Your health: Follow these tips to keep your family safe this summer

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips to keep your family safe this summer.

Bug safety

• Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.

• Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.

• Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.

• When outside in the evenings or other times when there are a lot of mosquitoes present, cover up with long sleeved shirts, pants and socks to prevent bites.

• To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently back it out by scraping it with a credit card or your fingernail.

• Use insect repellents containing DEET when needed to prevent insect-related diseases. Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and other viruses. But, DEET should not be used on children younger than 2 months of age.

• Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water.

Lawn mower safety

• Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 should not use walk-behind mowers.

• Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.

• Keep children out of the yard while mowing. If children must be in the vicinity of running lawnmowers, they should wear polycarbonate protective eye wear at all times.

• Make sure that sturdy shoes are worn while mowing.

• Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.

• Only use a mower with a control that stops the mower blade from moving if the handle is let go.

• Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.

• If possible, eliminate stagnant water, such as in bird baths or fish ponds, in your yard. Check that your window screens are tightly fitted and repair any holes to keep bugs out of the house.

Playground safety

• Metal, rubber and plastic products can get very hot in the summer, especially under direct sun. Make sure slides are cool to prevent children's legs from getting burned.

• Do not allow children to play barefoot on the playground.

• Never attach or allow children to attach ropes, jump ropes, leashes, or similar items to play equipment; children can strangle on these. Make sure your children remove helmets and anything looped around their necks.

• Parents should never purchase a home trampoline or allow children to use a home trampoline because of the risk of serious injury even when supervised.

Bicycle safety

• A helmet protects your child from serious injury, and should always be worn.

• Do not push your child to ride a two-wheeled bike without training wheels until he or she is ready. Consider the child's coordination and desire to learn to ride. Stick with coaster (foot) brakes until your child is older and more experienced for hand brakes. Consider a balance bike with no pedals for young children to learn riding skills.

Skateboard, scooters

• All skateboarders and scooter-riders should wear protective gear; helmets are particularly important for preventing and minimizing head injuries.

• Most injuries occur due to falls. Inexperienced riders should only ride as fast as they can comfortably slow down, and they should practice falling on grass or other soft surfaces. Before riding, skateboarders should survey the riding terrain for obstacles such as potholes, rocks, or any debris. Protective wrist, elbow and kneepads should be worn.

• Children should never ride skateboards or scooters in or near moving traffic.

• Riders should never skate alone. Children under the age of 8 should be closely supervised at all times.