Prevention with Purpose: Making Summer Safety a Strategic Community Benefit

“School’s out for summer!” It’s the anthem of joy as kids burst from classrooms, cars blast music in school parking lots, and backyard barbeques begin. Summer brings freedom, fun—and (hopefully) plenty of sunscreen.

But as the temperature rises, so do the risks. Pediatric drownings remain one of the leading causes of death for children under 14—especially in communities of color. Skin cancer, one of the most preventable cancers, continues to climb, particularly in areas with limited access to dermatological care or prevention education. And each year, thousands of children visit emergency rooms with bike-related injuries—many of which could be prevented with proper education and helmet use.

These aren’t just summertime hazards. They’re public health equity issues.

While summer promises swimming, biking, and outdoor adventures, it also brings increased exposure to preventable injuries. That’s why summer is more than a school break—it’s an opportunity for hospitals and health systems to lead with intention through seasonal community benefit initiatives.

Adding Summer Safety to Your Community Benefit Initiatives

As hospitals map out their community health priorities, one opportunity is hiding in plain sight: summer safety.

Swim safety, skin protection, and bike safety aren’t fringe concerns—they’re core to advancing population health. Drowning remains a leading cause of injury-related death among young children, especially under age five. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S., yet also one of the most preventable. And while biking promotes exercise and independence, it also brings serious risk without helmet use and road safety education.

Imagine if your hospital’s community benefit investment helped children not only learn to swim—but learn to ride safely, protect their skin, and build lifelong habits for good health.

Initiatives like free or low-cost swim lessons, bike safety classes, helmet giveaways, mobile skin cancer screenings, water safety education, and sunscreen distribution represent high-impact, community-centered strategies. These efforts go beyond seasonal outreach—they reflect a strategic alignment with IRS community benefit guidelines and a genuine commitment to health equity.

By meeting families where they are—at pools, parks, and community centers—hospitals can build trust, reduce preventable harm, and demonstrate that prevention is just as powerful as treatment.

Summer safety isn’t just smart. It’s strategic.

Thinking Outside the (Benefit) Box

Traditional community benefit investments often focus on food security, transportation, or chronic disease management. These are crucial. But so is investing in upstream, seasonal risks that disproportionately affect children and communities of color.

This summer, hospitals can expand their community impact by supporting:

• Swim safety programs in high-risk neighborhoods
• Mobile clinics with skin cancer screenings for low-income neighbors, uninsured adults, and outdoor workers
• CPR and water rescue training for parents and caregivers
• Sunscreen distribution and education campaigns

These aren’t just summer add-ons. They’re public health accelerators.

Community Benefit in Action

Across the country, hospitals are already stepping up. Here are a few examples of healthcare organizations investing in summer safety programs.

Arizona

• Phoenix Children’s Hospital distributes life jackets and door alarms while offering bilingual water safety workshops.
• University of Arizona’s Mobile Health Unit brings free skin screenings directly to underserved Latino communities in Maricopa County.

Florida

• Advent Health Tampa partners with EMS to train first responders in pediatric drowning response.
• Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, provides a bike safety initiative called Safe Kids Florida Suncoast, helping to make sure kids have adequately fitted helmets for bicycle-riding and other wheeled sports.

Pennsylvania

• Temple Health offers free skin cancer screenings open to the public, with no appointment necessary. These events are part of their commitment to community health and early detection of skin cancer.
• Penn State Health Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive water safety education as part of its Injury Prevention Program. They emphasize the “5 Layers of Protection” to prevent drowning, including barriers and alarms, supervision, water competency, life jackets, and emergency preparation. The program offers resources and tips to keep children safe around water.

Why Summer Safety Is a Smart Investment

These programs reduce avoidable ER visits and hospitalizations. They demonstrate a visible commitment to child safety and injury prevention. And they offer measurable, reportable outcomes—just what community benefit teams need to show value and impact.

Even more, they help hospitals build trust. Showing up in a neighborhood pool or at a summer festival—offering sunscreen, swim gear, or screenings—is a tangible reminder that the hospital cares, even when there’s no bill or bedside.

As you plan or revise your community benefit portfolio, ask:

• Where are children in your community most at risk this summer?
• Can your mobile unit add sunscreen and skin screenings to its offerings?
• Could you partner with local pools, camps, or YMCAs to teach lifesaving swimming skills?

Summer is short—but the impact of these investments lasts a lifetime.

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