National Safety Month – Safety Tips

June is National Safety Month and aims to offer safety tips for everyday life, including child safety. Below are a few essential areas of focus to keep your child safe.

Childproofing for Poisons: It is important to keep cleaning products, personal and hygiene products, medicines, nicotine products, alcohol, certain house plants, and other potentially poisonous objects out of reach from children. If you are concerned your child may have a case of poisoning, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. If you find that your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures, contact 911.

Lithium Batteries: Coin batteries are in many common household devices and, if swallowed, can cause serious harm to children. Keeping these batteries secure, tightening the screws on battery covers, and taping the compartments are important ways to keep your child from ingesting the batteries.

Furniture Safety: The tipping of furniture causes more injuries than many realize. To prevent this:

1. Use anti-tip devices or anchors to secure furniture.
2. Visit www.anchorit.govto learn more about anchoring furniture and TVs.
3. Avoid putting items such as toys or electronics in areas that tempt children to climb.

Water Safety: To ensure safe swimming this summer, parents should designate a water watcher to oversee children while swimming. Also, we encourage weak swimmers to take swim lessons and wear life jackets. Pools should have proper barriers and drain covers in place. For more information on this topic, visit our Water Safety Month blog.

Safe Sleep for Babies: When babies sleep with pillows, blankets, on soft surfaces, and on their tummies, they are at a greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies should sleep on their backs, in a clutter-free area, on a firm, flat mattress, and in their own space (not with caregivers in bed).

First Aid Guide: Healthy Children has put together a great guide outlining how to care for stings, bites, allergies, fever, skin wounds, eye injuries, fractures and sprains, burns and scalds, nose bleeds, head injuries, and more! Check out this resource at healthychildren.org.

Fire Safety: It is vital to have smoke alarms installed in all sleeping areas of your home. Establish escape routes and conduct fire drills, so your children know how to escape safely and where to meet in the event of a fire. Make sure your children know they should escape immediately and not try to dress or put out the fire. Most fire-related deaths occur due to suffocation from the fumes and smoke, not the fire itself.

Disaster Planning: Disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes, etc., can happen in this area. Preparing in advance for natural disasters can help us feel less frightened and overwhelmed if they occur. Suppose you need to evacuate your home immediately. In that case, it is vital to have personal identification, special items for babies or young children, a 3-day supply of water, toiletries, a change of clothing and sturdy shoes, and canned foods for family members.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care.

For much more details and resources, visit: 

• Home Safety: Here’s How
• Fire Safety: Planning Saves Lives
• Childproofing Your Home for Poisons
• Keeping kids safe: Reminders for National Safety Month
• Choking Hazards Parents of Young Children Should Know About
• First Aid Guide for Parents & Caregivers
• Disaster Supplies List for Families
• Disasters and Your Family: Be Prepared
• Keeping kids safe: Reminders for National Safety Month
• Help Your Baby Sleep Safely So You Can Sleep Soundly