Mom helping child put on arm floats before going into pool.

Stay Safe This Summer in Our Parks 

This summer, stay safe while you enjoy our community’s aquatic parks, pools, golf courses and pickleball courts with water safety and skin cancer prevention tips from UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook.

We’ve partnered with Bolingbrook Park District to raise awareness of two important summer safety issues: drowning prevention and sun protection.

The bike paths, water slides and greens are calling, so get outside and stay safe.

Three Keys for Remaining Safe In and on the Water

Know the Danger

Did you know that accidental drowning is the second leading cause of death among children ages 5 to 14 and is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4? For each child that drowns, it is estimated that four children are hospitalized for near drowning. In the United States alone, there are an average of 11 drowning deaths per day and 22 nonfatal drownings per day.

It’s not just pools and lakes that pose a risk. One inch of water is all it takes to cover a child’s nose and mouth.

It’s also important to note that drowning doesn’t look like it does in the movies. It can be a silent event, especially for children.

Understand Water Safety

Education is one of the best forms of prevention. It’s important to learn how to stay safe when you or your family are in or around the water.

Vital water safety precautions include:

  • Layers of protection between water and children, like fences and latches that are out of children’s reach, as well as alarms for home pools
  • Keeping your child within arms-length while in the water, even if they’re a strong swimmer
  • Learning CPR
  • Speaking with caregivers about water safety precautions
  • Coast-Guard-approved flotation devices for individuals who cannot swim or are not strong swimmers when around bodies of water
  • Wearing a personal floatation device while boating, regardless of swimming skills
Learn to Swim

According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. Chicago is a city on the water, and during the dog days of summer, cooling off at the neighborhood pool is must-do summertime fun.

So, whether you’re an adult who never learned to swim, just want to freshen your swimming skills or if it’s time for your kids to master the deep end without floaties, swim lessons are the answer.

Bolingbrook Park District’s Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Park offers year-round lessons for all ages.

Enroll in Swim Lessons
A Smiling Mother, Father and Son Walk Down a Hospital Hallway with a Doctor.

Find Your Closest Emergency Room

Should the worst occur, you don’t want to waste precious time finding out how to get to the nearest ER. With four UChicago Medicine AdventHealth locations in Chicago’s western suburbs, accessible and attentive 24-hour emergency medical care is always close to home.

Find an ER Near You

Stay Sun Safe with Skin Cancer Prevention

  • Woman Applying Sunscreen in Park

    Preventing Skin Cancer is a Daily Task

    Preventing skin cancer is a year-round job. It’s important to understand that even on the cloudiest days, your skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. That means protecting your skin from sun exposure every single day.

  • Young woman splashing her feet in a pool.

    All Tanning is Sun Damage

    Don’t tan. Simply put, a tan is just skin damage. Laying out to get a tan — or using a tanning bed — is choosing to damage your skin. Don’t take the risk when countless drugstore products can give you a sun-kissed glow without a single damaging ray touching your skin.

  • Mom applying sunscreen on child in park.

    Wear Sunscreen Every Day

    Sunscreen isn’t just for a day at the pool or a long bike ride on the lakeshore. You should apply sunscreen every single day — winter or summer, sunny or cloudy, indoors or out.

    Did you know that sun rays can even damage your skin through windows? Yep, that means you can get UV exposure in the car or even while sitting at your desk.

  • Woman running in park.

    Wear Protective Clothing

    Wearing lightweight clothing (long sleeves and long pants) can offer extra sun protection. Also, consider wearing sunglasses that block out both UVA and UVB rays and a wide-brimmed hat. If you’re near water, the reflection of the sun’s rays can be even more impactful.

  • Father, son and grandfather spending time together outside.

    Choose Your Outdoor Time Wisely

    The sun is strongest between 10 am and 2 pm. If you can, plan outdoor activities outside of these peak times. If you are outside during the peak times, try to stay in the shade as much as possible.

Mom applying sunscreen to daughter

Get the Most out of Your Sunscreen

Follow a few tips and get the most out of your daily sunscreen.

  • Be generous, and don’t forget the often-missed areas like the tops of your feet, the top of your head, your ears and your neck.
  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect from both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Reapply: you need to reapply the full amount of sunscreen every two hours, especially if you’re sweating or getting wet.
  • Choose a minimum of 15 SPF for everyday use and 30 SPF or higher for days when you’ll be outdoors.
  • Choose a water-resistant formula if you’re going to be swimming or sweating.

 

Bolingbrook Hospital

About UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook

The best healthcare should always be close to home. At our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook hospital, we bring innovative and compassionate care to Chicago's western and southwestern suburbs. Our 138-bed acute care hospital offers family-friendly care and access to top-rated doctors in Bolingbrook.

Each day, we connect patients with renowned physicians and dedicated team members who deliver trusted care through the latest technology, clinical expertise and a focus on whole-person health. It’s our goal to help every patient heal and feel whole for a lifetime.

About Us
A family on a bike ride at a park

About Bolingbrook Park District

The Bolingbrook Park District is a public park and recreation agency in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a community of 76,272 located just 25 miles from Chicago.

We enrich the community through our programs and events. Through intergovernmental agreements, we work with other agencies to help our residents realize the most benefits possible. We provide opportunities that reconnect people with their community, themselves and their families. At Bolingbrook Park District, we make the fun happen!

About the Park District