Safe summer fun

As the days become warmer, kids and their parents are looking forward to summer activities. Safe Kids Louisville and Jefferson County, a program led by Kosair Children’s Hospital, is encouraging families to practice safe summer habits.

Bike, board and blade safe

Last year, 219 children were treated in the emergency department at Kosair Children’s Hospital for bike-related injuries, according to Doug Beckhart, bike safety coordinator for the Children’s Hospital Foundation Office of Child Advocacy and Safe Kids Louisville and Jefferson County.
To minimize risk of injury:

  • Make sure your child correctly wears a helmet and other protective gear each time he or she bikes, skates or skateboards. A helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.
  • Ensure your child’s bike is in good working order and isn’t too big.
  • Children under age 10 should ride or skate only on sidewalks, paths or other designated areas.


Swim safe

“Never leave children unattended around pools, lakes or other bodies of water,” said Erika Kravic, R.N., Children’s Hospital Foundation Office of Child Advocacy of Kosair Children’s Hospital and coordinator of Safe Kids Louisville and Jefferson County. “At social functions, adults tend to think just because there are a lot of adults present someone is watching the children. This is not always the case.”

Kravic recommends designating a responsible adult as a “water watcher” to supervise during 15-minute shifts at social gatherings. To request “water watcher” tags and learn more about the program, which is sponsored by Pools Plus, call (502) 629-KIDS.

Travel safe

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children under age 14, according to Sharon Rengers, R.N., child passenger safety coordinator for Kosair Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Louisville and Jefferson County. Many of those deaths are attributed to incorrect use of child seat belts and safety seats.

“The safest seat is one that fits your child and your vehicle,” Rengers said. She encourages consistent and correct use of seat belts, child safety seats and booster seats.  To keep children safe
during travel:

  • Select the appropriate seat for your child’s age, height, weight and behavior.
  • Always place infants under 1 year old in rear-facing safety seats.
  • Use booster seats for children over 40 pounds.
  • Children between 8 and 13 years old should ride in the back seat and use lap and shoulder belts.

–Keri Shain

Want to know more?
For more information about these and other summer safety topics, call (502) 629-KIDS. The Office of Child Advocacy of Kosair Children’s Hospital is funded by the Children’s Hospital Foundation. To learn more about supporting safety-related education efforts, call (502) 629-8060.