It’s time for another FUN giveaway — this time from our newest sponsor, State Farm Insurance!
Did you know that State Farm includes lots of great safety tips on their learning center website?? Seriously, there are LOADS of articles there! They have helpful tips on everything from how to properly install child safety gates to keeping your car safe, and running smoothly.
A few safety tips (courtesy of State Farm) to keep in mind during Summer months — whether you’re planning a road trip with the family, or staying close to home:
- Check your wood deck or concrete patio for possible deterioration.
- Be sure to follow and enforce proper rules and safety measures around your pool.
- Get your car serviced before you travel including a check of the engine and other systems such as the air conditioning and cooling, the tires, brakes, lights and windshield wipers.
- Keep an emergency kit in your trunk – jumper cables, tools, water, emergency flares, and a flashlight and gloves – just in case.
- More safety tips can be found at www.StateFarm.com
Now the fun part — One very lucky Frugal Family Fun Blog reader will win a $100 gift card to Home Depot courtesy of State Farm Insurance!!! WOO HOO!!!
To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post sharing your best Summer safety tip! Giveaway is open to all US readers, and winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends Sunday, July 31st @ 6:30pm EST and winner will be notified via email.
Yay for State Farm and safe, happy, Summers!!!
Good luck!!
* Disclosure — In exchange for hosting this fabulous giveaway, I was provided with a $100 gift card to Home Depot from State Farm Insurance. Mark’s “honey-do” list may or may not have grown…. 
Update: Giveaway is now closed, and the winner is… Lynda!! Congratulations, and a BIG thank you to everyone who entered this generous giveaway! Another great giveaway starts soon!!
July 24th, 2011 on 10:49 pm
Carry water with you! We keep a small cooler full of water bottles. Hydration is important esp. with little ones.
July 24th, 2011 on 10:49 pm
In our car! LOL I meant we keep a small cooler in our car!
July 24th, 2011 on 10:50 pm
Because of the heat down here in Texas. I make sure I check the fluids and belts in my car often and always have drinking water when we leave. You just never know!
July 24th, 2011 on 10:59 pm
Living in California, my safety tip is always have a earthquake emergency back-pack in your car!
July 24th, 2011 on 10:59 pm
SUNBLOCK! Cannot stress enough to apply and reapply over and over!
July 24th, 2011 on 11:05 pm
I’m going with pet safety – Make sure the pets have their anti-flea & tick meds applied regularly, even the indoor pets. We have a dog & three cats, and though the dog gets hers, critters who haven’t bitten her yet and been offed can travel in on her and head for the cats were they unprotected.
July 24th, 2011 on 11:05 pm
make sure you RE-APPLY children’s sunscreen once a day is not enough if you are outside for long periods of time
July 24th, 2011 on 11:15 pm
My summer safety tip is to have an emergency car kit and mine includes a gallon of water, jumper cables, tools, towels, flash light, and a list of emergency phone numbers.
July 24th, 2011 on 11:30 pm
Stay hydrated – super easy to get heat stroke on a hot summer day.
July 24th, 2011 on 11:40 pm
Make sure that your cell phone is always charged, especially before driving any distance – you never know when you’ll need it, and those times that you need it the most are the times that it tends to die on you!
July 24th, 2011 on 11:43 pm
Always keep water on hand so you don’t get dehydrated.
July 24th, 2011 on 11:44 pm
Watch out for hot surfaces if you are barefoot, especially with the kiddos! My little one opened the door and followed me outside last summer, and got a 2nd degree burn on the bottom of his foot from the hot cement!
Watching out for hot surfaces that you’re walking on was something that was not even on my radar until that happened.
July 25th, 2011 on 12:25 am
staying well hydrated! we take water EVERYWHERE! thanks for the giveaway!
July 25th, 2011 on 12:27 am
I always carry water with us – extra if we’re going on a drive away from civilization.
Also, to prevent car seats from burning my little ones’ shorts-clad legs, I like to use a homemade carseat cooler when I know my car will be sitting in the sun for long periods of time (we live in the hot desert). It is just a small-ish towel with a couple of strategically located pockets that I stuff with ice packs. It works like a charm!
