Summer is officially underway. As children spend more time playing outdoors, there will be a significant increase in injuries.
W.A.T.C.H., World Against Toys Causing Harm, says that raising awareness about recurring safety traps, many linked to serious injuries or deaths in past summers, can help protect families.
W.A.T.C.H.’s list of “10 summer safety traps” shows often overlooked hazards, some hiding in plain sight, that can impact children during this high-risk season. Potential hazards, such as beach umbrellas turned into wind-blown projectiles, backyard trampolines linked to catastrophic injuries, public splash pads that may harbor invisible pathogens, and gel beads as “ammunition” from toy guns that a young child could ingest, are just a few of the traps that could lead to preventable tragedies.
1. Beach umbrellas
A beach umbrella can quickly turn from a shade provider to an airborne spear in a wind gust. With families heading to the beach for relief from record-breaking heat this summer, flying umbrellas may pose a serious safety risk. Children are especially vulnerable because of their smaller size and slower reaction time.
Check the weather before setting up a beach umbrella. Remove umbrellas during gusty conditions. Keep umbrellas out of play areas. Closely supervise kids near beach gear. Anchor umbrellas securely using equipment that meets ASTM F3681.
2. Gardening toys and yard hazards
Toy garden tools may look harmless, but there are hidden dangers. Some sets have been recalled for banned toxins like lead and phthalates, while others may pose risks from sharp points. And backyard gardens can harbor real-world hazards.
Check all garden play sets for sharp edges and recall status at cpsc.gov/recalls. Be aware not all unsafe toys are recalled. Keep real gardening tools, chemicals, and water buckets far from kids’ reach. Don’t use pesticides on your grass or in your flower beds. Studies show kids and pets have higher rates of cancer when pesticides are used. Supervise outdoor play closely.
3. Inflatable pool toys
That cute unicorn float may look harmless, but inflatable pool toys such as water wings, rings, and rafts, aren’t life-saving devices. They can flip, deflate, or drift into deeper water fast. Even in shallow water, they can block your view of a struggling child. Supervision, not a floatie, is your child’s best protection in or near the water.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4. About 4,000 people drown every year in the United States, about 11 each day.
Drownings can happen in the time it takes to answer a text. Keep kids within arm’s reach, with no exceptions, and never depend on inflatable toys to keep them safe. Use multiple barriers such as fences and pool alarms. After swim time, remove toys so they don’t lure kids back in.
4. Toy projectiles and ammo – water beads and balloons
Summer’s surge in outdoor play means more kids with water balloon launchers and gel blasters in hand. But high-powered projectiles have been linked with serious, sometimes permanent, eye injuries. Ammo left behind in backyard lawns – colorful water (gel) beads, busted darts, balloons – can be dangerous to younger siblings or curious toddlers.
If older kids are permitted to use toy guns with projectiles, supervise play, require eye protection, and clean up ammo such as gel beads, darts, and balloons. These tiny pieces can be deadly is swallowed by younger children. If you have kids under 5 years old, skip water beads.
5. Scooters – motorized and non-motorized
Non-motorized scooters, also known as kick scooters, cause more toy-related injuries than any other toy. E-scooters can reach 15 to 20 mph and aren’t recommended for kids under 16, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Non-motorized scooters may seem harmless but, in 2023, they cased more than 53,000 injuries and e-scooters sent more 189,000 people to hospitals. If a child is permitted to ride a scooter, they need to use protective gear such as helmets and pads, even for short rides, as mist injuries happen close to home. E-scooters aren’t toys. If you teen is old enough and permitted to ride, make sure they know the rules, wear protective gear, and understand traffic laws.
6. Fireworks and sparklers
Many parents wouldn’t let a young child light birthday candles, yet more than half say it is acceptable for kids to use sparklers and fireworks. But sparklers burn at nearly 2,000°F and fireworks can cause severe injuries. Even children who aren’t handling fireworks are at risk; kids make up a large share of bystanders injured each year.
Fireworks injuries are on the rise, with more than 9,700 injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments in 2023. Sparklers accounted for around 700 of those cases. Fireworks can cause devastating injuries, especially to the eyes. One in Four people with a firework-related eye injury loses vision permanently. Sparklers are often handed to kids but burn at nearly 2,000°F, which is hot enough to ignite clothing and cause deep burns.
Fireworks are not toys. Leave them to the professionals. Kids should never light fireworks or stand close to someone who is. Rethink sparklers, too. They may be popular at Fourth of July celebrations, but they are far from harmless.
7. Playgrounds
With more kids at playgrounds during the summer, risks rise. Most parents check for hot slides or hard ground surfaces, but hidden dangers like dangling straps and broken or defective equipment often go unnoticed. Helmet straps, drawstrings, and loose clothing can get caught during play, while faulty equipment may cause serious injuries.
In 2023, there were an estimated 190,042 playground equipment related injuries.
Stay alert for hidden hazards, including broken or recalled equipment and dangling items such as drawstrings, scarves, or helmet straps that can pose strangulation risks. Helmets are for biking and scootering, but they should be removed before playground use.
8. Baby pools
Children can drown in as little as one to two inches of water, quietly and in a matter of seconds. Baby pools, buckets, and rainwater on pool covers can become deadly safety traps for young children.
Most fatal drownings occur at homes during the summer.
Drownings can happen in seconds, even in shallow water, so stay alert. Always supervise children closely and use barriers to block access to water. Immediately empty baby pools, buckets, and other containers after use and never leave them unattended. Watch for rainwater collecting in unexpected places such as pool covers.
9. Trampolines and bounce houses
Trampolines and bounce houses might be staples of backyard birthdays and summer celebrations, but popularity doesn’t equal safety. These high-energy attractions are associated with serious injuries and fatalities.
Potential for serious injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, paralysis, and death.
In 2023, an estimated 111,212 trampoline-related injuries were reported, with more than 93,000 involving children under 15. More than 85 percent of trampoline injuries happen at home. Between 2000–2021, nearly 10,000 emergency visits in the U.S. were linked to bounce houses. A study found 28 deaths and 479 injuries from wind-related bounce house incidents worldwide.
Bounce houses and trampolines carry real risks. Trampolines are not toys, and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages home use. Bounce houses may be a common feature at parties, but past injuries and deaths, including those caused by wind-blown structures, are a reminder of the inherent potential danger. These inflatables also invite close proximity play, increasing the risk of collisions. Know the facts and check for reported injuries before choosing toys and activities for children.
10. Splash pads
Community splash pads may look like harmless fun, but they’ve triggered 10,611 illnesses and 152 hospitalizations between 1997 and 2022. Invisible pathogens can thrive in the water, especially in poorly maintained or recirculated systems. Young children face the highest risk.
Don’t assume your town’s splash pad is safe. Ask how the water is treated and whether it’s recirculated or single-pass. If recirculated, well-maintained splash pads should filter and disinfect water between uses, but that’s not always the case. Check if your local pad has a history of outbreaks or inspection issues. Remind kids not to put splash pad water in their mouths and keep them out if they’re sick. With the right questions and caution, families can greatly reduce the risk of illness and help ensure a healthier, safer summer.
Make sure you know about these safety traps that are linked to child injuries and fatalities or have historically posed risks to children, many of which are often overlooked, underrecognized, or hidden in plain sight.
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Thanks. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers need to be aware of these summer hazards for kids.