Child Supervision During the Summer Months

  • Published
  • By Laurel Grams
  • 5th Medical Group Family Advocacy
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  How many of you are aware of the North Dakota Child Supervision guidelines?  The Minot Air Force Base enforces these guidelines as set forth by the state.  These guidelines provide parents, caregivers and friends with information on what types of supervision must be provided for various age groups, when and how long a child can be left alone, and rules for leaving children in a parked vehicle. 

Most families moving to Minot are not aware these guidelines exist.  People coming to North Dakota do not typically call the State Capitol in Bismarck to inquire about state guidelines pertaining to child supervision.  This is important information for all families.  Becoming familiar with the supervisory guidelines and adhering to these guidelines assists in maintaining the safety of our children.  Such preventative education helps stop a child maltreatment incident from occurring.  Helping families recognize what supervision is required for their five-year-old child at home, their seven-year-old going to the park, their four-year-old playing at the neighbor's and/or their twelve-year-old staying at home for the day is essential in the promotion of the well-being of our children and our community.

The U.S. Air Force Family Advocacy Program's mission is to build healthy communities through the implementation of activities and programs designed for the prevention and treatment of child and partner abuse.  The Child Supervision Guidelines are one tool utilized to provide education and awareness in efforts to help keep our children safe.  With the onset of warmer weather, children are much more active outside and moving from one place to another.  Helping to ensure their safety while  out enjoying these summer days is something we can all work together to promote.

These Supervision Guidelines are enforced state wide - both on base and off base.  The guidelines are distributed to Commanders, First Sergeants, Youth Programs, the Child Development Center and during Newcomers Orientation.  It is also posted on the Family Advocacy Program Facebook page. 

Other important summer safety tips for families include watching for heat-related illnesses in children.  Headaches, rapid breathing or heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and fainting, extreme thirst, or temper tantrums could indicate your child has been exposed too long to the heat and sun.  If a heat-related illness is suspected, move the child to a cool place and give him/her a drink.  Seek additional professional intervention if necessary.

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to fourteen.   Small children can drown within thirty seconds, in as little as two inches of liquid. Constant and active supervision should be maintained whenever any child is in or around water.  During any swimming/wading/water play activities where either an infant or a toddler is present, the ratio should always be one adult to one infant/toddler. Children ages thirteen months to five years of age should not be permitted to play in areas where there is any body of water, including swimming pools, ponds or irrigation ditches, built-in wading pools, tubs, pails, sinks, or toilets unless the supervising adult is within an arm's length providing 'touch' supervision.

Injuries occur when children ride tricycles, bicycles, and other riding toys or wheeled equipment.  Helmet use is associated with a reduction in the risk of any head injury by 69%, brain injury by 65% and severe brain injuries by 74%, and are recommended for all children one year of age and over. Helmets should be removed as soon as children stop riding the wheeled toys or equipment.  Approved helmets should meet the standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  It is not recommended that infants (children under the age of one year) wear helmets or ride as a passenger on wheeled equipment.

***Summer safety tips and information gathered from the National Health and Safety Performance Standards with contributions from the  American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education.