In a few weeks, thousands of Maine children will begin their summer vacations. Some of them won’t return to school next fall.

“The number one killer of children is accidents,” said Retha Bobb, president of the Maine Coalition for Safe Kids. “The vaccine for that is prevention.”

A nurse-practitioner at Penobscot Pediatrics in Bangor, Bobb recently accompanied two Maine children — John Delahanty of Belfast and Katie Manchester of Norway — to Washington, D.C. They joined 100 other youngsters from around the country who were hurt in accidents, or saved because they took simple precautions.

“Nationwide, the equivalent of three busloads of children are killed each week,” said Bobb. “We just don’t pay attention to it.”

In testimony before Congress, the group argued that preventing childhood injuries should be a key part of national health reform. The Maine children later discussed the issue with Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell and U.S. Rep. Olympia Snowe.

Delahanty was wearing a helmet last spring when he lost control of his bicycle and received a serious head injury. It took the boy several months to recover, but without the helmet, he probably would have been killed.

Manchester became an advocate for safe skiing and in-line skating after a helmet saved her from serious injuries in those sports.

With its wealth of outdoor activities, summertime can be magical in Maine. But bicycling, swimming and barbecues also can be serious threats to children’s health.

Each year, about 100 Maine children die needlessly from preventable injuries. For every fatality, about eight youngsters are permanently disabled.

In addition to the human toll, it costs about $120 million yearly to treat the injuries. Thirteen percent of the children hospitalized at Eastern Maine Medical Center are there because of an accident.

To make this a safe summer, Bobb has a few suggestions for parents:

Bicycle safety is paramount. Each year, three or four Maine children die and more than 3,000 are hurt in bike accidents. Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent.

All-terrain vehicles are another danger. They are unsuitable for children, who often can’t control the urge to drive fast. “There is a tremendous number of people who don’t wear helmets, and who haven’t taken a safety course,” said Bobb.

All pools and hot tubs should be surrounded by fencing with lockable gates. At camp, be sure to lock doors so toddlers can’t go down to the lake alone. During holiday gatherings, pick one adult to watch the children for an hour shift. That way, nobody misses the whole party.

Teen-agers must be taught how to operate safely lawn mowers and other outdoor equipment. Farm and lawn tractors are particularly dangerous; they should not be used to give rides.

Barbecues also are a cause of preventable injuries. “It’s another case of children doing things that adults should be doing, like lighting fires and cooking on grills,” said Bobb.

Children must wear life preservers on watercraft, and adults must recognize the danger of drinking intoxicants while operating a boat.

Everyone knows that fireworks are dangerous, but they continue to injure Maine children each year.

The Maine Coalition for Safe Kids is funded partly by the Maine Department of Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pine Tree Burn Foundation. Bobb said the group welcomes private contributions and is looking for a corporate sponsor.

“Unfortunately, we lack enough financial support,” said Bobb. “We are hoping to encourage the insurance industry to help; they would benefit most.”