Summer activities and safety should go hand in hand

Summer can be an adventurous time for families, especially since children are out of school and families are looking to take advantage of longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures.

Whether your excursion takes you away from home, or you stay in your own backyard, the main ingredients for a successful summer trip are fun and safety.

Of course, anyone venturing outdoors at all this summer will be looking to have fun. They may head out back to the pool, or be more inclined to take a family camping trip. And fun can be had at any venue and activities can be found for any age wherever the family may head out for their summer trip. T

he one thing that can guarantee the most fun is to keep safety at the forefront of any trip, whether it is in your own backyard, or out into to great outdoors. Making sure everyone knows tips for staying safe will lead to more fun for everyone.

In the car: If traveling by car, a safety kit is a must, especially if there will be night travel. The website, Savvy, Sassy Moms, offers these tips for items to include in your car safety kit: a flashlight, fully stocked first aid kit, emergency cell phone charger, snacks and bottled water, physical maps, basic tool set, emergency tire repair kit, an emergency rescue kit, a fire extinguisher, and flares. These items may seem like overkill, but if you have ever had a roadside emergency, you will know just how important these items may be.

Camping Safety: Northeast Texas offers an abundance of areas where families can camp out and enjoy the outdoors. Whether the family stays in a camper or cabin, or “roughs it” by tent camping, safety of the utmost importance. Children love to explore, and the area around a campsite is a prime place for them to stretch their legs and exercise their inner explorer. Make sure that children know vital information, including parent’s names and phone numbers, camp site number, and the importance of never going alone. Many people, especially children, who become lost in the woods do so because they wander off by themselves. Children and adults alike need to remember to always hike and explore with a partner.

Fire Safety: Children also need to be taught fire safety as well, whether there will be campfires or the use of barbeque pits. Fire safety is important any time a fire is being used; whether it is for warmth, or for cooking. There always needs to be ample water to extinguish any fire, and fires should never be left smoldering overnight. Only adults should tend fires, and fires should never be left unattended.

Pool Safety: Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of four. Teaching children how to swim, even simply treading water, greatly minimizes risks. Accidents often occur when everyone thought someone else was watching. All capable adults should split lifeguarding duties by the hour, so everyone knows who is watching at any given time. Safety rules are also a must when in or around water, whether that water is a public or private pool, or swimming area at a local campground. Rules do not only need to be known and taught, but they must be enforced, as well. As with fire, children should never be left alone in the pool or swimming area. Period.

Summertime can provide for a wealth of memories and fun times for families. One accident or tragic event can turn those memories into nightmares. Preparing ahead of time can help make the events more fun.