The Royal Society for the Preventionof Accidents (Rosa) believes those children’s activity and play need to be as secure as essential, not as secure as probable.“Summer is a great time for children to get out and experience the world all around them,” says Peter Cornell, head of enjoyment safety at Rosa. “You do need to be aware of safety issues, but this isn’t a reason to stop children enjoying routines.”A few simple steps, such as asking a responsible adult to watch the children at a party, can decrease the risks.New environments
If you go to stay with friends or relatives, their home or garden might not be as child-friendly as your home.Children like to explore new environment, so make sure they don’t go far on their own. Ask your hosts to place medicines and cleaning items out of sight and out of reach.
Check the garden (if there is one) for possible dangers, such as tools, ponds or water butts. Just a few inches of water can be enough to drown a child, and it can happen quickly.

“Between 5 and 10 children a year drowns in garden ponds,” says Peter. “If you’ve got a toddler, the best thing to do is fill the pond in with sand to make a sand pit. Usually, cover the pond with a significant grill, or put a fence around it.”
Barbecues are fun, but make sure the barbecue is in good situation, and don’t use petrol to light it. If children are around, watch that they don’t get too close to hot areas.

“At parties, make sure one mature stays clean and reasonable to supervise the children,” adds Peter.

Be safe around water
“Water fascinates young kids,” says Peter. “Its great fun and great exercise, but any one of us can die.

“Even the best managers and careers can get temporarily redirected, and all it takes to drown is three minutes face-down in water.”
In 2005, 39 children under 15 drowned in the UK. One-third of these accidents occurred in or near the home, for example in baths or ponds. The victims were mostly toddlers or young children. Older children (aged 6 to 14) are more likely to have an accident away from home, for example in rivers or beaches.

“Drowning happens so speedily,” says Peter. “If your child has come off, check water areas such as park ponds, neighbors’ ponds and pools first.”

Every day, tip the water out of a swimming pool when children have finished playing in it. Unintentional drowning often happens when a young child walks away from his or her parents or is playing near water.
“You do need to be within getting distance,” says Peter. “Most very young children will just drop into the water and not come back up again. They won’t scream for help, so you can’t rely on reading them.”

Holiday pools, villas and hotels
Since the year 2000, at least 30 children from the UK under the age of 10 have drowned in swimming pools abroad. More than half were under four.

An important number of holiday pools drowning happen on either the first or last day of a holiday. “Don’t send your children out to find out before you know what hazards are around,” says Peter.
When you arrive somewhere new, check out the features straight away, including the pool, the veranda (could a child press between the bars?) and the fire runs away.

Manage small children at all times and be within getting distance. “From the age of about five, you can start to explain dangers to them, but you still have to be cautious with guidance,” says Peter.

It’s also worth analyzing your own ability to help if there’s an accident. “Think about your first aid and resuscitation capabilities,” he says. “Consider taking a first aid course.”

Booking your holiday
Peter also indicates being wary of holidays advertising that “children go free”.
“Ask what the children’s functions are before you book,” he says. “If you aren’t paying for the facilities, they might not be very good and might not offer exercises for your children.”

Always book your hotel in advance so that you can ask any questions.
“If you wait to find hotel on the day you arrive, you might find out that there’s a dual carriageway in front of the hotel, or a dangerous pool or dangerous beach,” says Peter. “You won’t have a relaxing holiday because you’ll be concerning about your children the whole time.”