The last day of school marks the beginning of summer, and Saturday, June 8 helps mark that event with National Get Outdoors Day. To celebrate the special day, Minnesota State Parks are offering free admission to all their parks. There are so many new activities to try out such as geocaching, kayaking, camping, and other family-friendly activities. Fishing is also a great way to get in a daily dose of vitamin D. A law that went into effect in 2009 allows Minnesotans to fish at most state parks sans license, and they even have free loaner fishing kits. Click here for a list of state parks that may be within driving distance.
With so much fun stuff going on, we may forget about possible accidents that can occur. What can you do to help prevent these injuries, and what do you do if they happen?
Preventing Childhood Head Injuries – Some of childhood’s fondest memories of freedom and independence revolve around biking, skating and skateboarding. But when your child takes a tumble on one of these wheeled modes of transportation, road rash is the least of your worries. In fact, even if your child is wearing a properly fitted helmet, there is no guarantee that it will prevent him from sustaining a head injury. While most childhood head injuries are external or superficial in nature, internal head injuries (those that may involve the blood vessels, skull or brain and result in bleeding or bruising of the brain) are still a very real risk.
Waterpark Safety Tips for a Summer of Fun – Summer’s fun in the sun inevitably includes some cooling down in pools and at area waterparks. Over 80 million people visit waterparks each year, and over 1000 waterparks nationally are required to comply with state and federal regulations for safety. Additionally, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has set nationwide industry standards for waterpark design, water quality, operations and staffing, and requirements training.
Protect Your Child from the Dangers of Inflatable Bouncers – More than 64,000 children under the age of 17 have been injured on inflatable bouncers in the last 20 years, so says a recent study published in Pediatrics (the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics). Making matters worse, 90% of these injured children are under the age of 13, with 19% of injuries sustained to the head and neck and 16% of injuries occurring as a result of direct collision with another user. When it comes to your young child’s safety, these popular bouncy castles and houses should be of ever increasing concern – not just as a parent, but as a homeowner, as well.
Child Safety: Preparing Your Kids for Camp – Whether you’re the kind of parent that counts the days until your kids are away at overnight camp or the kind that checks summer camp websites every few hours for possible footage of your kiddo at play, all parents want one thing for their children from the away camp experience – to know they are safe.
Keeping Your Kids Safe: Pedestrian Tips and Habits – Pedestrian safety is always a concern especially, when it comes to children-1 in 6 pedestrian fatalities occurs in children between the ages of 7 and 10. Now, according to a recent article in US News and World Report, featuring a study at the University of Alabama Youth Safety Laboratory, parents of children with ADHD may need to take extra precautions.
Concussions & Kids: Tips for Spotting a Head Injury – A head injury and concussion can happen to any of us, at any time. Most childhood injuries to the head are of the external variety and though they may look unpleasant, are generally less serious, injuring only the scalp. Internal head injuries, though, may involve the blood vessels, skull or the brain and result in bleeding or bruising of the brain.
Accidents are bound to happen, but by practicing safety precautions, it’s easier to prevent something happening before it’s too late.