Active Play and Summer Safety Tips, According to a Pediatric ER Doctor
What are the biggest summer safety risks parents often overlook?
In this episode of the Active Play, Every Day podcast, Dr. Emily Greenwald answers some of the most common summer safety questions she receives as both a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a mom of three.
From drowning prevention and heat illness to ticks, fireworks, trampolines, and playground injuries, Dr. Emily shares advice to help families enjoy an active summer while reducing preventable injuries.
This episode is for parents, caregivers, coaches, and anyone looking to keep kids moving safely all season long.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Why drowning remains the leading preventable cause of death for children ages 1–4
How swim lessons, pool fences, and "water watchers" can dramatically improve safety around water
The signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke every parent should know
Practical hydration and cooling strategies for hot summer days
Tick prevention tips and what to do if you find a tick on your child
What causes the surprising "lemonade stand burn" rash
Why sparklers are more dangerous than most parents realize
Trampoline safety recommendations from a pediatric ER doctor
Common playground injury risks and how to prevent them
Water Safety Starts Before You Get in the Pool
One of the strongest messages from this episode is that drowning is both common and preventable.
Dr. Emily explains that many serious drowning incidents happen in backyard pools when adults assume someone else is watching. She discusses the importance of swim lessons, four-sided pool fencing, touch supervision, and assigning a dedicated adult as a "water watcher" whenever children are swimming.
She also shares safety considerations for lakes, oceans, and other natural bodies of water, where life jackets and extra caution are especially important.
Helping Kids Stay Safe in the Heat
Children heat up faster than adults and often don't recognize when they are becoming overheated.
Dr. Emily discusses simple ways families can stay active on hot days, including using sprinklers and splash pads, taking regular breaks, staying hydrated, wearing appropriate clothing, and recognizing the early warning signs of heat-related illness before it becomes an emergency.
Ticks, Rashes, and Other Summer Surprises
Summer adventures often come with unexpected risks.
In this episode, Dr. Emily explains why tick populations are especially high this year, how to prevent tick bites, and how to safely remove a tick if you find one.
She also discusses phytophotodermatitis, sometimes called the "lemonade stand burn," a rash caused when citrus juices on the skin react with sunlight.
Fireworks, Trampolines, and Playgrounds
Many favorite summer activities come with hidden injury risks.
Dr. Emily shares why sparklers account for more injuries than many parents expect, how to make trampoline use safer, and common playground hazards she sees in the emergency department.
She also highlights one surprising playground danger: going down a slide with a child on your lap, which can increase the risk of leg fractures in young children.
The Active Play Prescription
Summer is one of the best opportunities for children to build healthy movement habits.
Dr. Emily's message is simple: active play is worth it. The goal isn't to eliminate all risk, but to understand common hazards and take practical steps to keep children safe while they run, jump, swim, climb, and explore.
Because every child deserves a summer filled with movement, confidence, and fun.
Where to find Dr. Emily
Subscribe to the Active Play, Every Day podcast
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other popular podcast apps
Episode Sponsor
This podcast is sponsored by Nex Playground, an active play gaming system that helps families move indoors through full-body games that support learning, coordination, and joy!
Research & References
AAP - Trampoline Safety
AAP - Protecting Kids From Extreme Heat
