With summer comes an increase in the number of personal injuries, both for children and for adults. According to the Wall Street Journal, there are lots of things you can do to keep your family free of personal injuries this summer.

Usually the number of children’s injuries goes up during the summer season, but adults can sustain catastrophic injuries while playing sports or taking part in recreational activities if they do not come properly prepared.

Tips for avoiding personal injuries this summer.

“Summer is what we call trauma season,” says an official of division chief for pediatrics at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The chief of pediatrics has assisted parents and children who come in with injuries from boating, swimming, and burn injuries.  Each year, it seems the same mistakes keep getting made.

So what can you do?  Here are some helpful tips, courtesy of Serious Accidents, to stay personal injury free this season!

1.  Teach your children how to swim. Experts used to take the stance that children should not take swimming lessons until their 4th birthday has passed.  Now others are starting to disagree with that statement.  As a parent, when your son or daughter learns to swim should be at your discretion, but sooner is better than later.

If you have a home pool and a child too young to be in it by themselves, put fencing around the water and install an in-pool alarm system.  If kids are in the pool, never leave them alone and put ones who have trouble swimming in a life jacket.

2.  Keep lawns clear of rocks, dirt, and other heavy objects. When mowing the lawn, go over your yard and clear it of any debris that could get caught in the mower.  Rocks that get sucked up into the blades can shoot out and cause brain injuries if they hit someone in the head.

3.  Tell children that cars are not things to use for play. Car accidents can happen even when the car is not running.  Children can suffer hypothermia and overheat when left in a hot car.  They can also crawl under cars when you are not around and get hurt when a driver starts up the vehicle.  Tell your kids that unless you are in the car with them, they should stay away from it.

4.  Fire is to be handled by adults. Grilling, barbecuing, or setting up a camp fire can be a lot of fun — just make sure an adult is in charge of it.  Also be sure you are wearing protective gear, do not get too close to the flames or the fuel source, and always remember to turn off the gas if you are using a propane stove or grill.  Keep matches and lighters out of reach from children’s hands.  When leaving camp sites, douse your fire with a mixture of water and dirt.

5.  Wheels should always be accompanied by protective gear. Even for short rides on a bike or all-terrain vehicle (ATV), helmets are a must.  Every year, over 500,000 people receive emergency room medical treatment for injuries that happened during a bicycle accident.  ATVs are growing in popularity, as are accidents related to their usage (with children accounting for nearly 33 percent of all ATV-related injuries).

If you are curious about more tips to keep you and your family safe, check back with Serious Accidents throughout the summer.  You can also get more suggestions from a great site call “Emergency Care For You.”  This summer, have fun and be safe!

If your child has suffered an injury because of the carelessness of someone else, you should contact our bilingual law firm to find out if you are eligible to recover a settlement.  Dial 1-858-551-2090 for a FREE Consultation with a personal injury lawyer 24 hours a day, seven days a week or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.