Summer Health Guide

Summer’s here, and that means lots of fun activities, like swimming and picnics and vacations. A little planning can help you stay safe and healthy while enjoying the things summer brings!

Water Safety

Drowning Misconceptions – Almost 800 children drown every year in the United States. Check out this great tip sheet to clear up some common misconceptions about drowning and make sure your loved ones stay safe.

Home Pool Safety – Follow these safety tips to keep people safe in and around your home pool or hot tub. You can also take this home pool safety course from the American Red Cross.

Public Pool Safety – Make sure your pool follows safe pool inspection guidelines. And do your part to keep pools clean by giving kids plenty of bathroom breaks and keeping sick kids out of the pool.

Open Water Safety – Older children and teens are more likely to drown in open water than in pools. Make sure your kids know these key swimming skills, and make sure you are always watching them.

Tips for kids on all water activities

Heat and Sun Safety

Stay safe on hot days by drinking plenty of water and cooling off inside.

Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors.

Know the signs of heat-related illness, such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches.

Never leave a child, older adult, or pet in the car. A car can heat up nearly 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. ACT to prevent heatstroke deaths.

Food Safety

Food safety tips when you’re on vacation from the USDA, whether you are in a car or camper, beach or boat!

Food safety tips for picnics and grilling from the FDA to help you keep things cool and clean, and grill safely.

Fight the Bite

Check out our page on preventing mosquito and tick bites, and the diseases they can cause.

Mental Health

Tips for a successful summer break, especially for kids with emotional or developmental issues.

Screen Time and Media Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including a family media plan you can customize.

Visit our new Children and Mental Health webpage.

Vaccinations

Summer is a great time to get kids caught up on the vaccinations they need for school and to stay healthy. Visit our child vaccination page for more details on vaccines and our free back to school vaccination clinics!

Learn more about the HPV vaccine, which helps prevent 6 types of cancer, from the American Cancer Society.

Travel

Overseas travel tips for before, during, and after your trip from the Centers for Disease Control 

Parent Travel Tips from Safe Kids including car and car seat safety and plane travel tips.

Summer Driving Tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to keep you safe on the road.

July, 2018