Summer is made for fun and games – but safety is important

Whether you're spending the holiday weekend at home, Up North, or at a festival, you can expect to see kids riding bikes and scooters and splashing in the local lakes. You can hear their shrieks of joy as they bounce on backyard trampolines.

As the saying goes, though, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. To prevent summertime accidents, we asked a pediatrician and an emergency medicine physician with M Health Fairview Pediatrics for a few safety suggestions.

Helmets. Every time. Always.

A simple rule is that anyone on wheels needs a helmet.

"Kids are looking to their adults for guidance on what to do, said Maggie Kappelman, MD, a pediatrician at M Health Fairview Clinic – Highland Park. “So make sure when you’re on a bike, skates, or scooter, that you are also wearing a helmet. Kids should be wearing a helmet on all kinds of bikes, including balance bikes.”

“Helmets are a must for everyone no matter their experience or skills,” said Nik Vuljaj, MD, FACEP, medical director for M Health Fairview emergency medical services. “Kids who are just learning should have some knee and elbow protection as well because that’s typically where the injuries would happen, and it’s expected that someone who’s learning would have a few falls.”

Helmets should fit snugly. The straps should make a V around your ears. Tighten the strap, so it rests under your chin when you open your mouth widely. Then make it a family rule to wear helmets every time. Many communities offer free helmets and check the fit. Check your city’s website for upcoming bike safety events.

Adults aren’t immune from falls and injuries either. Vuljaj says his team gets many calls from people injured on rental electric scooters. 

“We see a lot of folks falling off electric scooters and almost none of them have any head protection. These are typically rented on the fly, so people don’t have head protection with them. We see a lot of head and face injuries and then wrist injuries.”

If you can, get comfortable riding bikes and scooters in a low-traffic area. Take kids to an empty parking lot to practice pedaling a bike rather than a busy street or sidewalk. Kappelman also recommends looking for community biking clinics. They teach kids the rules of the road and how to use hand signals to be safer on their bikes.

Falls off trampolines are common.

Vuljaj says trampolines are extremely dangerous. Kids --and adults -- can get injured when they fall off, don’t land their tricks right, or crash into other jumpers. Ankle and arm injuries are most common, but Vuljaj has seen much worse.

“I cannot endorse backyard trampolines,” he said. “We see way too many injuries of any kind. Head, neck, face, broken arms, broken legs, and broken spine.”

If kids need to jump their energy out, Vuljaj recommends taking them to a trampoline park. With safety nets around the trampolines and no way to fall off, injuries there aren’t as common as they are in backyards. Jumpers even fall off backyard trampolines with safety nets.

Use the buddy system in water.

When kids are in the water, adult supervision is a must. It’s also best if adults buddy up on or around water because Vuljaj and his team get calls about drownings in the summer.

“Ideally, there would be a lifeguard present and they should stay within the designated swimming zone as opposed to venturing out of those zones,” Vuljaj said. “And then for any other activity, like jet skiing, boating, or tubing, wear a life vest.”

Many communities also offer low-cost swimming lessons and water safety instruction.

Pay attention for signs of heat exhaustion.

Kids are more sensitive to extreme temperatures than adults are, Vuljaj said. So, adults need to be aware when kids are spending the day in the sun whether it’s playing in the yard, waiting in lines at a fair, or at their softball tournament.

“Make sure kids are taking frequent breaks in a shaded or cool environment and that they stay hydrated throughout the course of the day to prevent any heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”

Heat exhaustion initially starts with fatigue and feeling unwell. It can progress to heat stroke, which is much more severe. The child might appear confused or not seem like themself. They might lose consciousness. In extreme cases, heat stroke could lead to seizure or even death. If anyone has signs of heat exhaustion, bring them somewhere cooler, such as in the shade, an air-conditioned building, or under a misting device. Have them relax and drink some water.

Also, don’t forget sunscreen. Applying and reapplying helps prevent painful burns and long-term skin damage.