As you host family barbecues this summer, it’s important to practice grill safety, as barbecue grills can cause serious injuries and even house fires. Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s, offers these safe grilling tips:

Grilling Safety

• Only use the grill outdoors. Position the grill well away from siding, deck railings, out from under eaves and overhanging branches and a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area by declaring a 3-foot "kid-free zone" around the grill.
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because flames can flashback up into the container and explode. Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a grill.
• When cooking food, use long-handled grilling tools to give plenty of clearance from heat and flames.  Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited when the grill is hot. 
• Keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Always supervise children around outdoor grills.
• Dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers.
• If you smell gas while cooking on a propane gas grill, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not attempt to move the grill.
• Never store propane cylinders in buildings or garages. If you store a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

Gasoline Safety

• Never use gas to start a fire.
• Keep gas out of reach of children. Out of sight isn’t enough, for any age. Store your gasoline where children cannot access it in a well-ventilated area outside your vehicle and living space. Consider a detached garage or outdoor storage shed.
• Use gasoline containers with a spout and automatic shut-off feature that will prevent overfilling of fuel tanks.
• Never use old soda bottles or other makeshift containers to store gas; children may think it’s a beverage and drink it.
• Keep gas away from any source of heat, spark or flame. Even common household appliances like water heaters and clothes dryers can ignite gas vapors.

We all know that reading is important, but during the summertime, it’s often the last thing kids want to do. How can you as a parent encourage your child to be a summer reader? Ginger Joe, M.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D., a teacher on Le Bonheur’s Child Life team, offers some suggestions.

“Everything around us involves reading. There's reading for survival as you're driving on the streets, reading menus to order your meals, reading your e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and even texting,” said Joe.

But reading can be fun, too, especially when you find a good book that takes you into another world. Most kids like to be adventurous – and what better, safe way than a good book, says Joe.

Joe says parents can make reading fun by taking kids to their local library. Check there for summer reading books or programs. Some libraries offer a summer reading list with incentives for finishing a book. Search websites on the library computer for your child’s favorite authors and topics. If he loves bugs, find a book all about his favorite insects.

Parents can also make reading a game, says Joe. Start a challenge amongst your family and have a night out to honor the reader of the most books within a designated length of time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also offers some reading-related tips, such as the following:

• Repetition is good — it helps a child build important language skills.
• Reading doesn’t have to be a huge project. Just a 3-minute story every night before bed will help get your child interested in reading.
• Little ones can learn to love books, too. Board books and soft books are good for infants to get used to holding a book in their hands — and enjoying the experience.
• It’s important for parents to set a good example, too.

“I strongly believe that when kids see their parents enjoying and talking about a good book, they will be willing to read more as well,” said Joe.

When out of school for the summer, kids can be tempted to lounge around the house, playing video games or watching television. However, daily physical activity is important – as important as brushing your teeth, says Missy Williams, PT, DPT, a Le Bonheur physical therapist.

“Physical activity should be a part of your daily hygiene. You have one body, and you should take care of it,” says Williams.

She offers parents some ideas for getting their kids off of the couch.

• Exercise as a family. Go for a walk or bike ride together. You’ll enjoy some quality time while getting your physical activity for the day.
• Turn anything into a game. Run, hop, skip or jump to get a toy from the other room.
• Don’t let the heat stop you. If it’s hot outside, bring your hula hoop indoors or play charades – anything that requires movement. Have a family wheel barrow race: let your kids feet act as the handle bars while they walk on their hands.
• Play video games. Some video games are good choices. Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect are fun video games that include a lot of physical movement. 
• Sign ‘em up. Enroll your kids in a daytime camp during the summer that involves swimming, sports or other physical activities.

If you don’t encourage your kids to be active when they’re young, they can face dramatic consequences as adults. According to Williams, a lack of physical activity and being overweight can lead to joint pain, heart disease, diabetes and a greater risk for injury.

With many community pools opening this weekend for the summer, it's important to remember to stay safe while in or around water. Children can drown in a matter of seconds.

According to Safe Kids USA, more than 830 children ages 14 and younger die as a result of unintentional drowning each year. Susan Helms is director of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. She urges parents to pay close to attention to kids while they are swimming or near a pool.

“A supervised child is in sight at all times with your undivided attention focused on the child,” said Helms. When there are children in or near the water, adults should take turns serving as the designated “Water Watcher,” paying undivided attention, she says. Don’t leave, even for a moment, and avoid distractions, such as talking on the phone or preparing a meal.

She also offers other tips for parents to help keep kids safe this pool season.

