Summer brings fun opportunities for children to play, explore and spend time outdoors. First 5 San Bernardino’s annual Kid Safe Summer campaign, now in its fourth year, encourages parents and caregivers to make safety a priority by sharing practical tips to help protect ages 5 and under throughout the season.
Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Safe Kids IE’s Michelle Parker and First 5 San Bernardino’s Erin Meier at Inland Empire Alive TV Segment Discussing Summer Safety for Families
One of the campaign’s key priorities is promoting water safety. In California, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children 5 and under. Children can drown quickly and often without making a sound, which is why the ABCs of water safety are so important. During First 5 San Bernardino’s Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day at Lake Gregory Regional Park, families learned about active supervision, safety barriers, how to choose properly fitting life jackets (and say ‘no’ to floaties!), and where to find swim lessons and CPR classes.
The campaign also reminds families that safety goes beyond time spent in the water. Warm weather means children are spending more time outside, making it important to stay hydrated, apply sunscreen and use properly fitted helmets and car seats.
First 5 San Bernardino will continue to share information all summer long across our Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels. Stay tuned to catch more safety tips, giveaways, event information and videos, like our Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day recap. The campaign was also featured in Inland Empire Community News, San Bernardino Sun, and soon an episode of Inland Empire Alive will air discussing ways that families can have a Kid Safe Summer by practicing simple habits.
To learn more about the Kid Safe Summer campaign, visit first5sanbernardino.org/kid-safe-summer.