Posted on June 24, 2009 in latest news
More than 9 million children between the ages of 0 to 19 years are admitted to hospitals for injuries every year in the U.S. Injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S.
Every June, Home Safety month is observed. This is a great time to initiate measures at your home to protect your children.
The following are some areas you could take preventive measures
Burns
- Install smoke alarms in your home. You should have alarms near every room in the house. Check the alarms regularly to ensure they are working.
- Create a fire emergency escape plan. Practice it along with the kids.
- Do not leave the cooking stove unattended when there is food on it. Supervise children in the kitchen.
- Set your water thermostat at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Infants may not be able to escape water that is too hot.
Falls
- See that the child’s play area has a soft surface. The play equipment must be properly designed.
- Things should not be left strewn on the floor. Children will trip and fall easily.
- Use proper safety barriers, like railings in balconies and guards on windows on higher floors.
- Make your child wear protective equipment while playing sports which can cause injuries.
- Supervise your child’s movements around the house as much as possible.
Drowning
- Put up fences around swimming pools. The swimming pool should be accessible through a door, which should be kept locked.
- Supervise your children near the pool at all times. Don’t get distracted. Keep phones near the swimming pool.
- Learn CPR. This could prove life saving in emergencies.
- Educate your children about the dangers of water.
Poisoning
- Keep all inedible products like detergents and cleaners out of the reach of children.
- Keep medicines safely locked away.
- Try and communicate to toddlers and children about what they can and cannot keep in their mouth.
Other measures
- Never leave your child at home alone.
- Teach children to be wary of strangers (but not scared)
- Teach children about how to use the phone.
Comments
Leave a Reply
