Tips for Making Summer Safe from LASSA

Summer Safe Checklist
During summer, kids will have fun and stay active by riding their bikes, swimming, walking and playing in playgrounds. However, these activities aren't without risk. Safety experts estimate that yearly thousands of children will be seriously injured this June through August.

The good news, As per LASSA experts, is that at least 40 per cent of these injuries can be prevented by following basic safety advice. The following how to help keep your child safe this summer:

Bike riding
Insist on a bike helmet. A helmet protects your child in case of a crash or fall. Keep children under 10-years-old off the road. They don't have the mental and physical skills to ride safely in traffic. Teach your 10-year-old about road rules and how to ride safely near cars. Make sure he or she practices repeatedly under your supervision before riding alone. Take your kids to places which are announced as bike areas so that you can enjoy cycling with them without worrying about vehicles.

Swimming
According to LASSA experts, children under five have the highest risk of drowning because they are attracted to water but do not understand the dangers. They can drown QUICKLY and SILENTLY. Reduce the risk by standing within arm's reach of your child whenever he or she is in the water or close to water and keep them in a lifejacket. Be sure to supervise older children and teens as well.

Walking
Children under age nine are at particular risk as pedestrians because they have not developed good judgment about traffic. Make sure children under nine cross the street with an adult or older child. Before walking alone, have your nine-year-old show you that he or she knows how to cross the street safely by pointing out the risks and actions they would take to be safe. Always talk and teach your child road safety.

Drivers' speed is also a risk factor. Some areas have been successful in reducing traffic speed and using other traffic calming measures such as speed bumps.

Playgrounds
Most serious injuries happen when children fall from equipment onto a hard surface. Choose playgrounds with a deep, soft surface. Keep children under five on equipment that is no more than 1.5 meter high.

Summer Safe Checklist:
Will your child be spending time bike riding, swimming, walking or at the playground this summer? Make sure he or she stays safe, says LASSA. Here's how:

Ride safe
Wear a helmet. It can reduce the risk of head and brain injury by as much as 85 per cent.

Under 10? Stay off the road. Children under 10 don't have the physical and mental skills to ride in traffic.

If your child is over 10, teach road safety and supervise until he or she can ride safely alone.

Swim Safe
Under five? Children under five have the highest risk of drowning. Put them in a lifejacket and stay right beside them at all times.

Over five? Emergencies can happen anytime, even if your child can swim well. Supervise right through the teenage years.

Fence your pool. Keep your child and others safe by surrounding the pool area with a four-sided, four-foot high fence with a self-latching gate.

Walk Safe
Under nine? Don't cross the street alone. Children don't develop the judgment to cross the street safely until at least age nine.

Slow down. Children hit by a car going 50 km/hr are eight times more likely to die as those hit by a car going 30km/hr.

Make sure your child crosses with an adult or older responsible child.

Play Safe
Keep it low. Most children are hurt on playgrounds when they fall. Use playgrounds with a deep, soft surface and keep children under five on equipment that is no more than 1.5 meters high.