Children spend a lot of time outside in the summer. Here’s how to deal with your common injuries

For kids, summer can revolve around playgrounds, pools, bikes and just being outdoors. For parents, it can mean a litany of problems to deal with – including scratches, sunburn It is dehydrationsay pediatricians.

“Children should play and have every opportunity to use their imagination, but we need to take precautions to keep them as safe as possible,” Dr. Danielle Mercurio, pediatrician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Here are the top things pediatricians say you should keep an eye on.

It’s important to take precautions in warmer weather, especially with younger children, who are more susceptible to heat illnesses, Mercurio said. This means keeping a bottle of water with them when they are outdoors, wearing sun-protective clothing, and mineral sunscreen and don’t spend too much time in the sun.

Parents should also monitor children for signs of fatigue and pay attention to their heat and skin color — if it’s red and hot, they probably need to take a break inside or under a shaded area.

You should also know what the three different types of heat illness are, Mercury said, each more serious than the other.

The first is colic caused by heat, and the only remedy is to give children liquids that contain electrolytes – such as coconut water or sports drinks – to replace the salts that the body has lost through sweating.

The next level is heat exhaustion, which causes nausea, vomiting, and feelings of weakness or anxiety. It is usually accompanied by a fever. You can try moving the child to a cooler place, giving them fluids, spraying them with water, or placing them in front of a fan to cool them down.

If your child has all of these symptoms and is also confused or responding strangely, this is heatstroke, which warrants a trip to the hospital.

Fireworks are fun and bright, but they are not for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children away from all fireworks.

Even sparks can be dangerously hot, said Dr. Poj Lysouvakon, director of the Pediatric Injury Prevention Program at the University of Chicago.

He also recommends avoiding fireworks shows unless they are sponsored by a government agency and performed by professionals in a controlled environment.

Swimming pools, lakes and other bodies of water are common places for summer injuries, Lysouvakon said.

A must-have, he said: a designated adult whose sole job is to monitor the pool while children are in it. If you have an above-ground pool, make sure it is surrounded with four-foot walls to keep children out when no adults are around.

Any type of water can be a source of drowning — even an inch can be dangerous for little ones, said Dr. Christina Kratlian of Boston Children’s Hospital. She suggests draining, turning, and deflating inflatable pools after each use.

And if a child is rescued from the water and experiences choking, difficulty breathing or lethargy, it could mean there is water in the lungs and this requires medical attention, according to Dr. Danielle Grant of Texas Children’s Hospital.

Children fall off bikes and trampolines and can come back with scratches and bruises.

If your child is on a bike, they should wear a helmet, experts say; make sure it fits properly and the strap fits snugly under the child’s chin. Trampoline injuries are also common, especially when there is more than one child at the same time.

Parents should make sure that if children go to the playground, it “corresponds to the child’s age,” Kratlian said. For example, a young child should not be on a large swing that cannot fit them or climb tall structures. Metal slides can get hot in the sun, so check before a child launches them.

Most scratches can be treated at home by cleaning them and applying antibacterial ointments and bandages, especially if they are not infected.

But whenever there is a significant drop, especially on the head, take your child to the doctor. Other warning signs include inability to move an arm, leg or joint; large cuts; and redness, pus, heat, or streaks around a cut or scrape.

When in doubt, Grant said, call your pediatrician.

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