SearchAs the days get warmer, people get excited about spending more of their time in the great outdoors. Getting outside and into the water is a fun activity for children and adults, and it provides a great source of physical activity, but did you know this increase in outdoor activity also results in an increase in emergency visits at most hospitals? When you are out with your family swimming and splashing around in the neighborhood pool or community lake, take simple steps to ensure everyone is safe.
Keep an eye on your kids at all times in the water, and be sure to swim only in approved areas.
Swimming lessons are invaluable for children. Check with your local recreation center for affordable classes.
As you load up the family in the car, always make sure everyone is buckled in a child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt. Seat belts and safety seats offer the most protection in the event of a crash. Limit distractions like food, changing the music and loud passengers. Keep your family safe — don’t text or talk on your phone while driving. In Colorado, it is illegal for kids under the age of 18 to use a cell phone while driving and it is illegal for all people to text while driving.
Even though school may be out for summer, 16 and 17-year-old drivers have curfews and restrictions on the number of passengers they can have in the vehicle. In this age group, having just one passenger increases the crash risk by 50 percent. The good news is since Colorado introduced restrictions on young drivers in 1999, the number of teens in fatal car crashes in our state has dropped more than 50 percent!
Cars aren’t the only things we take out on the road, so when out on your bikes, skateboards or scooters, make sure you and your children wear a well-fitted helmet along with appropriate pads and footwear.