Sunday Mornings with Rania: Summer Safety Check List for Kids

Rania Mankarious is executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston. (Photo: lawellphoto.com)

I love this time of year because while we are all working, it just goes without saying that we all shift a bit of our attention to pure family time. As our kids enjoy the carefree days of summer, our goal is that they stay safe morning to night.

Here’s a 10-point safety check list for you and your family. Please read it, share it with others and leave a comment below with additional safety reminders.

1. Helmets – Parents, did you know it’s illegal to allow a child under 14 years old to ride a bike without a helmet? Please remind all kids, teens (and adults!) to wear their helmets no matter what.
2. Swimming – According to the CDC, there were approximately 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States between 2005-2014. This averages about 10 deaths per day. About 1 in 5 of those deaths were children 14 and younger. For every 1 death, 5 other children are sent to the ER for nonfatal submersion injuries.
3. Home Alone – Texas law does not specify an actual age that children can stay home alone. Parents, this means it’s your call. How do you best decide? Consider the age and maturity of your children. How long will they be home alone? What time of the day or night? What area of town do you live in? Are you expecting deliveries at that time? How will they eat, what will they eat (will they have to use the stove or oven)? Who are trusted emergency adult contacts in the neighborhood they can reach out to if they need something? Do they know how to handle an emergency? While the law doesn’t give an age, the negligence argument can still be made based on these and other issues so please think this through!
4. Hot Cars – Leaving your child unattended in a car is a crime punishable under Texas law. Parents, for those of you who would never leave your child alone in a car, let’s discuss whether or not you’ve trained your child on how to get out of a hot car if they ever find themselves in one. Just this month, a young boy lost his life after he went to the family car to look for a toy. Once in the car, he could not get out and eventually died of heat stroke. Remember, in a matter of mere minutes, the temperature in a car rises to unbearable heights. Parents, take a moment TODAY to teach your child how to (1) unlock himself from his car seat and (2) get out of your car. This means, showing them how to unlock the car doors, push the horn, roll down the windows, open the doors and get out.
5. Public Bathrooms – Summer means running around town and using public restrooms when out and about. This week, news broke of a young boy, 9 years old, who was sexually assaulted in a public bathroom in Houston. Is a 9 year-old old enough to go to the bathroom alone? Of course. Is he/she old enough to fight off a predator who follows them into a restroom? I don’t think so and never want our children to even face that reality. Parents, please, talk to your child about strangers in the bathroom but beyond that, go in with them or stand by the door. There’s no reason to leave your children unattended. By the way, the person wanted in this crime is still at large.
6. Accidents – Playing outside is wonderful but accidents are the biggest risks our kids face this summer. From playgrounds to trampolines, kids are falling, bumping their heads, breaking legs and more. Run, have fun but remind kids to be safe.
7. Out Alone – While outside, reminder kids to NOT talk to strangers, to fight, yell, kick, bite and do anything and everything necessary to keep themselves safe.
8. Predators Online – We know that cyber usage spikes in the summer. PLEASE take a moment to remind children of the dangers online. If you are not aware, read the latest news from last week on Operation Broken Heart III where 126 Houston area child-predators were arrested after targeting our children. 
9. Traveling – Hopefully you and your family are traveling this summer. Take a moment to give each of your children a sheet of paper that has the name of your hotel, your phone numbers while traveling and any potential friends or family you have in the area. It only take a moment to talk to your kids about “check in points” should you get lost in public places.
10. Playdates and Sleepovers – We encourage kids to go and have fun but remember to call home in the case of something uncomfortable, to never feel the pressure to engage in something they feel uncomfortable with.

Our goal is never to limit the unimaginable fun kids of all ages should have this summer. That said, our primary goal is to equip you and your kids with information that keeps you safe! We love our children, we love yours too.

Happy Summer!

Hear Rania talk more about summer safety with Freddy Cruz on 104.1 KRBE.

For more information on Crime Stoppers of Houston, go to crime-stoppers.org and follow Crime Stoppers on Facebook. Have topics in mind that you’d like Rania to write about? Email her directly at r[email protected]. Read past Sundays with Rania posts here.

Editor's Note: Views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Buzz Magazines.