Whether you are expecting a new baby or are the parent of three, understanding the whirlwind of children's health information is sometimes overwhelming. Keeping up on the latest immunizations, safety tips, and educational recommendations can get complicated.

Following are some tips for child safety to keep in mind this summer:

• Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 15. Watch carefully and be within arm's reach when children are in or near the water.
  
  
• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
  
  
• Children and adults should wear life jackets at all times while boating.
  
  
• Don't use scented soaps, perfumes, or hair sprays on your child that will attract insects. Avoid dressing your child in bright colors or flowery prints.
  
  
• To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail.
  
  
• Parents should never purchase a home trampoline or allow children to use home trampolines.
  
  
• Do not encourage your child to ride a two-wheeled bike until about age 5 or 6. Then buy a bike that is the right size, not one "to grow into." Oversized bikes are especially dangerous.
  
  
• Your child should wear a helmet on every bike ride, even for rides just in the driveway.
  
  
• All skateboarders and scooter-riders should wear a helmet and other protective gear.
  
  
• Children younger than 16 should not use ride-own lawn mowers. Children younger than 12 should not use walk-behind mowers. Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.
  
  
• Anyone using a mower should wear hearing and eye protection and sturdy shoes.
  
  
• When traveling by car, place your child in the back seat. It is the safest place in the car.
  
  
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends prohibiting public sale of all fireworks, including those by mail or Internet. Attend professional displays instead of using fireworks at home.

• To prevent food poisoning, always cut your child's burger or chicken completely in half to check doneness; simply slitting the top doesn't give a good enough look at the center. Be sure to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and chicken to 180 degrees.
   
• Apply your child's suncreen before leaving the house. It takes 20 minutes for sunblock to take effect, and applying it in the midday glare allows ample time for the sun's rays to penetrate and damage the skin. Remember to add a new layer of lotion every two hours. Even "all day" protection is diluted by sweat and water.
   
• Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 15, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Even strong swimmers can go too far, get tired, or misjudge the waves. Make sure to keep watch from a spot that's close enough to allow you to respond if there's an emergency.
   
• Even though it may still be light out, make sure your kids apply reflective strips to their clothing. (Bikes, scooters, helmets, and skateboards also need reflective appliqués.)
   
• Falls at home tend to be more serious than those at public playgrounds, which are more likely to provide proper surfacing. To better protect your kids in the yard, add a layer of mulch, wood chips, or sand that's at least a foot deep and extends six feet from all sides of play equipment.
   
• There's more reason to keep your kids' feet covered than just steering clear of the proverbial rusty nail. Many winged, stinging insects — including some species of bees, yellow jackets, and cicada killers (a type of wasp) — nest underground, and their sting can be quite painful. Other outdoor dangers include nettles and poison ivy, which can cause little feet to itch and swell. And public swimming pools can be a breeding ground for athlete's foot, an uncomfortable fungal infection. Give your child a pair of slip-on shoes to wear in the shower and changing room, and waterproof footwear for in-pool play. 

Make sure to take time this year for your child's annual physical. Working with your health care provider to keep your child well is as important as getting treatment when they are sick.

For a complete list of community health education offerings, visit our calendar of events.