Summer Safety Tips
Safe Summer Fun for Southwest Washington Kids: Tips from Little Spuds Pediatrics
Summer is here in Southwest Washington — and that means sunshine, longer days, and plenty of outdoor adventures for local families. Whether you're heading to Lacamas Lake, biking through Vancouver’s trails, or splashing in your backyard pool, keeping kids safe is just as important as keeping them entertained.
At Little Spuds Pediatrics, your in-home pediatric urgent care expert, we want to help families in Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, and beyond enjoy a safe, injury-free summer. Here are our top seasonal safety tips for kids:
Water Safety: Eyes on the Kids
Water Safety: Preventing Drowning Around Lakes, Rivers, Beaches, & Pools
With so many lakes, rivers, and backyard pools in Clark County, drowning remains a serious risk—especially since for kids ages 1–4, it’s the leading cause of death.
To keep your child safe:
Always assign a “Water Watcher”—an adult whose only job is to supervise children in or near water.
Rotate the role, but make sure someone is always on duty - one idea is to make a “Water Watcher” card that each adult passes from one to the next so there is no confusion around who is assigned.
Avoid distractions like phones, books, or chatting with others during swim time.
Enroll your children in swim lessons early and invest in the time to teach them to be safe around water. See these great tips on how to choose a swim program from Water Safety USA.
Heading to the lake or river? Every child should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. A proper fit is snug yet comfy and shouldn’t ride up past the chin or ears when lifted at the shoulders. Read more about the U.S. Coast Guard’s life jacket fitting guidelines HERE.
Going to one of our beautiful Pacific Northwest Beaches, like Long Beach, Washington?
Beware of sneaker waves: these are waves that appear without warning and surge high on the beach, some with deadly force. This is why they say, “Never turn your back on the ocean.” Stay close when children are playing close to the surf and watch the waves.
Stay away from and off of logs floating in the surf. The ocean is strong enough to roll even the smallest of logs on top of small children, often with devastating effects.
Be mindful of currents. Rip currents can quickly pull someone out into the ocean. Know how to spot them and how to avoid them.
Know the tides: incoming tides can quickly surround you and leave you stranded while exploring exposed rocks. Take extra care to know the tides when exploring areas exposed during low tide and to watch the incoming waves. You can use NOAA’s tide map to learn the tide before you go to any beach.
Simple steps like these can make a big difference—and save lives.
Fireworks Safety for Kids
Each year, more than 10,000 people in the U.S. are treated in emergency departments due to fireworks-related injuries—nearly one-third are children under 15.
If you’re celebrating summer holidays with a bang, keep it safe:
Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
Always follow safety instructions carefully.
Consider attending professional shows instead of lighting fireworks at home.
At Little Spuds Pediatrics, we’re here if accidents happen—but when it comes to fireworks, prevention is the best protection.
Window Safety in Warmer Weather
Summer brings warmer weather and for homes without air conditioning, a simple solution is to open a window to cool things down, especially in 2nd story homes. Many families aren’t aware this poses a serious risk to young children, who can easily fall out of windows, resulting in serious (sometimes life threatening) injuries.
Prevent window-related injuries by:
Keeping children away from open windows.
Using window stops to limit openings to no more than 4 inches.
Moving furniture away from windows to prevent climbing.
Closely supervising young children around open windows.
Educating older kids on why window safety matters.
Read more about Randall Children’s Hospital’s window safety tips HERE.
Sun & Heat Safety Tips
Summer sunshine can quickly lead to sunburns or heat-related illnesses.
Keep kids cool and protected by:
Applying SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours.
Having kids wear sun hats and if weather allows, breathable long sleeves.
Skipping blankets over strollers — they trap heat.
Offering plenty of water throughout the day.
Never leaving kids in a parked car — even briefly.
Read more about the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on keeping kids safe in the sun HERE.
Avoid Heat Exhaustion
Cases of heat stroke spike during the summer months, and this can be life-threatening in children. Prior to heat stroke, kids often show milder symptoms such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Make sure children take water breaks and wear lightweight clothing when playing outside. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke HERE.
Bike Safety for Active Kids
Southwest Washington trails and streets are busier in summer, so bike safety is essential.
Make biking safe and fun:
Always use a properly fitted helmet - this is the most important part.
See this VIDEO from Seattle Children’s Hospital to learn how to fit your child’s helmet.
Inspect bikes regularly (tires, brakes, handlebars).
Teach kids the rules of the road and how to ride safely. For some starting tips, see this handy PDF from Safe Kids Washington.
At Little Spuds Pediatrics, we know accidents can happen — even with the best precautions. That’s why our in-home pediatric urgent care team is available to help families throughout Southwest Washington with non-emergency care that comes to you.
For peace of mind this summer, keep these tips in mind — and if your child needs care, we’re just a phone call or a click away. Need to connect with us by text? Sign up HERE on Spruce Health!
Serving families in the following cities: Vancouver, Camas, Woodland, La Center, Kalama, Kelso, Felida, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, Yacolt, and Washougal
Click HERE to schedule an in-home visit today.