• If you have a pool or spa, or if your child visits a home that has a pool or spa, it should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least five feet high with gates that close and latch automatically. Studies estimate that this type of isolation fencing could prevent 50 percent to 90 percent of child drownings in residential pools.
• A pool or spa should be equipped with an anti-entrapment drain cover and a safety vacuum release system to prevent children from being caught in the suction of the drain. The powerful suction forces can trap a child underwater or cause internal injuries.
• Don’t leave toys in or near the pool where they could attract unsupervised kids. For extra protection, consider a pool alarm and alarms on the doors, windows and gates leading to the pool. You can buy these at your local pool supply store or online.
• Enroll your kids in swimming lessons around age 4, but don’t assume swimming lessons make your child immune to drowning. There is no substitute for active supervision.
• Don’t rely on inflatable swimming toys such as “water wings” and noodles. If your child can’t swim, stay within an arm’s reach.
• Learn infant and child CPR. In less than two hours, you can learn effective interventions that can give a fighting chance to a child whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped.
• Keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers by the pool.

Helms reminds everyone that these rules apply to “kiddie pools,” as well – not just in-ground pools. A child can drown in just an inch of water.

Stay safe this summer by following the tips from Helms and Safe Kids USA. Always have a “Water Watcher” on guard.

How do you know if your child is ready for overnight summer camp? We asked Thomas Hobson, director of Child Life at Le Bonheur, to address some of parents’ common concerns. Here’s what he had to say:

What are some key indicators that show your child is ready for camp?

As children get older, there a certain signs you can use to determine if your child is ready for an overnight camp. Look at how your child has done staying at a grandparent’s house for several nights or at sleepovers with friends. Try day camps first to see how well they handle the experience.  Listen for phrases like “I wish it would last longer.” If all else fails, ask your child. You might be surprised by her honesty.

How do you know if they are ready to sleep away from home?

Two big factors come to mind when thinking about children sleeping away from home: trust and safety. With a secure parent-child relationship, children will trust that their parent will come get them if something goes wrong. They should also feel safe where they are going. If you broach the topic of overnight camp, and your child begins to worry, know that it’s a normal reaction. You can talk about all of the positives of the experience (i.e. the fun, exciting things they’ll get to do). However, if your child shows strong worries, it may be better to wait.

What do I do if they get homesick?

It is completely normal for children to get homesick when away from home, and it can be tough on both the parents and the child. Most camps try to keep your little camper so busy that he or she barely has time to miss home. However, if you do get the homesick phone call, it is your chance to be strong. Listen to what your child is saying, and judge for yourself. If it sounds like a simple case of homesickness, ask him or her about all of the fun things they’re doing, keeping it focused on the positives. Do not cave in. This is an opportunity for your children to develop a sense of independence. When the time comes for you pick them up, all they’ll be able to talk about is all of the fun they had.

What are the benefits of summer camp?

There are numerous benefits to summer camp, and two jump out immediately. The first is the sense independence your child develops. This is an experience that is all their own, and it helps to realize that there are a lot of other things that they can do independently. The second is the sense of accomplishment they gain. It may be a new game or skill they learned, or cooking over a camp fire. The most important part is the feeling of accomplishment, and the pride that it brings.

What's a good age to start going to overnight camp?

All kids are different, so there’s no perfect age. In my experience, around 6 or 7 years old are the best ages to give overnight camp a try. Check with various camps because many of them offer a shortened camp that lasts several days, instead of an entire week. This is a good opportunity for your child to get the experience and have something to look forward to the next summer.

Fun in the sun is what kids and summer is all about. But trying to decide what sunscreen is best for your child as you sift through the countless brands and forms is no easy task. No need to worry. Mid-South dermatologist Robert Skinner, M.D., has some advice to make those choices easier. Skinner, who works with the UT Medical Group, is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology.

For starters, Skinner recommends that parents use what’s called a physical sunscreen that contains titanium oxide and zinc oxide. Lotions with those ingredients tend to be thicker and look white when first applied. Skinner also cautions parents to stay away from sprays, even though they may seem more convenient for busy children. “You also have to be sure you have a UVA protector, not just UVB,” Skinner said, adding that there has been a bigger emphasis on UVA protection in recent years.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, UVB rays are the sun’s burning rays and the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the dermis, or basic layer of skin and can also contribute to sunburns and skin cancer.

Armed with physical sunscreen and UVA and UVB blockers, it’s also important to check the sun protection factor level. An SPF number measures how long you can stay out without getting red, and doesn’t necessarily mean that one bottle of lotion is stronger than another, Skinner said. When parents look for a good level for their children, SPF 30 should be enough.

Skinner recommends that parents also reapply sun block every couple of hours, especially when children are in the water or sweating a lot. It’s also important to apply the sunscreen before going outside, he said. Not only is it difficult to get children to stand still once they are at the pool, there also a chance you might forget to apply once you are outside.

Speaking of outside, Skinner recommends that parents be smart when considering when to apply the lotion. If you are going to the beach, an amusement park or the zoo, for example, put it on. “I think anytime you’re out for a prolonged period of time, it’s best to err on the side of caution,” he said.

But if you do forget, and your child does burn, there’s no real quick fix. Baths and emollient creams can help some, though. He recommends the over-the-counter Sarna lotion for burns. Skinner’s best advice for that: “just don’t forget the sunscreen.”