Keeping Safe

· In Case of Emergency
· Preventing Falls
· Preventing Scalds and Burns
· Fire Safety
· Space Heaters
· Preventing Choking and Strangulations
· Preventing Poisoning
· Traffic Safety and walking
· Bicycle Safety
· Water Safety
· Gun Safety
· Preventing Sports Injuries

In Care of Emergency

For serious injury or sudden, severe illness, call 911. If you think your child may have swallowed poisonous, first call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-682-9211. Keep this number close to your telephone.

Try to stay calm. When you call, be prepared to give:

· Your child's age
· Your child's weight
· Your child's temperature
· A description of the problem
· The address where you are and the phone number

Do not hand up the phone first, in case more information is needed. To be prepared for an emergency, have these things together and out of a child's reach:

· Syrup of Ipecac
· Scissors
· Thermometer
· Tweezers
· Children's pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
· Bandages
· Gauze
· Cotton balls
· Antiseptic spray or ointment

Never give your child aspirin unless your doctor tells you to.

Preventing Falls

Falls are the biggest cause of injury to children under the age of five.

· Do not ever leave a baby alone - even a newborn - on a changing table, bed, chair, sofa or any furniture.
· If you cannot hold him, put your baby in a playpen, on the floor on a blanket, or in an infant seat. Put infant seats on the floor only.
· Make sure you strap your child into high chairs, changing tables, grocery carts and other seats that he could fall from.
· Baby walkers are dangerous. They are not recommended

When your baby starts crawling and walking, he can fall down the stairs. Install safety gates at stairways and at open patio doors.

Many children fall out of windows each year. Window screens do not protect your baby from a fall. Prevent your child from falling:

· Lock all closed windows.
· Open windows from the top, not the bottom
· Install window guards at all windows above the first floor. Make sure they are the kind that can be opened in case of an emergency.

Safety gates, window guards and safety latches can be bought at hardware and discount stores.

Preventing Scalds and Burns

In case of a burn:
1. Cool a burn by running it under cool water for 10-15 minutes.
2. Call your doctor.
3. Do not put anything on the burn unless your doctor tells you to.

In the kitchen:

· Keep hot food and drinks away from the edges of tables and counters.
· Never carry hot food and drinks near your child, or while holding him.
· When cooking, keep your child away from the stove.
· Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Use the back burners when possible.
· Always test your child's heated food or drink. If you use a microwave oven, stir the food and test it before serving. Microwaves heat unevenly
· Never heat bottles in the microwave.

In the bathroom:

· Set your water heater to 120 F or less. If you rent, ask your landlord to set the temperature no higher than 120 F.
· Always check the water before putting your child in the tub.
· Do not leave your child alone in the bath - even for a moment. She may turn on the hot water.

To prevent electrical burns, make sure to cover all electrical outlets.

Fire Safety

Protect your family from fires:
· Install smoke detectors in sleeping areas and in every level of your home. Landlords are required by law to provide them. Make sure smoke detectors work right.
1. Test them on the first day of each month by pushing the test button.
2. Do not take the batteries out of them.
3. Put in new batteries twice a year.
· Keep matches and lighters out of reach.
· Teach your child that matches and lighters are not safe and are not toys.
· It is safer to keep bedroom doors closed when sleeping. A closed door will help hold back deadly smoke.

Teach your family what to do in case of a fire:
· Crawl on the ground. The best air is close to the ground.
· If clothes catch fire - STOP, DROP to the ground and ROLL.
· Get out of the house fast, and stay out.
· Call the fire department from a neighbor's home.

Prepare your family for a fire:
· Plan two escape routes. Choose a spot outside for everyone to meet.
· Practice your escape route once a month.

Space Heaters

Space heaters can be dangerous. Avoid burns and fires:
· Place the space heater on a firm, flat surface where it cannot tip over.
· Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from curtains, furniture, sheets and blankets, or anything else that can catch fire.
· Keep children away from heaters. Never leave a child alone in a room with a space heater.

