- Child health experts urge parents to prepare for increased risks as children break from routine during warmer months
With school holidays now underway across Cork and Ireland, HSE child health specialists have released comprehensive safety guidance to help parents navigate the increased risks that come with children spending more time outdoors and in unfamiliar environments.
The timing proves crucial as families prepare for summer activities, holidays abroad, and visits to relatives’ homes that may not be childproofed to the same standards as their own.
Dr Abigail Collins, HSE National Clinical Lead, Child Health Public Health, said:
“Summer holidays means a change in routine for children, and for parents too. At home, we are often more aware of the potential dangers, but with good weather we might be spending more time outdoors or in less familiar places.”
She emphasised that children’s natural curiosity requires parents to think ahead about potential risks, whether it’s unsupervised access to balconies or swimming pools, or visiting family homes that haven’t been childproofed.
Supervision remains the top priority, with experts stressing the importance of clear communication between adults about who is watching children, particularly in busy outdoor events or playgrounds where responsibility can easily be assumed rather than assigned.
For families venturing to new locations, the HSE recommends conducting a quick risk assessment. This might involve checking for easy access to balconies, busy roads, dangerous chemicals under sinks, or medicines left within reach in handbags.
Heat safety takes on particular importance as children’s bodies heat up much faster than adults and they struggle more to stay cool. The guidance recommends avoiding sun exposure between 11am and 3pm, ensuring plenty of cold drinks, and following the Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5 S’s: slip on covering clothing, slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen (50+ for children), slap on wide-brimmed hats, seek shade, and slide on wraparound sunglasses.
Water safety warnings extend beyond swimming pools to include seemingly harmless containers that can collect water, such as buckets, barrels, and paddling pools. Parents are reminded that children can drown in surprisingly small amounts of water.
For families travelling to Europe, the HSE strongly recommends checking MMR vaccination status, as measles cases have been reported across popular holiday destinations. Dr Collins noted:
“There is a concern that measles outbreaks may occur in Ireland this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where measles cases have been reported.”
Essential travel preparations include packing sunscreen, hand sanitiser, first aid kits, and ensuring everyone has a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for EU travel. The digital version now appears in the HSE Health App before the physical card arrives by post.
Parents can access comprehensive safety guidance on the HSE’s mychild.ie website, which includes detailed sections on child safety, travel preparation, and emergency procedures.
The HSE’s advice comes as families across Cork prepare for increased outdoor activities in parks like Fitzgerald’s Park and trips to popular beaches along the county’s coastline, where supervision and safety preparation become even more critical.