July 25th, 2011 on 12:43 am
Always watch kids in or around the pool, even the kiddie pool. Things happen fast. Also keep a bottle of sunscreen in the car all the time so you don’t forget it when you’re going out.
July 25th, 2011 on 12:43 am
Make sure the kiddos see you always wearing a helmet when biking/roller skating/skateboarding/etc. so they’ll do it too.
July 25th, 2011 on 1:27 am
ummm my tip would have to be one I’m not so great at following, DON’T constantly feel the need to hand your kids items they’ve dropped or new reading material.
July 25th, 2011 on 1:28 am
Did you say Home Depot? Oh golly, I’m in!
Sunscreen.
Everywhere.
Car. Purse. Backyard. Front Yard. Kitchen. Bathroom. Laundry Room. Garage.
That way, NO EXCUSES, gotta put it on.
July 25th, 2011 on 1:31 am
i have a mini bottle of sunscreen that attaches to my keychain. it’s with me everywhere so I can easily remember it when my kids are at the park and the sun is blazing down on them. oh yeah, and hats. always wear hats!
July 25th, 2011 on 6:29 am
after it rains, be careful not to slip and fall in the garage. why is the garage floor always so slippery when wet?
July 25th, 2011 on 7:17 am
As others have said, staying hydrated and protecting everyone from the sun are so important. I make sure I have sunscreen, our water bottles, and a small first-aid kit whenever we leave the house. Water safety is important this time of year, too — swimming lessons, lifejackets, and learning the information that will help you to be safe around the water are all good ideas.
July 25th, 2011 on 7:26 am
we live in tick country so keeping all natural (or any kind) of bug repellant is key here. I slather the kids and away we go!
July 25th, 2011 on 7:55 am
We always keep water with us too. And if the kids are too busy playing in the yard and can’t stop to take a drink, popsicles do the trick. They’re never too busy for a popsicle.
July 25th, 2011 on 7:59 am
Double check the installation of your child car seat. It is properly installed for your child’s current weight and height? Some seats only allow LATCH installments up to a certain weight limit. Is your child close to outgrowing the seat’s weight and/or height limits and is it time to upgrade to a new seat or booster? Also check the car seat and safety restraint laws in your state.
July 25th, 2011 on 8:15 am
Drink water, and remember to take extra breaks from the heat–come indoors or find shade at regular intervals.
July 25th, 2011 on 8:33 am
Educate the kids on car & bike safety…watch out for cars & drivers, stay out of the road, wear their helmets and learn how to control their bikes. As a driver, watch for children playing near roads and bicyclists. Make sure to wear reflective clothing so that drivers can see you.
July 25th, 2011 on 8:54 am
Oh, I so agree about having tools and jumper cables! If you don’t have some…add it to your wish list!!
We keep water with us at all times…dehydration is too easy! And don’t forget the SPF!
July 25th, 2011 on 9:00 am
Make sure the gate to the pool is locked at all times — in fact, make a game or ritual out of it for the whole family, something everyone does or says each time they leave the pool area unattended, to remind them to check the gate.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:09 am
My tip to stay cool…find a park/playground that has a stream and has shade. I know alot in the Allentown area that has them, but I have never found a place that didn’t have one somewhere:) The kids love the nature exploration. Just have them wear old sneakers:)
July 25th, 2011 on 9:31 am
Sunscreen…every day! Even if it is cloudy or you aren’t outside for that long, use sunscreen!
July 25th, 2011 on 9:37 am
With kids and unpredictable Midwest weather I always make sure at the start of the season that our emergency kits are up to speed. I keep one on every floor of our home and we have them in our cars as well. You can never be too prepared.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:40 am
Always keep a flashlight in your car. Ours have come in handy quite a few times even when we least expected it.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:40 am
Wear sunscreen!!
July 25th, 2011 on 9:42 am
On really hot days, find air conditioning or water to cool off
July 25th, 2011 on 9:51 am
We live in Florida where water abounds! Teaching water safety to children at an early age is very important. Teaching kids how to swim, wear life jackets, and have respect for the water will help keep them safe. I also believe the number one safety tip is teaching kids (and adults) to stay calm in emergencies.
