If you have a family with young children this summer, you might be thinking about taking an extended weekend and heading to your local water park as a mini-vacation during the hot weather while everyone is out of school. Water parks are a lot of fun for both kids and adults, but the truth about them is that there are a number of dangers you need to be aware of before you send your children running into the water. If you take the proper precautions, going to the water park can be a lot of fun and it can be a great way for your kids to burn off some energy while having a blast and making some wonderful memories. But before you pack up your bags, keep these dangers in mind.
Slippery walkways. You may be thinking, “Of course the walkways will be slippery… It’s a water park.” but many people don’t fully realize what that means. Kids love to run everywhere they go when they are excited, and an excited kid is not going to pay attention to the signs warning about slippery sidewalks and pathways. A slip and fall can cause serious injury, especially to a young person. One of the best things you can do is to make sure your children have the appropriate footwear. It may not completely prevent the possibility of slipping on a water-saturated surface, but it will help protect their feet and it will be a deterrent to slipping.
Sun exposure. When you and your kids are covered in water, you’re at a greater risk of sun exposure. The water enhances the rays of the sun and makes them more dangerous for your skin. Applying a waterproof sunscreen is one of your best options. But don’t think that applying it one time is going to be enough. Sunscreens will wear off, even the waterproof ones, so make sure you apply sunscreen every couple of hours. You’ll get the maximum protection and you’ll avoid the painful sunburns the next day.
Dehydration. Dehydration is not something people think about when they are at a water park. Water is everywhere, so how can you get dehydrated? Well, you may be covered in and surrounded by water, but that doesn’t mean you’re consuming enough water to keep you well hydrated for an active day in the sun. Kids especially need to keep hydrated when they are active. And playing in the water only aids in dehydration. When your kids come running back to you with wrinkly fingers, it means that through osmosis, water is leaving your children’s bodies, making them more susceptible to heat exhaustion and dehydration. Make sure you have plenty of drinks on hand. Water is a good one to have, but also have some other drinks as well, like sports drinks, that have electrolytes and calories that will help fuel your children as they run around and play in the water. You won’t regret being more safe than necessary in order to prevent something bad from happening.
