Safe Kids

Ensuring child safety inside and outside the home is a top priority for parents and child-care professionals alike. Naturally, keeping kids safe is  everyone’s responsibility but nothing can top a parent’s concern. As much as we’d like to think that the things we see on the news about accidents that lead to child injuries or worse probably won’t happen to us or our families, it’s better to face the realities of life before we’re caught unawares. Better take the trouble to educate ourselves now before the unthinkable happens and we realize too late that we could have prevented it. It’s extremely important that efforts that promote public awareness concerning children gain support. As hard as it is to admit, many parents are often lacking in information and guidance regarding the issue of child safety. This where we can see the true value of the work of non-profit organizations such as the Safe Kids lie. Safe Kids now has a global network consisting of organizations set on the mission of preventing unintentional childhood injury—the cause of death and disability for children between the ages of 1-14. In the United States, the organization has over 600 coalitions and chapters spread out all over the 50 states bringing the talents and resources of health and safety experts, educators, volunteers, corporations, and governments to protect children and their families. Under this common goal, they work tirelessly on: educating families about child injury risks and prevention; the promoting and executing injury risks research; petitioning for the improvement and passage of safety laws and regulations regarding children; making lifesaving safety devices available to people who need them such as child safety seats, helmets, and smoke alarms; cultivate corporate leadership in child safety by securing beneficial and sustainable partnerships. All over the internet are sites with exactly that same theme and mission. Few, though, have the information presented in an organized manner. This can sometimes be an obstacle for families but as it is an important subject, we’d like to think that they will take the trouble to go over and understand all the information supplies. Just the same, making information easier to access and understand for parents and families will mean a safer environment for kids sooner. First, make your home child safe. There are less than ten basic things to remember to make sure your home is not a hazard for your children. One, water. Never leave a child alone close to water; not for a minute, not even for seconds. Water provides too many opportunities for accidents, most common of which is drowning. Whether in the bath or a sink or a pool or even in an innocent pail, think of water as a possible threat. If you’re interrupted by a ringing phone or doorbell while giving your child a microdermabrasion bath, never leave them unattended. If you must take the call or answer the door, take your child out of the water or its vicinity. Better yet, just bring your child with you. Two, chemicals. Our seemingly innocuous household products are potentially toxic to children when ingested. Childproofing is essential. Remember, try to see things from a child’s eye view, this will give you a better understanding of what might catch their attention. Put up childproof cabinet metal detectors locks where you keep your cleaning materials. The same goes for cosmetics and other personal care products, keep them away from the reach of curious children. Medicines or medicine cabinets are definitely a must lock. Inspect all parts of the house that your child has access to. Even with all the locking and storing, in case of an accident, make sure you know what to do. Keep emergency numbers posted where they’re easy to find. Three, electricity. Protect your children from the risk of electrical shock. Make sure to cover sockets that are not in use with plastic socket or plug covers. Check your appliances for frayed or damaged wiring as well, just in case. Four, choking. Keep food in bite-sized (for a child!) pieces. Be extra mindful of food items such as popcorn, carrots, nuts, grapes, and other similarly sized edibles. Watch out for any and all small items. Kids will put just about anything in their mouths so anti-snoring mouth guard paper clips, buttons, jewelry, and toys with small parts are just a few that should be on that list of choking hazards. Five, smoke and company. A smoke detector increases a family’s survival rates in case of fires; and carbon monoxide is also a big danger to families that have kids. A carbon monoxide detector gas tankless water heater is as important as a smoke detector because carbon monoxide leaks are hard to detect being that they are odorless and colorless. Six, access. Prevent accidental falls and many other injuries by controlling a child’s access. Secure windows and doors. Install a gate for the stairs. Use locks on ovens similar appliances. It’s a wonderful and scary thing to be a parent. To be in charge of another beings health, happiness, and safety is no small task. In that, we all can use all the help we can get. Here’s to being better informed and better prepared.