Energy Adviser: Tips can help kids have safe summer

School’s out for summer! But the best months of the year for kids are also the most dangerous. When school is out, swimming pools and playgrounds fill up, backyard play equipment goes up, boats launch, barbecue grills roll out — and the number of children’s injuries increases dramatically. But with some extra precautions and ongoing education, grown-ups can help keep kids safe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report burns, drowning, falls, poisoning and vehicle accidents as the most common causes of unintended injuries for children under 19, sending more than 9 million to emergency rooms for treatment each year.

While injuries to boys remain nearly twice as high as injuries to girls, all childhood injuries have declined steadily since 1979, according to CDC data. But dwindling injury rates don’t let guardians off the hook, because many accidents are avoidable with some guidance through summer’s potential safety hazards.

Lack of experience and still-forming brains make kids less likely to foresee dangerous conditions. So kids often zip around making poor decisions at a high speed. They often don’t gauge distance accurately, and the older they are, the harder they push the limits of play and sports equipment — often pushing themselves to exhaustion in the process. Such naivet? can cause serious injuries — broken bones, dislocations, concussions or unseen internal injuries.

These issues make for a long list of injuries that include bats, balls, or other objects hitting them; running into fences or walls; falls from moving bikes, boats, skateboards and water skis; and falls out of trees and windows, or off roofs and playground equipment. Stings and animal bites are also risks and, lest we forget, there are the dangers of electrical equipment and power lines.

“Summer is an important time to remind kids to be safe around electric equipment,” said Gene Morris, safety manager for Clark Public Utilities. “When kids are climbing trees, check to make sure there aren’t power lines running near or through the tree. And remind kids never to use electrical equipment, like those big green box transformers, as bases for tag or benches. They look boring, but there’s dangerous, high-voltage electricity inside.”

To prevent falls around your home, install safety barriers, like guards for windows above ground level, stair gates and guardrails for patios and decks. Opening windows when it’s cool outside is a great way to keep energy costs down, but don’t sacrifice safety and remember a screen isn’t strong enough to prevent a fall. Morris also cautions parents about stringing extension cords through doors and windows, because children (and distracted adults) can trip.

With some attention in advance to keeping kids protected and aware, summer fun can be safe. Vigilant caregivers can help keep injuries at bay by reminding kids about safety concerns, always insisting on protective equipment such as helmets, pads for joints and life jackets.

“Also make sure kids know never to climb fences around electrical equipment or substations,” said Morris. “If a ball, Frisbee, kite or drone flies into a substation, give the utility at all at 360-992-3000 and we’ll come rescue and return it!” Alertness, setting and enforcing warm weather rules, and steering kids away from danger in the yard, on the playground, or in the pool can make for a much more worry-free summer.

Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.