1. Prevent drowning. Never leave small children alone in or near water. Have children wear personal flotation devices when they are on boats, near open bodies of water or participating in water sports. Beware of backyard pools and spas in your neighborhood. Let older children know that swimming in unsupervised areas, like quarries, canals or ponds, is off limits.

2. Keep children safe in and around cars. Make sure children are secured in the appropriate child safety seat or safety belt and that they are riding in the back seat. Never leave children alone in cars—especially on hot days. Car temperatures are much warmer than the temperature outside of the car and can rise very quickly, even if the windows are open. Children are especially at risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, because they are unable to regulate their body temperature as well as adults can. Teach children not to play around cars. Keep keys out of children’s reach, lock your car doors and trunk when your car is unattended so curious children can’t get inside.

3. Protect children from excessive exposure to the sun. Avoid having your children play in the sun during the peak hours (10am-4 pm). Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and apply it frequently. Keep babies under 6 months of age out of direct sunlight at all times.

4. Make your home safe. Make sure windows have screens and guards to prevent young children from falling out. Rake your yard to make sure it is clear of unsafe objects like nails and bits of glass. Check lawn furniture and swing sets for loose screws, nails, or peeling paint. Let children know they are not allowed to touch the barbeque grill. Don’t allow children to touch or ride on lawn mowers.

5. Teach children how to bike safely. Before your child rides a bike, make sure the bike is the right fit and that your child is wearing a helmet and proper clothing. Explain to children how traffic works and that they must obey the same rules as cars and other vehicles.

6. Teach children how to be safe pedestrians. Children should know to look both ways before crossing the street, to walk on sidewalks or paths, and to obey traffic rules as a pedestrian. Have children wear bright clothes and don’t let them walk alone at night.

7. Supervise children while they play at playgrounds or in the backyard. Make sure that your children wear the right protective gear when playing sports or skateboarding, biking, rollerblading or riding a scooter.

8. Help children venture out safely. Identify places that your children are allowed to go alone, and places that are off limits. Schedule a time to check in with your children – especially if they stay home alone. Before your children leave home or wherever they last told you they would be, have them check in with you and tell you where they are going.

9. Help your child stay safe if he is home alone. Make sure your child knows what to do in case of an emergency, how to dial 911 for help, how to respond to phone calls or visitors and emphasize that your child should never tell anyone he or she is home alone.

10. Prevent dehydration and other heat related illnesses. Encourage your child to take breaks during their activities and to drink water or sports drinks before, during and after they engage in physical activity to replace the fluids they lost through sweating.

11. Minimize the risk of bee and insect stings. Have children wear closed toe shoes and light-colored clothing. Use insect repellent sparingly on older children and never on infants.

12. Plan for summer fun! Keep children busy. The more busy children are with fun and safe activities, the less likely they are to become injured.

Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is a statewide, nonprofit organization that builds community resources, provides training and public awareness, and carries out advocacy activities in order to strengthen child abuse prevention efforts in Wisconsin. Founded in 1978, Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. For more information, please call 1-800-CHILDREN or visit www.preventchildabusewi.org.