It's summertime. Schools have let out and it's time for youngsters to go out and have fun.

Whether riding their bicycles or climbing on the play structure at their local park, cuts, scrapes and bumps are often part of summer vacation for many children.

I can remember taking a tumble off my bicycle while heading down the hill towards Fireman's Park in Niagara Falls when I was nine or 10. The results - massive scrapes to my knees, face and arms and a sprained thumb. Thankfully the folks running the YMCA summer day camp at the park provided first aid and a ride home.

Hopefully, few youngsters will go through the painful experience I did, but just in case, here is some helpful advice from the Hamilton branch of St. John Ambulance.

"Have the child sit down and wash the wound," said Diane McEwan, an instructor with St. John Ambulance, regarding minor scrapes. "We recommend soap and water."

After wiping the wound with gauze or some other lint-free fabric, Ms. McEwan said some over-the-counter antibiotic cream, such as Polysporin, should be applied to the area before covering it with a bandage.

When treating a cut, Ms. McEwan said the first thing to do is put pressure on the it to help stop the bleeding. She said the cut should be wiped with damp gauze followed by antibiotic cream and a bandage.

For large or serious cuts and wounds, Ms. McEwan said medical attention should be sought after first aid.

Should a child bump their head, Ms. McEwan said ice or a cold pack, such as a package of frozen peas or corn should be applied to the area right away to control swelling. The cold should be applied 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off and medical attention should be sought if the youngster becomes nauseous or shows signs of shock.

Packages of frozen peas and corn can also come in handy should your little one fall and twist an ankle.

"If you notice any swelling in the ankle, you want to raise the ankle up (and apply the cold pack)," said Ms. McEwan, who added that medical attention should be sought if the swelling does not go down."

Bee stings and insect bites are another summertime hazard.

"See if the stinger is still there," said Ms. McEwan regarding first aid for bee stings. "If it's still there, take a credit card and scrape it away."

Ms. McEwan said parents should not use tweezers because they can actually inject poison into the wound by grabbing the stinger.

Once the stinger is removed, apply a salve to the wound.

"We've always said baking soda and water, make up a paste and put it on," Ms. McEwan said.

Baking soda and water are also good for other bug bites and stings. Medical attention should be sought immediately if the child is allergic to insect bites or appears to be having an allergic reaction, which may include redness or a rash at the site that doesn't go away, headache, nausea or difficulty breathing.

If visiting a park or attending an event where soft drinks are sold in metal cans, Ms. McEwan advises parents who wish to purchase a drink for their child to have them sip the pop from a straw rather than tdirectly from the can.

Ms. McEwan said pop may attract bees and other insects that can fly unseen into the can and children have suffered stings to their mouths as a result.

In the case of a sting to the mouth, Ms. McEwan recommends the child suck on an ice cube to keep swelling down.

It's also important children and adults drink plenty of water and put on a lot of sunscreen when they're out and about during the summer.

Donald Ste-Pierre, branch manager of the St. John ambulance in Hamilton, said dehydration, sunburns and insect stings from pop cans are the most frequent causes of visits to their trucks and tents at summer events throughout the city.

While using the CTC method of treating minor wounds (clean, treat and cover) might sound like common sense, a national survey of 1,000 Canadians age 18 and over conducted by Decima Research in April, revealed most of us don't know how to treat minor scrapes and cuts. The survey showed 76 per cent thought airing out a cut or scrape (rather than covering it with a bandage) speeds up the healing process.

If left uncovered, the wound can be exposed to dirt or harmful bacteria that can cause infection.