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Tips to Keep Kids Safe at Home, School, Outdoors, & Traveling Kids. They are masters of chaos, and they are our everything. For parents, guardians, and caregivers, keeping them safe is a daunting task and our number one priority. Unfortunately, accidents and injuries happen, and the most recent available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are sobering.
Although perfect safety is an impossible goal, you can significantly reduce childhood injury risks by following basic child safety practices. This guide provides critical recommendations, resources, and guidelines for keeping kids of all age groups safe in different environments. QuicklinksChildproofing Your House 101: Safety Information for Young Children, Infants, & Toddlers Whether you are a new parent or have small children at home, one of the most important things you can do is make your home as safe and hazard-free as possible. We’ll begin with a general scan of your home to identify and remove potential child safety hazards. Then we’ll explore tips for eliminating hidden dangers from specific rooms in your home to create a sanctuary for your little ones.
Window & Door SafetyStart at the top of your home and work your way down. Securing your windows and doors should be one of the first places you start when childproofing your home. Window and door safety to-dos:
Preventing Falls at HomeFalls are the most common cause of childhood emergency room visits. In 2020 more than 1.3 million children and teens were treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. As soon as your baby starts crawling, you’ll want to take the following precautions:
Now that you’ve got your windows, doors, and furniture safely locked, anchored, and secure, let’s explore each room of your home.
Bathroom Safety
Keep your bathrooms off-limits to small children and toddlers. When paired with your ongoing supervision, these tips can help you reduce the most common dangers.
Home Fire Injury Prevention
Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injuries to children in the United States. And in 2020, more than 71,000 children and teens were treated for fire and burn injuries. Here are some essential tips to prevent child injuries from fire:
Defective Products & RecallsThe recent Peloton treadmill tragedy heightened parents’ concerns over dangerous products in their homes. While most companies are diligent about ensuring the safety of their products, there are simple steps parents can take to protect their children from unsafe products. Most importantly, parents can check the database of all recalled products maintained by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Parents can also use the website to register new child products, such as toys or furniture, and receive emails about future recalls.
Furniture SafetyAccording to a study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, once every 46 minutes, a child is treated in an emergency room after furniture tips over on them. Furniture safety to-dos:
Kitchen SafetyIdeally, your kitchen would be entirely off-limits to small children and toddlers. But because it’s not always possible to keep your child safely occupied in another room while you cook dinner, these tips will help you keep your little explorer away from the danger zones.
Communicate with your kids about home safety early and often. Use every available moment to emphasize the dangers of a hot stove (“ouch, hot”) and other kitchen hazards.
Household Products & Poisoning PreventionChildproofing your home is vital to keeping kids safe, but it’s important to remember that even child-safe products can pose a danger if misused. Many household items can cause accidental poisoning. Adhere to the following tips to prevent injuries:
If you suspect that a child has ingested dangerous household chemicals or medication, contact poison control immediately at 1(800) 222-1222.
Toy SafetyAccording to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency room personnel treated an estimated 198,000 toy-related injuries in 2020. And about 40% of all toy-related injuries happened to children four years of age or younger. You can reduce the risk of serious injury by:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, caretakers should keep soft toys away from an infant’s sleeping area to reduce the risk of may increase the risk of suffocation and strangulation. Making School Safety a PrioritySafe and secure schools are essential to producing happy and healthy children. While various safety risks can lead to severe injuries and threaten the well-being of students, these tips can reduce the likelihood of preventable injuries and keep children safe.
Playground Safety TipsPlaygrounds provide children with a place to explore, have fun, and burn off energy. But without proper precautions and supervision, they can result in injury. According to the CPSC, children experience about 200,000 playground injuries each year. Before letting your kids run amok on the jungle gym, carefully inspect the equipment for visible hazards. For example, check for:
Make sure children playing wear appropriate clothing. Avoid anything that could cause strangulation or get caught in equipment. These items include:
Lastly, to prevent life-altering injuries, teach children how to play safely on the playground. That means learning to take turns on the equipment and avoiding pushing, shoving, and roughhousing on the equipment. And, of course, adults should always supervise children on the playground. Dealing with Bullying at SchoolBullying is a problem that can negatively affect students’ mental health and well-being. Persistent bullying can lead to diminished academic performance and feelings of isolation, low self-esteem, and depression. In extreme cases, bullying can lead to suicide. Parents and teachers can mitigate bullying by being aware of the signs and taking action immediately.
