Staying Safe Outdoors

Playing outside is such a natural part of childhood that its easy to forget how much trouble kids can get into out there. Here are some tips to help you make sure your child is protected.

Everyday Precautions

Childrens innate curiosity and sense of adventure drive them to try all sorts of new activities. Your foresight can keep your kids out of harms way.

• Make sure your children are always supervised while outside. Know the names of your childrens playmates.
• Make it a routine for your children to wash their hands after coming in from outdoors.
• Guide your childrens outdoor play so that it is within the limits of their physical abilities.
• Teach your children not to pick up or eat anything they find on the ground.
• Remove drawstrings from childrens hooded sweatshirts, windbreakers, etc., because these drawstrings could get caught on playground equipment and choke a child.

In Your Yard

Its likely that your children are going to want to take over the sandbox and any available outdoor space for their games before youve had a chance to remove debris from winter. A few proactive steps from you could make this seasonal transition a safe one.

• Make sure your play equipment is bolted securely in place, and that any peeling paint is removed (this goes for the outside of buildings near the play area, also). Check all structures for sharp edges, splinters, or other damage that could make equipment unsafe and could hurt your children.
• Pets should be fenced out of your childrens play areas to prevent contamination.
• Check the yard or play area for toxic plants, including many common flowers, shrubs, and weeds.
• Dont let your spring gardening and lawn work create hazards: Keep all equipment and toxins (e.g., pesticides or gasoline) in a locked shed or garage.

On the Street

Winters end for many of us means our kids are bursting with energy and ready to race out of doors to run and play. Now is the time to remind them of the basics of "Street Smarts."

• Teach your children to walk, not run, when crossing the street, and to cross only at corners or crosswalks.
• Practice the good corner habits of stopping, and then looking left, right, left before stepping into the street, and then looking for cars while crossing.
• Teach your children to stay on the sidewalk. If they have to walk in the road, teach them to walk facing traffic so that they can see oncoming cars.
Make sure your children wear brightly colored clothing that will make it easy for drivers to see them. Attach reflective strips to hats, shoes, and jackets.

In the Sun

For those of us who are happy to see an end to winter, the urge to spend time in the just-emerging sun can be overwhelming. But we all know now that too much time in the sun can lead to big problems in the future. Sunburn, sunstroke, and skin cancer are all risks of overexposure. Here are some suggestions to minimize your childrens troubles from too much sun.

• Limit your childs time in the sun, even in early spring. Be especially vigilant during peak exposure hours -- 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. -- and in areas with especially warm climates.
• Apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and put hats on your childrens heads to
• keep the sun off their sensitive skin.
• Use sun canopies to shade your yard or play area.