The Big Picture
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, families across Utah enter what safety experts call the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer”—a stretch when serious injuries and deaths among children often rise because kids are out of school, outside more, and around higher-risk situations like roads, water, bikes, and busy summer travel.
Primary Children’s Hospital wants families to enjoy summer while avoiding tragedies that can happen in seconds. Their message is straightforward: most of the common injuries they see this time of year are preventable, and a few consistent habits can dramatically reduce risk.
What’s Happening
Pediatric experts at Primary Children’s are urging caregivers to be extra intentional about everyday safety—especially around the biggest summer injury drivers.
They emphasize:
Helmet use every ride, every time—not just for bikes and scooters, but also higher-speed rides like e-bikes. Falls are a major concern, and while many injuries are treatable, traumatic brain injuries can have lifelong consequences.
Active, close supervision—because accidents can occur quickly, and a momentary lapse can lead to life-altering outcomes.
Basic “non-negotiables” like proper car seat use and staying vigilant around water, windows, and other everyday hazards that spike during summer routines.
Why It Matters
Summer is supposed to be fun—but it’s also when risk quietly increases: more outdoor play, more swimming, more wheeled activities, more road trips, and more unstructured time. The result is that preventable injuries can pile up fast.
Healthcare providers see the downstream impact: families facing emergency visits, long recoveries, and—at the worst end—permanent brain injuries or loss. The experts’ point isn’t to scare families; it’s to remind them that prevention is powerful, and small actions taken consistently (helmets, supervision, correct restraints) can save lives.
The Bottom Line
The “100 Deadliest Days” are a yearly reminder that seconds matter—but so do simple, repeatable safety habits. Primary Children’s Hospital is asking families to keep summer safe by making a few protections routine: buckle correctly, supervise closely (especially around water), and require helmets for all wheeled rides, every time.
A little prevention now can protect an entire summer—and a child’s future.