July 25th, 2011 on 10:09 am
Watch out for two-year-olds and bocce balls. There is no telling what mischief one might get into with one of those heavy little balls.
July 25th, 2011 on 10:15 am
Keep children away from push and riding lawn mowers when in use. If your mowing the back, have the children play in the front and the reverse as well. Besides the scariness of injuries from the blades, flying rocks and sticks from the discharge can hurt as well.
July 25th, 2011 on 10:31 am
Our summer safety tips: DRINK LOTS OF WATER, carry non-toxic sunscreen for the whole family, be careful around water – never take your eyes off those curious kiddos. Have fun!!
July 25th, 2011 on 10:47 am
Always wear sunscreen and reapply. Kids need to always wear life jackets at a lake, even on a dock.
July 25th, 2011 on 10:51 am
Be prepared! You never want to need it, but have a first aid kit in your vehicle. We have needed ours for our children and for strangers. AND… somewhat of a bonus tip… Check your first aid kit with every time change to make sure nothing is expired or needing to be replaced.
July 25th, 2011 on 11:28 am
Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock!!!! Two little boys and hot summer sun are not a good mix without it
July 25th, 2011 on 11:55 am
We have a pool, so my tip is to have an alarm on the pool fence! Works wonders and alert us when the kids open the gate
July 25th, 2011 on 12:26 pm
Most accidents happen during social gatherings when there is so much going on that children are not being supervised adequately. Drownings, bike/ATV accidents, children being hit by moving vehicles, and even sexual abuse are prime in large groups of people where children are inadequately supervised. Prepare your children with a discussion of safety rules ahead of time and don’t become too distracted to keep an eye on them.
July 25th, 2011 on 12:36 pm
The one I have been seeing a lack of is bike safety. Most of the kids here have no helmets on (State law), are riding with out an adult in the middle of a street and not obeying any of the stop signs. Please watch your children so I don’t see them hit by a car!
July 25th, 2011 on 12:49 pm
Make sure that you have the manual in the car…and the registration. We went on a road trip with out them and it was not good!
July 25th, 2011 on 12:53 pm
Thanks so much for the giveaway! My number one safety tip is to stay hydrated. I also keep sunscreen with me just in case we pass a park when we’re out and about and have to stop
(be careful keeping sunscreen in a vehicle, though–some kinds lose effectiveness if they’re stored where it’s hot)
July 25th, 2011 on 1:45 pm
Our best tip for this very hot summer is to be sure and take a cooler with water in it if you are going to be away from home for more than an hour – hour & half. So no one will get dehydrated, especially if you are going off the beaten track.
If you’re staying closer to civilization, you don’t have to stop for sodas or sugar filled drinks either.
July 25th, 2011 on 2:45 pm
Watch those littles one carefully outside. Between eatings things, darting for the street and darting towards deep water in the pool, you need to keep such a close eye on them!
July 25th, 2011 on 2:54 pm
My #1 safety tip is apply sunscreen always and reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating. Also make sure everyone stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids.
July 25th, 2011 on 3:29 pm
My summer safety tip is to watch little ones REALLY closely in the water. They can go under so quickly and silently, even in wading pools.
July 25th, 2011 on 5:04 pm
I always make sure that we are drinking plenty of water and try not to be out in the hottest part of the day.
July 25th, 2011 on 5:16 pm
Wear sunscreen every day and keep first aid kit in your car.
July 25th, 2011 on 5:38 pm
Always make sure your kids as well as you wear a helmet when biking(There still seems to be lots of people who don’t do this unfortunately)!
July 25th, 2011 on 5:41 pm
seems silly, but be careful what you squirt at first when you turn water on a hose that has been sitting in the sun. It could be very hot! Make sure cool water is running before using it on pets or people. Thanks for the chance!
