The onset of summer means that our children are idle. All of that added free time presents lots of opportunities to get in trouble and be careless, as children get involved in activities to occupy their mind. Swimming, biking, and being outdoors are among the most popular but also raise a number of safety concerns for our children.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of ten people die from unintentional drowning daily. And of those ten, two of them will be children aged 14 or younger. Summer has barely started and we have already seen a number of children die due to drowning in Houston. No wonder it is the second leading cause of death for children.

Extreme heat is another cause of death for folks in the summer. CDC says over 600 individuals die from heat-related illnesses yearly. When a person’s body temperature gets hotter than they can keep themselves cool damage to the brain and other organs may occur. Certain groups like older adults, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases really have to be careful as they are at higher risk.

A not so common cause of death that is associated with summer fun is bug safety. Yes, those pesky bugs humming around your ears sometimes take a bite on your skin. Summer heat and rains bring on an influx of bugs. The flying creatures carry an array of diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and Zika. Once these diseases spread in the body, severe symptoms follow and some leave lasting effects.

Technology leads us to one of our final and growing causes of death, road safety. It is more than just obeying traffic laws but avoiding distractions, especially those that stem from cell phone use. Whether riding your bike or driving a car road safety is vital to follow by everyone on the road.

Houston Style wants our children to stay safe this summer so we are equipping you with tips and resources on water, heat, bike, bug, and road safety in our summer safe special issue.

Water Safety

June marks the halfway point in the year and thirty-three children have already drown in Texas. Image how that number will go up after August of this year. Sad to say but summer is the time of year children are most likely to drown. It is important to remember that children can drown in almost any amount of water from a small amount in a bathtub to a big body of water in a pool. The good thing to know is that these drownings are preventable.

The number one rule is to watch children at all times. At least one adult needs to be designated as the pool watcher, in addition to a lifeguard. A commonality among most children drowning is that someone thought someone else was watching when in fact no one was watching at all.

Invest in gates and/or fences. A locked gate or a fence can be a great barrier in keeping children out of the water when there is no supervision. A lesson in obeying what a locked gate means must also be taught to children. Make sure they know to ask for permission before going into any body of water. It was recently reported how a child drowned after climbing a locked gate to get into his community pool. Children must be taught to respect locked places and not to enter them for their safety.

Drowning deaths of toddlers are the most prevalent not just in pools but in bathtubs too. A child that small can easily fall over in the tub and drown in a few minutes. So never leave them alone, not even for a second. Also, keep the top down on the toilet bowl to prevent the risk of a toddler falling in headfirst and drowning.

Another household danger for children is buckets of water like when you are mopping the floor. Make sure not to leave those unattended as toddlers can again fall head first in the bucket and drown.

Keep children safe by teaching them how to swim. The City of Houston is giving free swim lessons for children and adults through two programs. Swimwise is giving lessons for beginners age 3-5, 6-13, and 14-adult from June 11-21 at varies locations. H2OSAFE is only giving lessons to children aged 6-13 from June 11-21 at various locations. Both require prior registration through the Houston Parks and Recreation website, apm.activecommunities.com. Harris County has free classes through its Aquatics Program. Visit teamunify.com for more information.

Heat Safety

Sweating is a natural way in which we can cool our bodies in the heat. Heavy sweating, along with a fast pulse, muscle pain, and blisters, are all signs of the most common heat-related illnesses. All require the cooling down of one’s body temp by moving the person to a cooler place and putting cool cloths on them. However, not all require drinking something cool. In the case of heat stroke, drinking something cool is not recommended at first until the person’s level of consciousness is assessed. Some victims of heat stroke cannot safety drink fluid because they are not fully conscious.

Heat-related illnesses can be avoided by staying hydrated. The recommendation is to divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces. Also, drink carbohydrate/electrolyte to avoid muscle cramps. Don’t drink a lot of sugary drinks, which deplete the body of fluid. Try only to be outside early in the morning or late in the evening. Wear cool clothing.

The rising heat is the main reason for child car deaths. An average of 40 children die in this manner each year. Parents must remember to never leave their children in the car, even if the windows are rolled down. It has been reported that the temperature in a car can get as high as 104 degrees in half an hour on a 70 degree day.

Another tip is to take a break in the shade when in the sun for prolonged periods of time. Utilize sunscreen. It is your best friend to help avoid sunburn. Sunscreens with an SPF rating of 30 or higher are the best for protection. Make sure to reapply it every two hours.

Beat the heat by going to an area cooling center at several of the city’s multi-service centers and libraries. METRO is giving free rides to centers for those without transportation by calling 311.

Bike/Road Safety

Naturally, when hearing bike and/or road safety the mind quickly thinks to obeying traffic lights, signs, and laws. Even though this is true, there is more to bike and road safety. There is human responsibility. Meaning when operating a bike or motor vehicle one has to block out all distractions to concentrate on the road ahead. Don’t do things like apply makeup, change radio stations, and mostly text while the vehicle is in motion.

Texting behind the wheel is one of the leading causes of vehicular death. In the summer, those death total rises since there are an increased amount of children playing outside and in the streets while drivers are distracted. Put down your phone and connect with that person if not for the sake of your own life at least think about the millions of others on the road. Avoid all other distractions for when the car is not in motion.

CDC says there were over 1,000 bike related deaths in one year. Adults aged 50 to 59 years account for the highest number of bicycle deaths but children (5-14 years) and adolescents (15-19 years) have the highest rates of nonfatal bicycle-related injuries.

Reduce injuries by wearing protective gear like a helmet and pads for knees and elbows. Make sure to purchase equipment from official vendors, as there are a lot of imitations out there that are not up to standard. When riding at night wear reflective clothing so drivers and others can see you better. Make sure only to ride in safe areas like the sidewalk, bike lanes, and parks.

Whether driving or biking obeying all traffic laws is a must. Sometimes bikers will drive against traffic or in between traffic making them greater at risk for injury or death.

Bug Safety

Living in Texas makes it hard to avoid bugs and their bites. What makes Texas bugs so bad is their size. They are huge! In the summer, the most annoying has to be love bugs but at least they don’t bite. Although they can’t harm humans, love bugs are the most annoying bug. One has to get their guard when outside to avoid them.

Wear long sleeves long pants. The clothing serves as a layer of protection from bugs. But make sure to keep the clothing breathable and loose to not overheat.

Insect repellent is the best protection. Use repellents with at least 20% DEET. N-diethyl-meta-toluamide aka DEET is the active ingredient in repellents that are used to repel biting pests by making it hard for bugs to smell people.

Water, heat, bike, road, and bug related accidents could be prevented if parents and guardians stay watchful. Never assume children will take cautionary measures for their safety. Parents can stop accidents before they happen with these tips and more found at the cdc.gov and helpandhope.org. Always err on the side of caution and be ready and prepared. Stay safe this summer.