When having summer fun, common sense tips are great! Thank you!
Thanks for the tips on how to keep your kids safe during the summer. You make a great point about how summer can be a dangerous time for children. That’s cool that your hospital specializes in orthopedics. Orthopedics can require special attention and knowledge to help individuals live as normal a life as possible.
I really loved reading about the hospital and how they do a lot on a very small budget. It’s amazing how many donors were on that wall of over $500,000 donations! I had the opportunity recently to donate a large number of children’s books to our local hospital’s pediatric unit. It was an amazing experience.
I agree that it’s important to help kids avoid pushing other kids at the play ground. If they’re not avoiding that, then they may not avoid shoulder surgery either. Kids need to know the repurcussions of dangerous horseplay.
Very, very good summer tips for kids. Always apply sunscreen is so important and make sure to wear a lifejacket in water and swim with an adult are all great tips!
These are some great tips–there are so many things to be careful of in the summer!