Safety

More children die from injuries than any other cause. The good news is that most injuries can be prevented by following simple safety guidelines. Talk with your doctor or other health care provider about ways to protect your child from injuries. Fill out this safety checklist.

Read the list below and check off each guideline that your family already follows. Work on those you don't.

FOR ALL AGES:

• Use smoke detectors in your home. Change the batteries every year and check to see that they work once a month.
  
  
• Keeping a gun in your home can be dangerous. If you do, make sure that the gun and ammunition are locked up separately and kept out of reach.
  
  
• Never drive after drinking alcohol.
  
  
• Teach your child traffic safety. Children under 9 years of age need supervision when crossing streets.
  
  
• Learn basic life-saving skills (CPR).
  
  
• Keep a bottle of ipecac at home to treat poisoning. Talk with a doctor or the local Poison Control Center before using it. Post the Poison Control Center number near your telephone and write it in the space provided on the inside front cover.
  
  

INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN:

• Use a car safety seat at all times until your child weighs at least 40 pounds. When possible, secure it in the center of the back seat.
  
  
• Keep medicines, cleaning solutions, and other dangerous substances in childproof containers, locked up and out of reach.
  
  
• Use safety gates across stairways (top and bottom) and guards on windows above the first floor.
  
  
• Keep hot water heater temperatures below 120° F.
  
  
• Keep unused electrical outlets covered with plastic guards.
  
  
• Baby walkers can be dangerous. Children using them should be closely supervised. Access should be blocked to stairways and to objects that can fall (such as lamps) or cause burns (such as stoves).
  
  
• Keep objects and foods that can cause choking away from your child, such as coins, balloons, small toy parts, hot dogs (unmashed), peanuts, and hard candies.
  
  
• Use fences that go all the way around pools and keep gates to pools locked.
  
  

A SPECIAL MESSAGE ABOUT SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for infants. Some authorities believe that placing sleeping infants on the side or back, instead of the stomach, decreases the risk of SIDS.

FOR OLDER CHILDREN:

• Use car safety belts at all times. Use with a booster seat if your child weighs less than 70 lbs. The lap belt should be snug and low on the hips. The shoulder belt should cross the chest, not the face, neck, or stomach. If it does not fit properly, tuck it behind the shoulders instead.
  
  
• Make sure your child uses a safety helmet while riding on a bicycle or motorcycle.
  
  
• Make sure your child uses protective equipment (such as mouth guards, pads, sports goggles, and helmets) when playing contact sports, rollerskating, or skateboarding.
  
  
• Don't let your child use alcohol or illegal drugs. Many driving-, sports-, and violence- related injuries are caused by the use of alcohol or drugs.
  
  
• Read all instructions for safe handling of household tools, such as saws and lawn mowers. Teach your child to use these tools safely.
  
  
• Don't allow your child to ride on or drive heavy farm equipment, such as tractors, without special training.
  
  
• Teach your child to deal with anger and conflict without using violence. Set a good example for your child.
  
  

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