Keeping
kids out of harm's way is a full-time job with no time off, ever. It's serious
business. According to safekids.org, unintentional injury is the leading cause
of death for kids under 14. Fire and burns, drowning, suffocation, choking,
firearms, poisoning and falls accounted for the deaths of 1,900 kids under
age 14 in 1998; with 70 percent of those children under the age of 4. So how
can you prevent such useless calamities?
The American Red Cross strongly recommends knowing CPR and keeping a well-stocked
first aid kit on hand at all times. Also, try to see things from a child's
point of view and move suspect items out of reach, including cleaning supplies,
as well as houseplants (many are poisonous), and heavy items like books, lamps
or pans that can be pulled down.
Staying alert keeps baby unscathed
Kids are one thing, but what about constantly inquisitive babies, who always
seem to be crawling or waddling into some sort of unintended mischief? According
to Danielle McGrath of Jacksonville, Fla., who is the mother to 22-month-old
Jake and six-week-old Gabrielle, basic childproofing and common sense are
the way to keep your babies free from injury.
Her standard operating procedure includes cabinet locks in the kitchen and
bathroom, baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs, and fire alarms stocked
with fresh batteries. Other potential hazards to infants include falling if
placed anywhere other than the floor, and the possibility of being burned by
too-hot food or baths. But it's toddlers you've really got to watch out for,
McGrath says. These 1- and 2-year-olds are curious, move fast and are experts
at zeroing in on the dangerous things in any room.
The bottom line for McGrath and savvy parents everywhere is that there's no
substitute for paying attention. Be ready to respond at a moment's notice if
a child gets into trouble. And once you've got the bases covered — if
you possibly can — relax. "They're going to get cuts and scrapes
no matter what you do," McGrath says. "You just have to try to protect
them as best you can."
Take heart. Following these simple steps from safekids.org will help make
your home a safer overall place for your child:
- Set water heaters at 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scalding during
baths.
- Install smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every level of
the house. Test them once a month and replace batteries once a year.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector outside sleeping areas and at
least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, wood
stoves and fuel-burning kitchen stoves.
- Always store firearms unloaded and locked away, with ammunition
locked in a separate location that is up and out of reach of children.
Use gun locks and load indicators on all firearms.
- Pools should be surrounded by a fence with self-closing and self-latching
gates. Adults should be on hand at all times to supervise and should
know CPR. Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers
poolside. Most importantly, never leave a child unsupervised in or
around a swimming pool, even for a second.
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