HSE Shares Summer Safety Tips for Parents as School Holidays Begin

As the school holidays get underway, the HSE has shared a series of safety tips to help parents keep their children safe and well over the summer months, with advice covering water safety, the garden, days out and farm visits.

The HSE says that more outdoor play, different daily routines and time spent in less familiar places during the holidays can bring challenges such as changes in mood and behaviour, while risks can range from drowning, poisoning, falls and burns. Staying vigilant and taking simple preventative steps can help reduce the likelihood of injury to children.

Dr Abigail Collins, HSE National Clinical Lead, Child Health Public Health:

"Summer is a time for children to play, explore and enjoy being outdoors, so it's good to be aware of steps you can take to keep them safe. Supervision is key, especially near water, on the farm and visiting homes that are not child-proofed. A little forward planning can go a long way and help families to enjoy the summer together. For example, empty, fence off or safely cover anything in the garden that can collect water like paddling pools and buckets – young children can be at risk of drowning in just a few centimetres. If visiting another home, make sure your child can't access areas like a balcony or driveway unsupervised. Remember, the best fun is being with you, whether it is simple downtime, stories, or more active playing games."

Dr Edel Duggan, Consultant Anaesthetist and Medical Director of the National Poisons Information Centre, Beaumont Hospital:

"As children spend more time outdoors during the summer, we typically see an increase in calls relating to outdoor accidental poisonings. Young children are curious and may put plants, berries, mushrooms or other unfamiliar substances into their mouths. Parents can help prevent incidents by supervising young children, teaching them not to eat anything they find outdoors without checking with an adult first, and keeping hazardous substances such as weedkillers, paints, white spirits, BBQ lighting fluid locked away. Families visiting the beach should be aware of hazards such as jellyfish stings, and weever fish hidden in the sand. Simple measures such as wearing beach footwear can help reduce the risk. Prevention is the best approach but if a poisoning or serious sting is suspected, call the National Poisons Information Centre in Beaumont Hospital."

At the beach, pool, lake or river

The HSE advises that children should always be supervised in and near water, whether they can swim or not. Older children should never be left minding younger children close to or in the water, and parents should stay within arm's reach of small children, as they can move quickly and drown in seconds. Buggies near water should always have the brakes applied, be kept within arm's reach and stay well away from the water's edge, where the ground may be uneven or unstable, or there may be a long drop into deeper water, such as at the edge of a pier.

Families on holiday near a swimming pool are advised to be very vigilant and to ensure there is a locked gate or door between children and the pool. Armbands and other buoyancy aids should carry the approved current safety standard mark, I.S. EN131138 [sic] and the CE mark, and should fit properly. Children should be taught to "Stay Away From Edges" (S.A.F.E) and should never enter water without adult supervision. The HSE also warns of beach hazards such as jellyfish, which can sting even after washing ashore, and weever fish, which may be hidden in the sand and can cause painful injuries if stepped on; wearing beach shoes or sandals can help reduce this risk.

In the garden

Parents are urged to be aware of toxic plants such as foxglove, which can be poisonous if swallowed, and giant hogweed, which can cause serious skin irritation, while any mushrooms or fungi growing in the garden should be removed. The National Poisons Information Centre has a guide on seasonal toxic plants on its website.

Garden sheds and garages should be kept locked, with hazardous substances such as weedkillers, insecticides, drain cleaners, antifreeze, BBQ lighting fluid, paint, white spirits, screen wash and other car cleaning products stored out of reach and sight of children. Children should also be kept well away from lawnmowers, strimmers and hedge cutters.

The HSE notes that young children can drown in just a few centimetres of water, so anything that can collect water, including paddling pools, ponds, barrels, water troughs, buckets and basins, should be emptied, stored upside down, fenced off or safely covered. Extra care is also advised at barbecues, fire pits and outdoor heaters, with parents urged to help prevent burns by making sure children don't play nearby.

When out and about

Homes that are not child-proofed may have grandparents' medicines or other poisonous items such as liquid detergent capsules, dishwasher tablets, batteries or liquid reed diffusers within easy reach, so parents should ensure children cannot access areas such as a balcony or busy road unsupervised. In busy places like outdoor events or playgrounds, it can be easy to get separated or to assume another adult is watching a child, so it is important to be clear on exactly who is supervising at any given time.

On driveways, children should be kept safely inside the home or held securely when vehicles are coming or going, with a designated safe space, such as standing by the front door, considered useful. Parents are advised never to hang a blanket or other material over the front of a buggy, as this can stop air circulating and cause a baby to overheat, while also blocking the parent's view of the baby. Being able to see the baby helps with bonding and a sense of security, and is also important for safety reasons should the baby fall asleep while out in the buggy.

Children should never be left unattended in a car, even briefly, due to risks including overheating and breathing problems on a warm day. When cycling, children should always wear a well-fitting helmet and reflective or high-visibility clothing, with care taken around loose clothing that could get caught in wheels or a chain; the bike itself should be the right size, with working brakes, lights, reflectors, tyres and a bell. The HSE also reminds parents to keep children off e-scooters, as they are not a toy and can cause serious injury, with only those aged 16 and over legally permitted to use them.

On the farm

Children should never be allowed onto a farmyard without close adult supervision, and access to high areas should be prevented through secure gates and doors. Children should not be allowed to play on bales, as they risk falling off or between them and suffocating, and equipment or items should not be left leaning against walls, sheds or other structures, as children may climb on them or the items may fall onto the children.

Anything that can collect water, including wells, ponds, drains, soak pits and water tanks, should be emptied, fenced off or safely covered, while exposed areas such as slurry pits should also be fenced, as slurry presents both a drowning and suffocation risk. Children should never be allowed near tractors or farm machinery, in use or not, without close adult supervision, and should be kept a safe distance from livestock, with the HSE noting that animals guarding their young can be more aggressive and unpredictable than usual. Dogs visiting a farm should be kept on a lead and away from farm animals, rather than left in a child's charge. Everyone should wash and dry their hands thoroughly with warm running water and soap after touching animals and before eating, as animals can carry germs such as E. coli and cryptosporidium that may cause illness.

The Poisons Information Line is open from 8am to 10pm every day on 01-809 2166. Outside these hours, parents should contact their GP or hospital, and in an emergency should call 112 or 999.

Further tips, including advice on outdoor play equipment, heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and travel and motion sickness, are available on mychild.ie.