GUIDE
Summer Safety for Kids
Keep kids safe all summer. The summer hub brings together expert tips on sun, water, heat, outdoor hazards, travel and camp safety, all in one place for parents.
Summer Safety Guide for Kids
Summer means more time outdoors, at the pool and beach, on the playground, on the road and at camp. A little planning goes a long way toward keeping kids safe and healthy all season. This hub brings trusted, specialist-reviewed summer guidance from Rady Children’s Health together in one place, so your family can quickly find the tips and resources you need.
Featured Summer Safety Guides
Rady Children’s Health has built in-depth guides on the summer safety topics families search for most. Each guide pulls together articles, printable EN/ES handouts, podcasts and videos on a single topic, with practical, easy-to-follow steps for parents and caregivers.
Every summer day brings more time in the sun, so the Sun Safety & Skin Protection guide is a good place to start no matter what your family has planned. From there, work down the page for water, heat, outdoor hazards, active play, travel and camp and use the guide that matches whatever comes up this summer.
Beating Heat & Staying Hydrated
When temperatures climb, kids overheat faster than adults do. Here is how to spot heat-related illness early, keep kids cool and help the whole family stay hydrated all summer.
Preventing Heat-Related Illness
Little bodies heat up faster than ours, but signs of overheating are easy to spot once you know what to look for
Keeping Kids Cool
A few easy habits keep everyone comfortable, and a lot happier, when the temperature climbs.
Staying hydrated
Staying hydrated helps growing bodies handle the heat and the habit is easier to build than you might think.
- How water protects your kids’ kidneys and bladder
- Hydration habits for your whole family
- Healthy summer drinks kids actually like
Handling Outdoor Hazards & Wildlife
Summer play brings a few risks beyond sun and water: beach days, bites and stings, itchy plants and smoky air. Here is what to watch for and what to do about it.
Planning a Safe Beach Day
Beach days come with a few things a backyard pool does not including waves, currents and the occasional sea creature.
- Beach safety tips: sunscreen, waves, jellyfish and snacks
- Kid-friendly beach food and snacks
- How to avoid and treat stingray injuries
Soothing Bug Bites, Stings & Poisonous Plants
Time outside sometimes comes with a few uninvited guests. Knowing what to do keeps a sting or a rash from ending the fun early.
- Spot & soothe poison oak
- What to do if your child is bitten by a snake
- How to check kids for ticks after outdoor play
- Keeping kids comfortable around insects
- Treating bee stings, and when a reaction needs a doctor
Protecting Kids From Wildfire Smoke
In Southern California, smoke can roll in fast, and kids’ growing lungs feel it more than ours do.
- How wildfire smoke affects kids
- How wildfires can impact air quality
- Minimize the health effects of wildfires
- 11 Ways to help children cope with fires
Learn more: Air Quality Index (AQI basics)
Playing Safely Outdoors
Summer means more hours at the park, in the backyard and on wheels. A few habits keep the active days going.
Riding Bikes, E-Bikes & Scooters
Wheels are everywhere in summer. A helmet and a few road rules cover most of it.
Keeping Playgrounds & Yards Safe
The backyard and the local park are summer headquarters. A quick once-over keeps them that way.
Staying Active & Curious All Summer
Long summer days are perfect for staying active and keeping curious minds busy.
Traveling Stress-Free
Heading out of town or dropping off at camp? A bit of planning makes both go smoothly.
Preparing for Summer Travel
A little prep before you leave makes the trip easier on everyone.
- 11 Tips to prepare kids for summer travel
- Keep summer travel stress-free with these tips
- Are children safe in RVs?
Getting Ready for Camp
Camp is a summer highlight for a lot of kids. A little prep helps it go smoothly.
The guidance on this page has been clinically reviewed by CHOC pediatric experts.
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The contents of this webpage, including text, graphics, audio files, and videos (“Materials”), are for your general information only. The Materials are not intended to substitute qualified professional or medical advice, diagnoses, or treatments. CHOC does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, or other information that may be mentioned on or linked to this webpage. Always call your physician or another qualified health provider if you have any questions or problems. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest emergency department, or call 911.
For more health information for your family visit health.choc.org
