Keeping Your Kids Safe Outdoors

(CBS)  For kids, summer usually means a lot of swimming, biking and playing outside.

But this time of year is not all fun and games; it's actually the most dangerous time of year for kids. More children visit the emergency room during the summer months than they do at any other time of the year.

On the Fourth of July your kids face additional risks, even in your own backyard. Camille Chatterjee, an editor with Parenting magazine visits The Early Show to offer advice on avoiding some of the most common outdoor hazards.

Fireworks
Fireworks injure nearly 4000 kids each year. Boys aged 10 to 14 are actually at the highest risk, but fireworks - even "safe" fireworks - pose a danger to all kids. You may be surprised to hear that sparklers are one of the top three fireworks most likely to hurt someone. They burn at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees. What parent would hand their child something that hot? Sparklers also easily ignite clothing.

What can parents do?

• Parenting magazine suggests not allowing young children to even touch fireworks, and closely supervising other children. The best way to avoid injury is to visit a professional fireworks show.
  
  
• Make it clear that kids should never use fireworks unless an adult is present, and they should leave the area immediately if their kids begin playing with fireworks.
  
  
• Teach your children to "stop, drop, and roll" in case their clothing does catch on fire.
  
  
• Never try to re-ignite fireworks that malfunction.

Find information about Drowning and Sun exposure in page 2, and Bugs and Active Driveways in page 3.

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