Summer Safety

Most parents see benefits and risks of e-bikes for teens and pre-teens. Half of parents are unsure where e-bikes are supposed to be ridden. Parents strongly support helmet requirements, labeling of e-bike types, and better direction on where to ride. Only 1 in 10 parents support a ban on e-bikes.

1 in 5 parents say they have never allowed their teen to be away from them during a vacation or trip. 2 in 3 parents are very confident their teen would follow their rules if allowed to spend time without parents while on vacation. 1 in 3 parents insist their teen interact with family members while on vacation. 

2 in 3 parents say their child always follows the rules when using sparklers. 1 in 5 parents would allow their child age 10 or younger to help set off fireworks. Only 1 in 5 parents said children sat at least 100 feet away from where aerial fireworks were being set off.

Less than half of parents rate general safety policies as essential to their camp decision. 1 in 12 parents report that a summer camp would need to accommodate their child’s health issue. Only half of parents feel very confident they can tell if a summer camp is safe and healthy for their child.

9 in 10 parents say it is very important to use sunscreen to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. Nearly half of parents choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 45 for their child. 1 in 3 parents do not re-apply sunscreen on their child on a cloudy day.

1 in 3 parents use a bug repellent on their child that contains DEET. Nearly half of parents give their children oral antihistamines to help with itching from bites. Parents are twice as concerned about ticks transmitting diseases than they are about mosquitoes.

1 in 5 parents report their child never wears a helmet when riding a bike. Most parents acknowledge their child does not use hand signals or walk their bike across crosswalks. Some parents report not having helmet rules for bikes (22%), skateboards (27%), and non-motorized scooters (34%).

9 out of 10 parents definitely would report a ride operator suspected of being drunk or on drugs to a person in authority at an amusement park or carnival. 6 out of 10 parents think ride operators at amusement parks and carnivals should have random alcohol and drug tests. 1 in 5 parents had not talked with their child about what to do if they got lost at an amusement park or carnival.

80% of White parents say their child can swim independently, compared to 66% of Hispanic and 49% of Black parents. More White parents report their child has ever taken swimming lessons compared with Hispanic and Black parents. 37% of parents would allow their child to go into the water in a home/neighborhood pool or hotel pool without an adult present.

1 in 7 parents did not put their toddler in a car seat for every car ride during their recent vacation. Only two-thirds of parents checked to make sure guns and other weapons were out of their toddler’s reach. Three quarters of parents remembered to put medications out of reach when traveling with their toddler.