July 25th, 2011 on 5:52 pm
My favorite summery safety tip is: Watch your kids! Summer is a popular time for kiddos to go out and play in the neighborhood. I’ve seen a lot of kids in our neighbor that are too young to be unsupervised and unfortunately, running/biking into the road without adult supervision. I think it’s very importatn to remind older kids about safely playing in the neighboor (sidewalks are for walking/biking, not the road) and making sure younger kids are properly supervised and also given an explanation on proper safety.
July 25th, 2011 on 6:27 pm
I always make sure my kids have water bottles with them whenever we are out and about. I also make sure to apply and re-apply sunblock throughout the day. Thanks for the chance to win!
July 25th, 2011 on 7:08 pm
Water. Drink it, drink it, repeat.
July 25th, 2011 on 7:25 pm
Keep additional toys, snacks, drinks and books in the car. We inevitably get stuck places longer than we think and it helps to have supplies on-hand at a moment’s notice.
July 25th, 2011 on 8:45 pm
In the summer, we don’t go anywhere without sunscreen, sunglasses, and water. It doesn’t seem to matter where we are, we need a lot of those 3 things. All it takes is one sunburned kid to not forget again.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:19 pm
I try to always cover our seats in the van with a towel if we are going to be out and about for multiple hours. This keeps the kids legs and back from getting scorched when sitting back on leather seats that have been baking in the hot Summer sun.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:19 pm
Make sure you have an oil change. Have a flashlight and other items including: plasticware and hand sanitizer.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:48 pm
There are lots of campers and hikers, please be aware of children eating poisonous berries or walking right into Poison ivy or oak. I also have to mention a First Aid kit stocked, in the car and everyone knows where it is located. More accidents happen in the summer with kids and not just at the pool. My kids have scraped every leg and arm from all their excitement of summer. We have been for stitches and heard about stiches and broken limbs from church.Thanks for the giveaway!
July 25th, 2011 on 11:05 pm
Always wear sunscreen and if you’re outside without any shade a hat would be a good idea too
July 25th, 2011 on 11:11 pm
sunscreen!!! what a pain to put on, but a big safety must!
July 26th, 2011 on 12:46 am
Be a parent and educator!! Your kids are relying on you to teach them about summer safety so talk to them and explain things.
July 26th, 2011 on 7:57 am
Wearing sunscreen from morning to evening is a definite in the summer!
July 26th, 2011 on 7:58 am
Be sure to drink lots of water as it’s very important to stay hydrated!
July 26th, 2011 on 7:59 am
I always carry a water bottle with me wherever I go so I don’t get dehydrated.
July 26th, 2011 on 10:22 am
We keep easily accessible kits with us wherever we go. In the car we have reusable water bottles, granola bars, sunscreen (which needs to be kept in a cool place like a cooler), flashlights, bug spray and various necessities depending on where we are going.
July 26th, 2011 on 11:06 am
My favorite summer safety tip is to have a kit with the essentials in the car at all times containing baby and adult sunscreen, a small first-aid kit, towel and washcloth, flashlight and bottles of water.
reporterkc at hotmail DOT com
July 26th, 2011 on 11:32 am
My tip is to take a picture of your kids every morning on vacation so if they get lost you have a very recient picture of them to show people who are helping you look for them.
July 26th, 2011 on 1:24 pm
In these dogs day of summer, staying hydrated is very important. Always have some bottled water with you before heading out.
July 26th, 2011 on 2:09 pm
I looked through the state farm insurance learning center website and liked their recommendations for water leak detection systems! We need to use one of those for a leaky pipe, this is so helpful!
July 26th, 2011 on 4:43 pm
Keep carpets or towels down in the house when you go out to the pool. When you come in, there is less risk of slipping & falling on hard floors. This also helps with clean-up, just toss in the wash when finished!!
July 26th, 2011 on 5:06 pm
Always keep an eye on kids near water!
July 26th, 2011 on 5:30 pm
Make sure to empty kiddie pools when you are finished playing for the day. Also, turn the pool over so rain does not accumulate in the pool posing a risk for children.
July 26th, 2011 on 7:29 pm
Take the ladder out of the pool and lay it on the ground. Even though my girls are all old enough to know they can’t go in the pool without mom or dad around, the neighbor’s young grandkids are known to wander into our much more exciting backyard!