A child who is being bullied may exhibit the following warning signs:
If you suspect your child is a victim of bullying, talk to them about it. You should also contact the child’s teacher or school administrators immediately. Some ways to prevent bullying include:
Asbestos in SchoolsAsbestos is a naturally occurring mineral widely used in construction materials from the early 1940s through the 1970s. It is still present in many older schools, and prolonged exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer. Despite the risks, asbestos is still present in many schools. Asbestos-containing materials may be in good condition and pose little risk. But if the materials get damaged or disturbed, asbestos fibers may be released into the air and inhaled by students and employees. To prevent asbestos exposure in schools, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides these recommendations for school administrators:
Daycare & Preschool Safety ConsiderationsChoosing the right child care center for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent or caregiver. You want to keep your child comfortable while in the care of others, and you need to ensure that the center will prioritize their health, promote safety, and prevent daycare injuries. When choosing a daycare or preschool facility, you’ll likely have a lengthy checklist of questions about their staff-to-child ratio, food nutrition options, and approach to safe sleep practices. In addition to these concerns, make sure you get a definite “yes” to these critical questions:
As part of your safety check, be sure to tour the facility and meet the staff before enrolling your baby or preschooler. Child Passenger SafetyFor injury prevention, child safety seats are not only the most essential item in your vehicle, but they’re arguably the most effective item in your child safety toolset. First, let’s consider the dangers facing child passengers. According to the CDC’s 2019 data, car accidents cause more deaths and disabilities among children than other leading causes of unintentional injury. Child Passenger Safety Factschild passengers aged 12 and under died in motor vehicle crashes. child passengers were injured. Of those 12 and under who died in a collision, were not using restraints. Compared with seat belt use alone, child safety seats reduce children’s risk of crash injury by Protective Benefits of Child Safety SeatsAccording to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, child car seats and booster seats reduce the risk of fatalities by 71% for infants under one year old and 54% for toddlers ages one to four years. Undoubtedly, child safety seats save thousands of lives every year. To ensure that you get the most protective benefits, you also need to make sure that you use the right car seat type and install it properly. 4 Types of Car SeatsThe appropriate child safety seat type depends on your child’s age group, weight, and height. Here’s an overview of the four main types of child car seats: Rear-Facing Car Seats (Birth–2 years): Infants and toddlers under the age of two should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Forward-Facing Car Seats (2–5 years): As your child grows, they should ride in a car seat facing forward with a harness system. Booster Seats (4–8 years): Once your child outgrows their forward-facing child car seat, they can use a booster seat until your vehicle’s adult seat belt system fits them correctly. Seat Belts (8–12 years): Older children can safely use your vehicle’s adult seat belt system.
Car seats are effective only if installed properly and used correctly. To improve child passenger safety benefits, familiarize yourself with the car seat and booster seat safety guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Bicycle & Pedestrian SafetyAs children grow and expand their physical boundaries, bicycle and pedestrian safety becomes increasingly critical — especially for those who live in urban areas. Parents and guardians can keep their children safe on the streets. Bicycle Safety BasicsThe bicycle represents a child’s first taste of independence and mobility. But along with that comes a new set of risks and hazards.
Bicycle Safety Recommendations
Parents should always lead by example. Children are more likely to wear a helmet and follow these rules when they see their parents doing the same. Pedestrian Safety BasicsAs children become more independent, they will also spend more time walking or running around the neighborhood.
Pedestrian Safety Suggestions
As with bicycle safety, children use their parents’ behaviors as a gauge for their own when walking along and crossing streets. Always consider the example you set when it comes to pedestrian safety. Critical Water Safety LessonsWater Safety Facts
It’s hard to reconcile the two contradictory qualities of water. On the one hand, it’s essential to life and a source of joy to those who love pools, lakes, rivers, and the ocean. But left unguarded, waters that seem tranquil can become a silent killer. To prevent child drownings, the CDC recommends the following water safety tips for parents and guardians:
Emergency Phone Numbers
The following emergency phone numbers should be stored in every cell phone and posted near every home telephone: Police: 911 New York (Main Office)
How can a person best reduce the risk of injuries on the road quizlet?Terms in this set (10)
Secure a seat belt only when riding in the front seat. Wear a cracked bicycle helmet while riding a bicycle. Put away guns in a lockbox that is secure and in a discrete location. Put away guns in a lockbox that is secure and in a discrete location.
Which of the following determines the categories of obesity overweight and at risk of being overweight?Healthcare providers use body mass index (BMI) to screen for overweight and obesity in adults. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight and is defined as the body mass (in kilograms) divided by the square of the body height (in meters) and expressed in units of kg/m².
What are the two most important contributors to height differences among children all over the world?Children's mortality and total fertility are the most important socioeconomic factors correlating with stature.
At what age do many children have the ability to do simple arithmetic problem?Early Elementary Math
Between the ages of 5 and 7, your child will start working on simple addition and subtraction problems and basic fractions. Money and time will suddenly have concrete meanings.
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