I was adding the last couple of pickets to my new fence when I discovered my one-year-old, Josh, picking flowers. Why would you care? What do a fence and flowers have in common? Summer outdoor safety.

The new fence was designed to prevent Josh from running into the street and now he is fenced in and exploring our plants, including some that may be poisonous. Before I go back outside, I wanted to mention some outdoor safety tips.

Casting call

The day after school lets out for summer, my waiting room fills up with broken bones and lacerations. Pediatricians want to encourage outdoor activities, but we also want to promote safety. By now we are all familiar with helmets for biking, skating and scootering. Did you know that wrist guards can prevent certain types of fractures when rollerblading or skateboarding? I don’t know anyone who would let their kids swim in the ocean or pool without supervision, but did you know that a safety fence around a pool could prevent toddlers from drowning? Jumping on a trampoline can be great fun, but it is also a common cause of head, neck and internal organ injuries. Safety netting around your backyard trampoline can reduce but not eliminate the risk of injury. As you might guess, proper adult supervision and common sense are the best way to reduce accidents.

Killer plants

Vegetation helps sustain life, but many common plants, trees and shrubs can take a life. All parts of azaleas and rhododendrons can be fatal if ingested, as are the leaves of oleander, lily-of-the-valley, foxglove and the berries from jasmine, lantana and wisteria. This partial list is just the tip of the iceberg. Before your next landscaping project (and before you let junior play in the yard), you may want to review a more complete catalog of poisonous plants.

Where the sun don’t shine

Repeated sunburns and prolonged sun exposure have been linked to skin cancer. A few minutes of sun on your child’s skin during peak hours can lead to serious second-degree (blistering) sunburn. Your best bet is to avoid direct sunlight during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., wear a brimmed hat and cotton clothes, and repeatedly apply sunscreen with SPF of at least 15. Don’t be fooled by an overcast day, you are still exposed to UV rays.

In your own backyard

Using common sense and taking a closer look at your child’s surroundings can prevent many injuries and accidents. Eliminate standing pools of water to reduce mosquitoes and the risk of West Nile Virus. Keep fertilizers, pesticides and garden tools out of reach to prevent ingestion and other accidents. Don’t leave the barbecue unattended so you can cook that tri-tip to perfection and limit the chances of junior burning himself.

Have a relaxing, fun-filled summer. I hope to see you around town and not sitting in my waiting room.

Dr. Brennan is a general pediatrician, certified lactation counselor and Santa Barbara/Goleta native. Contact him at 563-1995 or visit www.SBPediatrics.com.