Arizona Summer is Dangerous for Kids of all Ages

A Scottsdale Child Injury Attorney who is an Advocate for Child Safety

Scottsdale Personal Injury Lawyer Shane L. Harward has focused much of his legal practice since 1995 on children’s injuries and safety. As a father of young children and an active member of the Maricopa County community including the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, he has seen first-hand how many dangers exist for children and teens throughout Arizona. These dangers are particularly acute during the vicious desert summer. As a Scottsdale little league coach, as a spectator and former participant in Mesa and Scottsdale City League football and basketball, and as an attorney representing families throughout the Phoenix area, Mr. Harward knows the most common avoidable risks that lead to injury for children.

For very small children, some of the most common are daycare injuries. Schools are also places where young children are unintentionally and negligently put in harm’s way. Several schools and daycare centers throughout Arizona are on year-round schedules. This means that parents put their trust in authorities and teachers during Arizona’s severe summer months. Some common daycare and school injuries are:

• Severe burns when toddlers fall on hot asphalt and struggle to get off the blistering blacktop
• Coming into contact with superheated playground equipment which may lead to excruciating pain and scarring
• Inadequate shade provided over outdoor areas leading to extreme sunburn
• Dehydration resulting from lack of water, air conditioning, and protection from the sun
• Heat stroke that can cause brain damage and even death

Summer school and daycare should receive intense scrutiny to make sure that children are adequately supervised. Negligent supervision at school is rare in Arizona but when it happens, the results can be tragic especially during the hot Arizona summer.

Every Summer it must be reiterated: Watch Children Around Water

Public pools, neighborhood pools, vacation resort water slides and pools, lakes, visits to the ocean, spas and even bathtubs: All pose grave risks to children. Tragically, each summer some Arizona children needlessly lose their lives in the water and many more suffer catastrophic brain damage as the result of oxygen deprivation. One mistake or one moment of distraction can lead to a life-time of suffering for a child’s family.  Always maintain eye contact with children around water.

Arizona Heat is not Just Something to Complain About: It is Deadly Serious Especially for Children

Adults and children alike are at risk of dehydration, heat stroke, and heat sickness. These conditions can lead to brain damage and death especially for the very young. When the temperatures soar to 100 plus degrees on a daily basis, we must all do our best to remember basic but vital tips:

• Never leave a child alone in a car. Especially in the summer when the heat can quickly become fatal in a sealed automobile.
• Be sure to apply sunscreen regularly. Just one sun burn can lead to scarring, pain and eventual skin cancer in children.
• Encourage consumption of water even if a child claims they are not thirsty. Dehydration and heat stroke can occur with very little warning.
• Always maintain eye contact with a child in a pool.  Small children can go under without making a splash or a sound. Drowning is a silent killer. It is not like the movies where someone flails around and yells for help. The importance of swimming and water safety cannot be expressed strongly enough.