I’ve been hearing and reading many warnings about sun and water safety for our children now that summer is here. We need to be especially cognizant of these potential hazards with our special needs children. We need to remember to think in terms of developmental age and not chronological age when it comes to water safety and continually applying sunscreen.

If my children are going around our pond or into a boat, I always insist they wear a life jacket and take along an older sibling or parent. If I’m at the lake and can’t keep an eye on all of them at the same time, then they all need to wear life jackets. They don’t like it, but I don’t like grief and loss.

While listening to the radio on Saturday morning I heard the warnings that we’ve all heard so many times. Children can easily drown in kiddy pools, so empty them when you are not using them. We have a four-year-old escape artist currently living in our home, so this is important to remember.

Another myth they talked about on the radio was, “I’ll hear screaming and splashing if my child starts to drown.” They stated that this just isn’t true, they said that, “Drowning is a silent killer, the children just disappear under the water.” Always tell the person that you are leaving in charge that they are now expected to watch the children, don’t just assume that they know.

Another hazard to consider is Recreational water illness (RWI). These can be infections of the skin, eyes, ears or diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illnesses, which are contracted by breathing, swallowing, or contact with water that has been contaminated with germs.

Remember to be considerate of others using the same pool or beach and have your children shower before entering the water to minimize the spread of disease. If they have diarrhea, don’t allow them to swim, and don’t change diapers near the water. Remember to take your child to the bathroom frequently so they won’t use the pool and practice good hygiene, like hand washing.

Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you head outside, to allow your skin time to absorb it. If you’re out for the day then reapply the sunscreen frequently and generously to all areas of your body that will be exposed to the sun and after swimming. Remember using sunscreen will help to protect your child’s skin from harmful UV rays, which can damage the skin and lead to skin cancer.

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