The sizzling summer is finally in full swing, which means the delicious smell of barbecue and fresh cut grass is in the air and boisterous kids are splashing in pools everywhere. For me, summer also means it's time to clean up after the family dog before my 4-year-old princess thinks about going outside.

As fun as summertime outdoor activities can be, parents also need to remember the season holds potential dangers, too, especially for little ones. Fortunately, there are a few safety measures we can take to help prevent our kids from getting into messy situations.

In our own backyards, children potentially face all five major childhood injury hazards -- motor vehicles, drowning, burns, falls and poison. Keeping kids safe from riding lawn mowers, pools, home playground equipment, sunlight, and even plants in the yard requires a few simple precautions.

"All of the safety guidelines you apply to sports, playgrounds and water play also apply to those activities in your own backyard," says Sarah Boothman, health educator at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. "And supervising children when they are outside greatly reduces the chance for injury," she adds.

Safe Kids Worldwide
offers these additional tips to keep your little ones safe while they are at play outside:

Lawn Mower Safety

* When adults are using any type of power equipment, children should remain inside the house until all equipment is safely stored.

* Treat a riding lawn mower like any other motor vehicle: Keep the ignition key out of reach of children and don't
allow them to play on or around a mower.

* As fun as it may seem, never carry children as passengers on a lawnmower.

* Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old to drive a riding mower.

* Allow children to perform age-appropriate yard work only under supervision. Don't allow a child to attempt tasks inappropriate for his or her age, size, strength, cognitive ability or prior experience

Water Safety

* Always supervise children when they are in or around pools by designating an adult "water watcher" to constantly watch the children

* Empty all buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside-down and out of children's reach. These can be just as dangerous as a full sized pool -- remember a child can drown in just a few inches of water

* All types of pools need to be surrounded by a fence with self-closing and latching gates. For more information on how to keep your family safe around pools, visit www.drowning/prevention.org

* Children should learn to swim. Enroll them in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors when they are ready, usually after age 4. If you don't know how to swim, enroll with your kids.

Burn Prevention

* Children have curious little hands, so keep them away from the grill area throughout the entire grilling process of preheating, cooking and cooling afterwards.

Sun Safety

* Apply sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher to your child's exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply frequently. (It is possible to get a sunburn in cloudy conditions.)

* Make sure your child drinks plenty of water. A child who seems tired or achy should rest in the shade or go inside for a while. Get immediate medical help any time a child's skin is hot to the touch (with or without perspiration) or if a child has a seizure or becomes disoriented in hot weather.

Home Playground Equipment Safety

* A home playground needs to be anchored on an appropriate surface just like equipment on a public playground. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for anchoring your play equipment.

* Remove hood and neck drawstrings from clothing, as they can create a strangulation hazard

* Only allow children to play on age- and ability-
appropriate toys.

* Teach children proper playground behavior: no pushing, shoving or crowding

Safety on Wheels

* Make sure your child wears a properly fitting helmet and other protective gear each time he or she rides a bike, scooter, skateboard, rollerblades and other wheeled toys

* Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital's Community Education Department offers low-cost helmets for adults and children in many different colors. For more information, call 575-8484

Poison Prevention

* Teach kids not to handle or eat any part of a plant.

* Remove potential poisonous plants in and around your yard. Call the Washington Poison Center to learn more.

* Store pesticides, fertilizers, and pool chemicals up and out of reach of children.

* Keep the Washington Poison Center's number (800-222-1222) handy by your phone.

As the summer continues to sizzle along, outdoor safety must remain as high as the temperature. With supervision and a little forethought, your kids can take full advantage of the beautiful weather that we have in our Valley -- even if it's only as far as your own backyard.

* Kurt Tyrrell is the Passport to Health program Coordinator for Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and a member of Safe Kids Yakima County. He is a Certified Health Education Specialist and a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. His column is produced in cooperation with Safe Kids Yakima County, a local consortium of organizations, agencies and individuals actively promoting child safety.