Child Safety

 Accidents are the number one health hazard faced by children. Not only are accidents the leading cause of death in children under 15 years old, but also is the leading cause of permanent or temporary disability in children over the age of one year.

The number one way to help prevent accidents is proper adult supervision. No safety product can ever be considered a substitute for supervision; there are too many possibilities for any product to make a child’s world completely safe. Safety products must be considered a deterrent to injury, rather than a solution. When used in combination with proper supervision, these products become a valuable aid in helping to reduce the risk of accidents.

The information is intended to help parents better understand and help reduce the risk of accidents. Following these guidelines do not guarantee against the possibility of accidents, but when followed in combination with proper adult supervision should help minimize the risk of accidents. This is not a complete list of all potential hazards.

Safety Tips and Suggestions

The toddler stage is probably best described as the “age of exploration”. It is at this stage that the desire to learn and discover is mixed with rapidly developing mobility. It is important to promote learning and other development through exploration, but it is also a time when hidden dangers can pose a serious injury threat. Pay close attention to their surroundings, noting any newly discovered dangers. This is also a time of learning for adults. Many things around the house may not normally appear to be hazards, but in a toddler’s world they just may be.

 Here are some safety tips and other information to help make your home a safer place. It is important to note that this is not a complete list of child hazards, but rather a guide to help you better understand how to better identify these hazards.

Bedroom & Crib Safety

• Keep cribs away from any accessible electrical outlets.

• The crib rail should require at least two movements to move it down. This helps prevent small children from opening the rail themselves.  

• Prevent suffocation or entanglement. Never use a crib sheet unless it fits securely on crib mattress. Make sure the crib sheet overlaps the mattress so pulling on the corner of the sheet cannot dislodge it.

• Never use an adult sheet on a crib mattress; it can come loose and present an entanglement hazard to young children.

• Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, and sheepskins from the crib. 

• Place a baby on his/her back on a firm, tight-fitting mattress in a crib meeting current safety standards.

• Keep pictures and other wall hangings away from cribs so they cannot accidentally fall into the crib.  

• Hanging toys in the crib can cause children’s clothes to become tangled.

• Remove mobiles when your baby is 5-7 months old or sooner, if necessary.  

• Keep bedroom doors closed while sleeping.

• Use a monitor to listen for children if they sleep in another room.

Bathroom Safety

·           Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub for even a second. Always keep the baby in arm's reach. Don't leave a baby in the care of another young child.

·           Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, to get a towel or for any other reason. If you must leave, take the baby with you.

·           A baby bath seat is not a substitute for supervision. A bath seat is a bathing aid, not a safety device. Babies have slipped or climbed out of bath seats and drowned.

·           Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the water. Use a toilet lock to stop young children from opening the lid.

·           Use soft protective covers for tub faucets to help prevent injuries from children falling into the faucets.

·           Turn your hot water down to 120° or less to prevent accidental burns.

Electrical Safety

·           Cover all unused electrical outlets using outlet covers and/ or power strip covers.

·           Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs are exposed when the cord is in use.

·           Make sure cords do not dangle from the counter or tabletops where they can be pulled down or tripped over. These cords can also prevent a strangulation hazard.

Furniture Safety

 ·           Protect any sharp furniture edges using furniture edge and corner cushions.

 ·           Check all furniture for stability. Use tip-resistant furniture safety brackets to help secure any unstable furniture.

 ·           Avoid tables or other furniture with glass tops until children are older.

 ·           Hanging cords from telephones, lamps and other items on furniture can pose a strangulation hazard or can trip a running child.

 Kitchen Safety

 ·           When cooking, turn all pot handles in to prevent a child from pulling the pan off of the stove.

 ·           Use cabinet and drawer locks to help prevent access to drawers with knives and cabinets with cleaning fluids and other hazardous materials.

 ·           Use safety gates to help keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.

 ·           Avoid using tablecloths, as children can pull them causing objects to fall on them.

 Window and Door Safety

·           Use window guards and window stops to help prevent accidental window falls. Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows. Guards should be installed in children's bedrooms, parents' bedroom, and other rooms where young children spend time.

·           Keep furniture, toys, etc. away from windows, to discourage children from climbing near windows.

 ·           Keep all window cords out of the reach of children. Use window blind cord wind-up devices to help store loose cords more safely. Cut any cords that form a continuous loop.

·           Use doorstops and finger guards to help prevent finger and hand injuries from doors swinging opened or closed.  

·           Use doorknob covers or door locks to help prevent access to closets or other hazardous areas.

 General Safety Tips

·           Use safety gates, doorknob locks and door locks to help prevent access to any restricted or dangerous areas.

·           Check for all small objects around the house and put them out of reach of children. Small objects present a choking hazard for small children.

 ·           Keep all plastic bags out of reach of children.

 ·           Prohibit access to garage and workshop areas with a secure lock. Keep as many tools and other sharp or hazardous objects as possible together in this restricted area.

 ·           Teach your children why certain objects, areas, etc. are dangerous. By teaching them the hazards, they will learn better safety practices as they grow.

 Most importantly, supervise your children properly. No safety product is a substitute for proper adult supervision.

New Link for Parents!

 http://www.cdc.gov/parents/

AOK Early Childhood Networks: 

 Forging powerful connections so that service providers, parents, and community members can create the future they want for their kids.