A children’s doctor has shared the five accidents she sees on repeat during the summer and it’s essential reading for parents.
The summer is a magical time for children. There is no school, the weather is warm, and there are weeks to play, read, chill out and do whatever you want.
But more time, potentially unsupervised, means more accidents as kids fall off their scooters or get hit in the face with a rogue football. One paediatrician has shared a list of five accidents that she sees the most during the summer, and how to prevent them.
Dr Lillie Parker is a children’s doctor and a mum who has over 100K followers on Instagram and shares helpful advice for parents and carers who want to know more about kids’ health and wellbeing.
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Here is what she says about the accidents that she sees ‘again and again’ during the summer.
5 ‘summer accidents’ parents need to know about
1. Cuts to feet from broken glass and sharp objects
Being barefoot is just lovely during warm weather but Dr Parker urges parents to ensure that their children wear shoes outside, especially in parks, playgrounds, and on beaches.
2. Barbecue burns
Barbecues are a fun way t enjoy the outdoors during warm weather howwever they can also be dangerous for kids. Dr Parker says to prevent them you should ‘create a “no-go zone” around BBQs, keep children well away while cooking, and remember that coals and disposable BBQs stay hot for hours afterwards as does the sand or dirt underneath (if camping or on the beach)’.
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3. Trampolining injuries
Trampolines are a great way for kids to get some exercise in at home over the summer, while also keeping them entertained. To prevent injuries, you should ensure that there is ‘one child at a time on the trampoline’ and ‘make sure the trampoline has safety nets and springs are covered’.
4. Bike and scooter accidents
To ensure that children are safe on their bikes and scooters this summer you should ‘always get [them] to wear a properly fitted helmet.’
If they are using ramps or at a skate park, ‘encourage long sleeves/trousers and knee/elbow pads’.
5. Non-fatal drowning incidents
Water is a big part of the summer, but it can also be dangerous when water safety is not being practiced. According to Lillie, you should maintain constant, close supervision [on your children] around water, even paddling pools.’
You should also empty paddling pools after use, remove toys from pools so small children don’t try to reach for them and fall in and ‘avoid distractions such as phones when supervising’.
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‘Let’s enjoy the glorious weather and not have any unwanted trips to hospital,’ the doctor added to the caption, before giving a disclaimer that this content is ‘for educational purposes only and does not replace advice from your own healthcare provider’.