July 26th, 2011 on 8:24 pm
If you are going somewhere with crowds and the potential for wily children to get separated from you, write your name and phone number on your child’s body in a hidden spot like under their shirt on their tummies and tell your child to find another mommy with children to ask for help.
July 26th, 2011 on 10:50 pm
Drink more water than you think you need. It’s super easy to get dehydrated in the hot weather.
July 26th, 2011 on 11:12 pm
One thing I do in the summer is keep towels in the car, mostly to cover the carseats so the buckles (and fabric)don’t get burning hot. They come in handy for other things too, like to lay out for a diaper change or to dry off after getting unexpectedly wet–kids are good at getting wet unexpectedly.
July 26th, 2011 on 11:36 pm
Shoes! Wear shoes. Mom of 6 here. Snakes, glass, spiders… No tall grass bare feet or with flip flops!
July 26th, 2011 on 11:43 pm
get a sun screen shirt from a sports store and wear it over your swim suit, saves on sun burns.
July 27th, 2011 on 1:49 pm
keep a bottle of sunscreen in every car and bag so you never forget it!
July 27th, 2011 on 2:40 pm
When we’re outside in hot weather, I get my kids’ hats all wet with cold water before putting them on their heads, to help them stay cool in the sun!
July 27th, 2011 on 3:20 pm
We are a very pale family so I always have bucket hats and high spf sunblock in my purse. It comes in handy for surprise trips to park. Oh and bottle of water.
July 27th, 2011 on 4:51 pm
my summer safety tip is to carry sunblock and lanacane with me at all times haha. With heat rash and sunburn- can never be too careful! thanks for the giveaway
stevielynn.dandrea@yahoo.com
July 27th, 2011 on 4:53 pm
When it’s hot and sunny, sunscreen and lots of refreshing ice water can be your two best friends!
July 27th, 2011 on 6:59 pm
Just like on an airplane when you apply the oxygen to yourself before the kiddos, do the same with sunscreen, or you’ll forget and be moaning and groaning after a long day of supervising the kiddos!
July 27th, 2011 on 8:46 pm
I always carry sunscreen and the sippy cups w/ water wherever we go!
July 28th, 2011 on 7:42 pm
It’s not just about water and sunscreen for us. We do our outdoor activities in the late afternoon to minimize the suns effects.
July 28th, 2011 on 8:49 pm
Use sunscreen – not just when you are sunbathing or at the beach. Just walking around or running errands and you can get much more sun than you think you will!
July 28th, 2011 on 8:49 pm
Do not mix alcohol with sun exposure.
July 28th, 2011 on 8:56 pm
I totally agree with water and sunscreen ALL THE TIME!!!
July 28th, 2011 on 10:14 pm
Sunscreen is a must during the summertime.
July 28th, 2011 on 10:18 pm
Drinking water to stay hydrated is a summertime essential.
July 29th, 2011 on 1:15 am
My tip is to take frequent breaks when working outside; it’s easy to get caught up in what you are doing and forget that heat exhaustion can creep up on you. Take breaks inside to cool down, drink plenty of water to hydrate and reapply sunscreen.
July 29th, 2011 on 11:30 pm
Teach your children to swim and watch them around water…even if they can swim.
July 30th, 2011 on 8:26 am
Don’t chase after balls that roll into the street.
July 30th, 2011 on 10:00 pm
Playground safety! A lot of older playgrounds have metal slides with no shade and can be dangerously hot! Try to find shaded playgrounds! Its easy for parents and kids to lose track of time at the playground and forget to reapply and rehydrate, so keep track of time.
July 31st, 2011 on 3:42 am
Always wear a bike helmet when riding! We had a close call with my 5 year old recently and I’m so thankful he had on his “lid”.
July 31st, 2011 on 11:21 am
Keep your self hydrated! Ending up in the hospital because of dehydration is awful. (Been there, done that.)
July 31st, 2011 on 1:15 pm
Mine is to always wear your seatbelt. Lol
July 31st, 2011 on 5:21 pm
We always make sure we keep bottles of water and sunscreen with us in the car or out for a walk at all times
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com