Now that school is out for the summer, you’re probably making arrangements
to insure your children have the most fun over the next few months. Hiring
a babysitter to take over pool duty, run the kids to the park, chauffeur
them to or from camp or spend time playing with them in your own backyard
could be just what you need.
But, before you leave your children with a sitter, make sure they know
these summer safety tips:
Practice sun smarts. Even when it’s cloudy, children can still get burnt. Make sure your
kids are protected with hats, sunglasses and a sunscreen that shields
against both UVA and UVB rays. If you have a baby under 6 months old,
remind your babysitter that they should not be exposed to the sun or wear
sunscreen.
Never leave children unattended near water regardless of swimming ability. Although arm floats and swim vest help, they should never replace a babysitter’s
supervision. Is your babysitter CPR certified? If not, consider enrolling
them in this
babysitting courseoffered by the Health First Center.
Keep kids hydrated. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids have something
to drink every 20 minutes when they are active. Tell your sitter to have
water bottles handy and to watch for signs of dehydration – such
as sluggishness, redness in the face and irritability.
Enforce helmet safety. Require a helmet be worn when your child is riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, etc.
Safe Kids Worldwideadvises parents that wearing a properly-fitted helmet can reduce the risk
of head injuries by at least 45%.
Never leave a child alone in a car. Leaving a child alone in a car can lead to serious injury or death from
heatstroke. Young children are particularly at risk, as their bodies heat
up three to five times faster than an adult’s. In fact, heatstroke
is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.
Communicating with your babysitter about these topics will allow for your
child to not only have a fun, but a safe summer! For more information
regarding the
Babysitting Class offered at the
Health First Center or other child-safety related questions contact Catawba Valley Medical
Center Child Health & Safety Specialist and
Safe Kids Catawba County Coordinator, Kayla Hefner, at 828.485.2300 (x6204) or
kshefner@catawbavalleymc.org