Keeping Beaufort Kids Safe From Summer Injury

Parents should be aware that summer is a time when many kids suffer injuries. Kids could be hurt or even killed because they spend more time playing outside during the summer and are at greater risk of a bicycle accident or a pedestrian collision. Kids also face the risk of being left inside of a hot car where they could suffer heat stroke that leaves them permanently brain damaged or causes death.

To help alert parents to summer dangers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  has prepared a summary of tips to reduce the risk of injury or death. Parents should follow the NHTSA advice and should also consult with a personal injury lawyer if they believe that their child has been injured because of someone else's actions.

Tips for Avoiding Child Summer Injuries

The NHTSA advises parents that they can reduce the risk their child will be hurt or die from heat stroke by:

• Looking before they lock. Parents need to get into the habit of checking to see if a child is in the car. Before locking the door, parents should quickly glance at both the front and the back seat of their vehicle.
• Never leaving kids unattended. Parents may think it is OK to leave a child inside a car for just a few minutes, but it does not take very long for the temperature to climb to deadly levels and for kids to be hurt by heatstroke. Use the drive-thru window or take your kids in with you when running errands.
• Getting help for kids in cars. If you are out and see a child who has been left inside of a locked vehicle, call 911 to get help. You are better off erring on the side of caution and could potentially prevent a tragedy.

Parents can reduce the risk that their child will be involved in a deadly pedestrian accident by:

• Teaching children to look left and right before they cross the street.
• Allowing children to cross the street only with an adult or with an older child who is responsible and knows to look both ways.
• Holding their child's hand when crossing the street or when navigating around parked or moving vehicles.
• Alerting kids that they should not ever run out into the road or step out into the road from between two parked vehicles.

Finally, parents can reduce the chances that their child will be hurt or killed in a bicycle accident by:

• Requiring a helmet use at all times.
• Teaching kids to ride on the sidewalk.
• Teaching kids to ride with traffic when they are in the road, and to make sure to obey all signals and stop signs.
• Allowing kids to ride only on roads that have no traffic or that have very limited traffic.

By following these safety tips, hopefully parents can reduce the chances that something will happen to their child and tragedy can be avoided over summer break.

A South Carolina personal injury attorney can help if you've been injured or a loved one was killed in an accident. Contact Twenge + Twombley today at 866-452-6315 or visit https://www.twlawfirm.com/ for a free case consultation.