As families across the area head outdoors to enjoy the summer, Piedmont Athens Regional and Safe Kids Athens are reminding parents that a few simple precautions can help keep kids safe while still having fun.
With summer comes increased risks for children due to more time spent in and around water, on bikes, in vehicles, and near outdoor cooking areas. Safe Kids Athens is sharing five safety tips to help families stay safe while creating great memories.
- Pay close attention around water
Swimming pools, lakes, and beaches are a favorite summertime activity, but they also pose serious safety risks. Safe Kids Athens recommends assigning a responsible adult as a “Water Watcher” to provide constant, undistracted supervision of children in and around water.
Supervision is critical, as drowning can happen quickly and quietly. Even with a “Water Watcher”, parents are encouraged to stay within arm’s reach of their young children and avoid distractions such as phones or conversations.
- Double-check car seat safety before summer travel
Many families will take summer road trips, making correct car seat use especially important. Safe Kids Athens advises parents to make sure car seats are correctly installed and appropriate for their child’s age and size.
Taking a few extra minutes to check car seat safety can help prevent serious injury in the event of a crash. If you need help installing a car seat or would like to have your seat checked, you can find certified car seat technicians at the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety website (gahighwaysafety.org).
- Make helmets a habit
Bike rides, scooters, and other wheeled activities are part of summer fun, but head injuries remain one of the most common risks. Children should always wear a properly fitted helmet when riding anything with wheels.
Helmet use is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious head injuries and create safe habits that last a lifetime.
- Heat-related safety issues in cars
Hot cars can quickly become life-threatening, even on mild or cooler days. Safe Kids Athens emphasizes never leaving a child alone in a vehicle, not even for a minute.
Temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly, increasing the risk of heatstroke and even death. Parents are encouraged to develop routines that help them remember to check the back seat(s) before locking the car.
- Create a safe zone around grills
Outdoor cooking and grilling are often summertime traditions, but grills can pose burn risks to children. Safe Kids Athens recommends moving grills away from play areas and foot traffic and considering a three-foot “kid-free zone” around them.
Simple steps like these can help prevent accidental burns while families enjoy outdoor gatherings.
Piedmont and Safe Kids Athens encourage parents and caregivers to talk with their children about safety rules and behaviors throughout the summer months.
For more tips and resources on keeping kids safe, visit Safe Kids Worldwide (safekids.org) or email the Safe Kids Athens Coordinator, April Dorsett, at april.dorsett@piedmont.org.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
