Although you should make every effort to keep your kids safe year-round, it is especially important in the summer when most kids are out of school.Hot temperatures and more time spent outdoors, perhaps unsupervised, can put kids' health and safety at risk.

Sun and Summer Heat

The most obvious hidden dangers in the summer simply have to do with the heat and can include:

• heat stress and heat stroke, which can be prevented. Keep kids well-hydrated, take frequent breaks when playing outside, and watch for symptoms such as thirst, cramps, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and fever. Never leave a child or let her play in a hot car.
• getting burned on metal slides or other hot playground equipment.
• sunburns--although parents should be aware of the risks of not applying sunscreen or sunblock on their children, sunburns are still common (especially if lotions are not used properly.)

Water Safety Tips

Many families try to escape the summer heat in a pool or nearby lake. To keep your kids safe around the water be sure to:

• childproof your pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate.
• supervise your kids around the pool, even if they know how to swim. • have children who don't know how to swim wear a life vest when they are in the pool.
• take your child to swimming lessons once he or she is four to five years old, the age when most kids can learn to swim.

Other Summer Safety Tips

In addition to using sunscreen, supervising kids around water, and protecting your kids from the heat, you can keep your kids safe this summer by:

• using insect repellents when necessary.
• outfitting your kids with appropriate protective gear, such as a helmet and pads, when they ride a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter.
• not eating food that has been left out for more than an hour at barbecues and family picnics, which can cause food poisoning.

And of course, keep your home well-childproofed. This also applies to wherever you are staying when you are on vacation, whether it is a hotel or relative's home.

Although not a safety danger, it's important to remember that time off from school also means that your child may have more opportunity to become inactive and eat more junk food, leading to his becoming overweight. Encourage your child to be active and eat a healthy diet all summer long.