Keeping Summer Fun Safe

Most people love the summer. Warm weather, vacations and free time for the kids mean more fun activities and adventures for everyone.

But those same activities also lead to more injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries. Commonly called a concussion, traumatic brain injuries are more likely to occur in the summer because of increased physical activity, travel and down time for kids.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention share some important advice on their website on ways to avoid concussions for persons of any age:

Wear your seat belt!

Easy enough right? Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up for the drive. Head injuries are common in car accidents, and a lack of restraint only increases the likelihood of one occurring.

It is also important to make sure that children are buckled in to a safety seat or booster seat until they reach a height and weight appropriate for a normal seat belt. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association website lists child seat belt laws for every state.

Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Enough said. Don’t take part any activity before driving that can impair your senses. Additionally, distracted driving of any kind contributes to accident likelihood, so don’t text, put on makeup, etc.

Wear a properly fitted helmet when necessary.

Activities that require helmets include riding a bike, motorcycle, scooter or ATV. In-line skating and skateboarding along with skiing and horse riding also necessitate wearing a helmet. Sports such as football, hockey and lacrosse require helmets, and baseball and softball hitters should also wear one when batting and running the bases.

Follow the rules and be a good sport.

It is important to follow the safety rules of any sports or games, practice good sportsmanship and wear all appropriate safety equipment.

Keep living areas safe for seniors. 

If you have an elderly person in your household, you should remove all tripping hazards and clutter from walkways, use nonslip mats in bathtubs and showers, install grab bars next to the toilet and bathtub, install handrails on stairwells and make sure the home is well lit.

Make living areas safe for children.

If there is a little one in the house, parents can take many of the same steps mentioned above, but also install safety gates at the top of stairwells and on open windows. It is also important not to let children play on fire escapes or other platforms.