Use only UL approved space heaters. Gas ovens and charcoal should not be used for heat - the fumes can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use kerosene heaters in a closed space. They are against the law in Massachusetts.

If you need help heating your home, call the Fuel Assistance Program at 1-800-632-8175.

Preventing Choking and Strangulation

Children can choke or strangle very quickly. The best way to prevent choking is to NEVER leave small things in their reach. Take a CPR class to be more prepared to respond to a possible choking. Broken or deflated rubber balloons are the biggest cause of choking from toys.

Keep your child sitting down and never leave your child alone while eating. Round, hard foods are especially dangerous to children under four. Hot dogs are the biggest cause of children choking on food. Be sure to cut them into small pieces, not round slices. Thickly spread peanut butter can also cause choking.

Babies and toddlers put everything in their mouths. Keep small things out of reach, such as:
· Jewelry
· Small toys or toy parts
· Buttons
· Coins
· Batteries
· Safety pins
· Paper clips
· Crayon pieces
· Nails, tacks, screws
· Peanuts and other nuts
· Hard candies
· Raw carrots
· Popcorn
· Grapes
· Raisins
· Gum
A "non-choking· tube can be used to check if toy parts are a choking risk for young children. You can buy one at many toy and baby goods stores.

When using a pacifier:
· Be sure the pacifier nipple has no holes or tears that might cause it to break off
· Be sure the pacifier shield (the hard plastic part) is large and firm enough to NOT fit in your child's mouth. Be sure the shield has holes.
· Never tie a string, ribbon, cord or yarn around your baby's neck.

Children strangle much more quickly than adults. String, yarn and ribbon may get caught on something and cause your child to strangle. Remove or cut hood drawstrings from children's jackets, sweatshirts and other clothing. Scarves can also cause children to strangle when they are tied around the neck and get caught.

CPR classes teach you how to save your child's life. CPR is the way to start the heart and lungs after they have stopped. Classes are available at your local YMCA, the American Red Cross, and many HMOs and health centers.

Preventing Poisoning

Most poisonings happen to children before they turn five years old. Children are likely to be poisoned by swallowing common things in your home, such as cleaners, medicines, vitamins, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, and house plants.

· · Keep all cleaners, medicines, and other poisons locked and out of reach.
· Keep cleaners and other poisons in the containers they came in.
· Use safety latches on drawers and cupboards.
· · Many plants are poisonous. Keep all plants out of your child's reach.
· Keep the poison control center number by each telephone: 1-800-682-9211.
· Keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac in your home. Ipecac is used to treat some poisonings and is available at drugstores. Do not give Ipecac to your child unless you are told to do so by the Poison Control Center or your doctor.

If you think your child may have swallowed a poison:

1. Look in his mouth. Remove any pills, pieces of plants or whatever you find.
2. Do not give your child anything, not even water or milk, until you call the Poison Control Center.
3. Bring your child and the poison or container to the phone.
4. Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-682-9211. Be prepared to give:
    a. Your child's age and weight
    b. What she swallowed and how much

5. Poison Control will tell you what to do. The Poison Control Center is open 24 hours a day. Interpreters are available.

6. Do not call your doctor or nurse until after you call the Poison Control Center.

Traffic Safety

Riding in Cars

Car safety seats and seat belts are the best way to prevent injury and death in cars. Massachusetts has a law that requires all children and adults to buckle up.

The law says:
· Infants and small children must ride in a car seat until they are at least five years old AND they weigh over 40 pounds.
· Children who are at least five years old and weigh more than 40 pounds must wear a seat belt that is properly adjusted. Most children who weight 40 to 60 pounds will need a booster seat for their seat belt to fit right.
· This law applies to all cars and taxi cabs.
· A police officer may stop your car and fine you $25 for each unrestrained child.

