Protect The Children in Your Home

Did you know millions of unintentional injuries result in emergency room visits each year? Statistics confirm nine million of these injuries occur in children ages 0-19 years, and more than 9,000 children die as a result of being injured.

Since June is Home Safety Month, let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of household injuries among children.

The Pool  - It’s important to install a fence around your pool with self-closing and self-latching gates and many insurance companies require fences before granting a homeowner’s policy. Learning CPR is also a must for any parent with a pool. And supervision of children around the pool, in the bathtub and near any other body of water will go along way towards preventing injuries and death. Remember, it only takes a few inches of water for a child to drown.

Pets – Children, more than adults, are most at risk for dog bite-related injuries and incident rates are highest in kids  ages 5-9 years. Make sure all household pets are vaccinated, and teach your children to avoid neighborhood animals that they don’t know. Never leave infants or young children unattended with any animal.

Windows – It’s important to keep windows locked to prevent a child from climbing out, but the cords on the blinds and parts of the curtains can be dangerous as well.  Teach your children that the window is for looking, not climbing or playing.

Stairs - Stairs can be fun for a young child on the way up, but a toddler often needs supervision and sometimes assistance on the way down to prevent falling. Gates and guardrails are helpful as well.

The Medicine Cabinet– Accidental overdose of over-the-counter and prescription medicines can prove fatal for anyone in your home. In fact, the CDC reports that unintentional poisoning as a result of medication overdose increased by 160 percent from 1999 to 2009. Keep all medications out of the reach of children. Households with young children should utilize childproof caps on all medications.

Poisons – Cleaning products can be very dangerous if ingested and can be harmful if they come in the contact with the skin or eyes. It is important to keep these items out of a child’s reach and to dispose of the containers when empty. Never reuse an empty cleaning solution bottle or sprayer. Dispose of these immediately when they are empty. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using any chemical solution. Keeping the poison control phone number, 1-800-222-1222, near the phone is also a good idea.