Summer is often a child's favorite time of year. There's no school, their friends are free to play, and the weather is great for playing outside.

Unfortunately, children are more likely to end up in the emergency room during the summer than any other season. To help keep your child safe this summer, here are some of the top summertime dangers to be on the lookout for.

Watch Out For Problematic Playgrounds
Playgrounds are like castles to kids, which is great considering nine out of 10 parents prefer their child to play outside. But every castle has its moat of crocodiles.

Kids are likely to end up in the emergency room due to playground injuries over the summer. These injuries most often happen due to falls from park playground equipment including monkey bars, slides, and swings.

Injuries can also occur when the park playground equipment is damaged. Check for any damage to the equipment before your child begins playing. Additionally, make sure your child isn't any more than four feet off the ground to avoid serious falls.

Here Comes The Sun: Beware Of Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a serious issue your child can easily develop. Heat exhaustion occurs when your child has been in the hot sun for too long.

Common symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headache, and vomiting. Because of heat and dehydration, your child may be lethargic and their discomfort may not be easily visible.

Try to keep your child indoors between 10 AM and 2 PM when the sun is at its highest. Keep them hydrated (even when they're not thirsty) and covered with breathable material. And finally, never leave your child in the car during the summer.

Don't Eat That! Watch Out For Fatal Foods
Kids are curious. Unfortunately, kids tend to feed their curiosity by putting things in their mouths.

During the summer, plants and berries are in full bloom. But not all plants are safe to eat. Some are undigestable and others are poisonous.

Keep an eye on your child on camping trips, in the backyard, and in wooded areas. Teach them not to eat any berries or plants they find in case they're dangerous.

It's critical to fix park playground equipment and playground supplies as soon as you notice any damage. To learn more about swing set replacement parts or school playground equipment for sale, contact Discount Playground Supply today.