After a long, cold winter, parents everywhere throw open the windows, soaking in the sunshine and spring temperatures, and utter the most thrilling four words in the parent lexicon: "Go outside and play!"

As you release your children out into nature (and out of your hair for an hour or two), bear in mind these few tips about keeping them safe and healthy as they tumble down grassy hills, bury themselves in sand, and get good and dirty!

Swim in clear waters. Beaches are a favorite summer destination, but the water at them can be polluted with chemicals, fecal matter, or other contaminants.

• Look for the cleanest beaches. Pick a beach that is tested regularly for cleanliness and that notifies you when it is unsafe to go in the water. The Natural Resources Defense Council rates the top 100 beaches, but for smaller beaches you’ll need to do some hunting. Contact your local or state environmental protection office or public health agency. Oftentimes you can do an on-line search of your favorite beach’s name with the words "water quality" to find information 
   
• Wait at least 24 hours after a heavy rainfall before swimming. Heavy rains can stir up polluted sediment and cause sewage systems to overflow into storm drains. 
   
• If possible, choose beaches that are away from urban areas or that have good water circulation. 
   
• Avoid swimming near storm drains. 
   
• Check out the surrounding environment. What’s adjacent to the water? Farmland or golf courses could mean high levels of pesticides are running off into the water. If there’s an industrial facility upstream, you could be swimming in their effluent. 
   
• Avoid getting water in your mouth.

Keep the bugs from bugging you. Nothing spoils a day outdoors like bug bites. And, some bugs can leave more than just an itchy red spot. Parents need to be aware of the risks of Lyme Disease, West Nile virus, and other infectious diseases – while also being aware of the risks of chemical repellents like DEET and permethrin.

• Keep as much skin covered as possible by wearing lightweight fabrics. 
   
• Go indoors at dusk when mosquitoes come out to play. 
   
• Use the safest, least toxic repellent for your situation and read the label carefully. Wash off skin and change clothes after returning indoors.

Breathe easy. For millions of children with asthma or allergies, air quality is nothing to sneeze at. And, for every child’s developing lungs, you should schedule outdoor playtime at times when the air is clearest. 

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