Summer is here, and you want to keep your kids safe and injury-free. Here are the activities you’ll want to pay special attention to while school is out and kids are on the go:
Biking. Biking is the most dangerous sport, based on estimates of injuries treated in emergency departments compiled by the National Safety Council. To protect your family, insist on bicycle helmets. They are your first line of defense again head injuries caused by bicycle, scooter and skateboard accidents. Read these bike safety tips for more ways to keep your children safe while on two wheels. 
Swimming. Each year, more than 225,000 swimming injuries are treated in emergency rooms, according to the National Safety Council. About 42 percent of injuries involve children between the ages of 5 and 14. Enroll your children in swimming classes to learn basic water skills and learn to stay afloat. Make sure even water-wise children are never unattended near water.
Outdoor fun. Sports-related concussions affect thousands of young people who engage in a variety of sports. An estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, among children and adolescents are treated in U.S. emergency rooms annually, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But just because your children don’t participate in organized sports over the summer doesn’t mean they aren’t at risk for concussions. Playground activities and recreational sports are among the most common causes of concussions and other brain injuries. Have children wear helmets as recommended, and make sure they are well-supervised. Get prompt medical attention for any blows to the head.
For more tips, check out this handy guide from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