Be sure to wear a seat belt every time you are in the car, too. It will not only keep you safe - it will set a good example for your children.

The safest place for any child is in the back seat. Children should never ride in seats where an air bag could open.

For more information about keeping safe in cars, call 1-800-CAR-SAFE.

Walking

Once your child begins to move around, you need to watch him all the time.

· Young children should only play in fenced areas.
· Teach your child to always stop at the curb and look both ways before crossing the street.
· Never allow him to walk in the street.
· Make sure there are no children behind your car before you back out of a driveway.

Bicycle Safety

Biking is fun, but it can also be dangerous. Help your child learn safe riding habits. Make sure your child wears a bike helmet every time he rides. Massachusetts law requires that children under 13 wear helmets to make sure they meet national safety standards. A football helmet or hard hat will not work.
· Children should not ride in the street.
· Never let your child ride at dusk or after dark.
· Teach your child to stop and look both ways when going across driveways and streets.
· Teach your child to use hand signals when turning.

If you want to take a young child as a passenger on your bike:

· Babies under one year of age should never be carried on a bike. It is against the law.
· Children older than one should ride in rear-mounted bike seats. Do not let your child ride on handlebars or on the adult bike seat.
· The bike seat should have spoke guards, a high back, and a sturdy shoulder harness. Attach it securely.
· Children should not be passengers on bicycles when it is dark. Your child must, by law, wear a helmet - even when riding as a passenger. You should, too!
· To work right a helmet must fit right and be worn right. Read the instructions on the box or ask a local bike dealer.

Water Safety

It only takes seconds for a young child to drown - even in just an inch of water. Drowning happens in all kinds of places, not just pools and beaches. Any open container of water can be dangerous to a baby or young child.
· Never leave your child alone near water - a bathtub, toilet, swimming pool or a bucket of water - even for a moment.
· Empty the bathtub, bucket of water, wading pool, or any other water right after using it.
· Keep the bathroom door closed. Keep the toilet lid down.
· If you have a swimming pool, put up a four-sided fence, at least five feet high, with a self-closing, locking gate. If your neighbors have pools, tell them to put up fences and gates.

It is important for all children to learn to swim. Swimming classes are offered at many YMCAs, YWCAs, or local community centers. Never let your child swim alone.

Gun Safety

Children in homes with guns are more at risk of being shot by themselves, friends or family members than of being injured by a robber or other criminal.

If you choose to keep a gun:
· Keep it unloaded and in a locked place.
· Store bullets in a separate locked place.
· Use a trigger lock

If your child visits or receives child care in someone's home, ask if they have guns in the home. If so, make sure they are stored safely.

Teach your child to never touch a gun. Have her tell an adult right away if she sees one.

Preventing Sports Injuries

To play sports safely, your child needs you to be involved. Talk with the coaches, other parents and your doctor. Learn the risks of playing the sport. Your child may need a physical exam before she begins to play. Ask the coaches if they have been trained or certified in the sport. A trained coach will:
· Use conditioning, warm-up, and cool down exercises
· Know and play by the rules
· Put players in groups by size instead of by age
· Stop players before they get overtired
· Not allow injured children to play
· Not allow play on dangerous playing fields
· Have an emergency plan

Safety equipment prevents injuries or makes them less serious. Check with coaches about what equipment is required or recommended. Make sure safety equipment fits well. Some examples:

· Mouthguards
· Helmets
· Eye guards
· Face protectors
· Chest protectors
· Shin guards
· Ankle supports
· Foot gear
· Athletic cups
· Kneepads

Prevent emotional stress:
Encourage your child to do her best.
She should not feel pressure to be the best.

Growing Up Healthy was adapted with permission from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Family and Community Health, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health. Growing Up Healthy (Creciendo Sano in a Spanish adaptation) was originally developed with support from the Maternal and Child Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. We would like to acknowledge Gail Ballester and Steve Shuman, the Managing Editors from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the many Massachusetts contributors and reviewers.