Stoop to Snoop; Prevent Household Injuries by Getting on a Child's Level

Source

Texas Children's Hospital

Forums

Related Articles

HOUSTON, June 3, 1998 -- Even with recent declines in childhood injuries, more young children die or are disabled from preventable injuries than from cancer, birth defects, or any disease. Infants suffer injury twice as often as children who are older.

"Texas Children's Hospital feels the easiest way to eliminate childhood injuries is to prevent them," said Dr. Jana Williams, pediatrician at Texas Children's Hospital and Poison/Choking committee chair for the Greater Houston Coalition for Safe Kids. "Our clinicians participate in community coalitions, educate the public about potential dangers and work with our legislators to create a safer environment for kids."

Although a quarter of preventable injuries involve motor vehicle accidents, most injuries to toddlers occur at home. Parents can best prevent injury to their children by anticipating problems that might occur.

"No one can watch a child closely enough when hazards are present, so childproofing a home is essential. When your baby begins to move around -- at about six months -- look at your baby's world as he or she sees it. Get down on the floor and crawl around. Look at what is within reach, keeping in mind possible dangers," adds Dr. Williams.

Most parents are aware that childproofing a home includes covering electric sockets with outlet caps, keeping household cleaners and medicines locked safely away and installing security gates at stairs. However, while poisonings and falls make up many emergency room visits each year, the three primary killers of children -- airway obstruction, drowning and burns -- can kill a young child in under five minutes:

• Airway obstruction causes 51 percent of fatal injuries to infants.
  Keep small objects and toys with small parts away from young children. Be aware that plastic bags and balloons can suffocate children. Peanuts, grapes and hotdogs are hazards to children without molars to chew them.
  
  
• A toddler can drown in as little as two inches of water.
  Never leave a child in a bathtub, even with a sibling to watch.
  Toddlers are attracted to the water in toilets and cleaning pails. Lock toilets and empty the pails right after use.
  
  
• One of every five fatal injuries to young children are from burns.
  Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and in sleeping areas -- and change the batteries yearly.
  Never cook with a child at your feet. Use back burners whenever possible and turn handles inwards out of reach of toddlers.
  
  

The largest children's hospital in the nation, Texas Children's Hospital is the primary pediatric teaching and research hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. Since 1954, Texas Children's has cared for more than one million children and, through its research, has developed breakthrough treatments and educational programs across the spectrum of children's healthcare.

CONTACT: Susan Hirtz of Texas Children's Hospital, 713-770-2045