Warm weather brings children to streets, playgrounds Published March 31, 2010 By Rod Krause 5th Bomb Wing Ground Safety MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- It's hard to believe but summer almost is here! The snow is finally melting and weather is getting warmer. Children of all ages are outside playing more and more each day. With more outside activities available to children, they have tendencies to use the streets and parking lots for skateboarding, rollerblading, bicycling and playing outdoors. These types of activities could possibly lead to injuries from minor cuts and bruises or to more serious injuries that require some type of emergency care. Parents should make children aware of the dangers surrounding their environment and take positive, rather than negative, actions and measures to keep children from becoming statistics. Here are some of the basic dangers that seem to be more common in the summer months than other times of the year. · Ensure children are aware of dogs or other animals in the neighborhood that they need to stay clear of. · Teach children of all ages about traffic safety laws and how the laws apply to them while they are on their bikes or rollerblading, including the proper wear of helmets for these types of activities. · Keep home swing sets and outdoor gym equipment in good operating condition. Give them a good check out before the children attack them. Some areas to look at include: Are the chains free from rust? Is the equipment secured to the ground and is strong as the previous year? Are all the screws and bolts tight or broken, and need to be replaced. · Keep outdoor maintenance equipment and gasoline containers and other hazardous materials out of the reach of children and pets at all times. · Closely monitor wading or swimming pools. Encourage children to take swimming lessons. Remember, even children who know how to swim need to be supervised. · When traveling in a motor vehicle, even for a short trip, all children as well as adults must be secured in a child restraint seat or seatbelt. Remember, never allow children to ride in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger side air bags. · An important tip to remember: if one sees a child playing in a front yard, or on a curb, anticipate the child running out into the street. If a driver keeps this tip in the back of their mind, they will "see" a child well enough ahead of time before a mishap does occur. Common sense and knowledge is the best defense against summer hazards. It is an adult's responsibility to teach children at an early age about safety. Of course, we are not trying to make children safety professionals, but give them the basic tools to develop good safety habits. By following a few basic rules and by thinking what a child might be doing can reduce trips to the emergency room and enhance summer fun! For more information, contact the 5th Bomb Wing Ground Safety office at 723-2259.