An All-Ages Guide to Child Safety April 29, 2009

This week is National Safe Kids Week and in recognition of that, The Child Injury Lawyer will provide some safety tips developed by Safe Kids USA after conducting a study of accidental child injuries.

Not surprisingly, the injury risks children are exposed to change as the grow up, but this study is the first to analyze the link between child development and child safety. The study uses its findings to promote a blueprint that parents can use to provide the age-appropriate safety environments for their children as they grow.

Parents don’t need to be told that child safety is important, but they may not know how prevalent child injuries can be. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 6 million children under 14 were injured in accidents in 2007 that required emergency room care. That breaks down to 12 injuries every minute — all accidental and all probably preventable.

The report, “Raising Safe Kids: One Stage at a Time,” divides children into four age categories  and provides safety tips for the five most common injury risks to children: bicycle-related injuries, motor vehicle occupancy injuries, poisonings, falls, fire and burns.

Safety tips

Infants (up to 1 year)

Always use a rear-facing car seat that you can put into a semi-reclined position. Do this until your baby is at least age 1 and 20 pounds.  If the seat you purchase has higher height and weight limits, use it as long as your baby’s height and weight remains less than the limit.

Overmedicating is one of the common injuries to infants. Read all medicine labels carefully so you don’t miss anything and follow the directions precisely.

We admittedly live in a busy world and parents especially feel a strain on their time. Though you often have many tasks to complete each day, do not hold your baby while you are cooking or carrying hot liquids and foods.

Children 1 to 4 years old

Take your child to play only at safe places. Playgrounds should have soft surfaces that will cushion a child’s fall. Look for playgrounds equipped with safe surfaces that are 1 foot deep. Safe surfaces include fine sand, shredded rubber, or hardwood fiber/mulch below the equipment.

Children are naturally curious and like to explore. Set up your home to make their exploration safe. Install stair gates to prevent your child from falling down your stairs. Also identify any unsteady furniture that may tip over on them as the grab it and secure it to a wall.

Keep medicines and poisonous household items locked up and out of reach. Also, choose products with child-resistant packaging.

Children 5- to 9-years-old

Bicycle accidents are one of the most common causes of accidental child injuries. Ensure that your children wear a helmet and protective equipment every time they are on any kind of wheels – be it a bicycle, skateboard or rollerblades.

At this age, children are at a higher risk than adults for cooking injuries and scalding injuries. Don’t let them use the microwave until they are tall enough to reach the items in it safely. Don’t let them cook with any device unless they understand that steam can burn them.

Traffic accidents are a common cause of injury for everyone. Children are not exempt, and they require special considerations. Continue using booster seats with the vehicle lap and shoulder safety belts until the seat belt fits them correctly.

Early adolescents (10- to 14-years-old)

Wheels remain a top contributor to child injuries in this age group. However, it may be more difficult to ensure your children wear the proper protective equipment as they enter these early adolescent years. Make it non-negotiable. It’s critical to lead by example.

As children grow out of their car booster seat, teach them about the importance of always wearing their seatbelt. if you make it a habit, they’ll feel “naked” without it.