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Summer is a fun time.
Make it a safe time, too!

WATER SAFETY

Drowning is one of the leading causes of child deaths each year. Here are some tips to help keep kids safe around water:

  • NEVER leave children swimming unattended. Drowning can occur in an inch or two of water.
  • Stay within an arm's length of small children in water to protect against rapid drowning.
  • Warn children to never swim at a pool or beach alone or without a lifeguard.
  • Train children to swim at an early age.
  • Teach children that swimming in a pool is far different than swimming in open water.
  • Be certain only qualified and undistracted adults are entrusted with supervising children in water.
  • Always empty inflatable pools, buckets, pails and bathtubs after each use.
  • Personal floatation devices do not guarantee water safety.
NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A CAR

The temperature inside a car can get dangerously hot, even in moderate weather with the windows slightly down. Kids can suffer from heat stroke causing serious injuries and sometimes death.

Simply leaving the air conditioner on doesn’t make your child safe. A child could put the car in drive, get caught in a closing power window or be abducted.

Here are some tips to keep kids safe around cars:

  • Never leave a child unattended in a car. Not even for a minute.
  • Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can’t get to them.
  • Warn your children about playing in and around cars.
  • Install a trunk release mechanism so that kids can’t get trapped inside the trunk.
  • Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about unloading the groceries and items out of the car.
OTHER SUMMER SAFETY REMINDERS
  • Have kids wear a properly fitted helmet when riding a bike, skateboard, scooter or rollerblading.
  • Keep a shock-absorbing surface under and around home playground equipment.
  • Always supervise kids on play equipment.
  • Use caution with outdoor grills when children are present.
  • Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of windows. Install in any room where young children spend time.
  • Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows.
  • Limit sun exposure for kids and infants.
  • Apply sunscreen, even on cloudy days, and reapply every two hours, or after swimming.
IMPORTANT RESOURCE NUMBERS

Family Helpline
1-800-THE KIDS
If you are feeling stressed out, call to speak anonymously with a trained volunteer who can listen and help.

Child Abuse Hotline
1-877 NJ ABUSE
(1-877-652-2873)
TTY 1-800-835-5510

Department of Community Affairs
609-633-6225
For information about requirements for child safety window guards.

NJ 2-1-1
2-1-1 is New Jersey's community resource to make it easier to locate where to go for help, how to apply and get information. Call 2-1-1 or visit NJ211.org.