How to Prevent Accidents With Children
Keep children safe in the car., Stay informed about possible recalls of children's products. , Do not leave toys in your child's crib or bed when you or another caregiver is absent., Keep poisonous chemicals locked away where children cannot reach...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Keep children safe in the car.
Secure infants in rear-facing safety seats until they are at least a year old and 20 pounds.
Once they are bigger, seat them in a forward-facing child safety seat.
Put kids who are 40 pounds or heavier in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit securely in the adult seat belt.
Stay focused while driving.
Refraining from using a cell phone while driving will reduce the risk of an accident. -
Step 2: Stay informed about possible recalls of children's products.
, Objects in a child's sleeping area increase the risk of choking and smothering. , Teach children about the chemicals in your home so they know the difference between a food product and a poison.
Do not store chemicals near food.
Know the phone number for poison control or keep it handy. ,, Remove dangling accessories from children when they are on the playground.
These include scarves, purses, necklaces and drawstrings for clothing.
Keep children younger than 5 in an area away from the bigger kids at a playground. , Make sure your children can swim before getting in the water.
If they cannot, ensure that they use proper flotation devices and stay with them the whole time.
Install fencing around a private swimming pool. , Children should always wear well-fitted helmets when riding bikes.
Make sure their bicycles are equipped with reflectors.
Though it depends on local laws, it is often safest to have children ride their bikes on the sidewalk.
A bike is too big if a child cannot sit on the seat and still be able to touch the floor with his feet.
Ensure that the bicycle is well tuned, with filled tires and functioning brakes and gear shifters. , Fighting back is not a safe option. ,, Also, teach your children about how dangerous firearms are. , Taking smaller bites will also prevent choking. , Different sports require different precautions, so research the activity and equip them accordingly.
Teach children to warm up and stretch before playing a sport.
Take a child to a doctor for a physical before he or she starts a new sport. ,,, Test and make sure they are working regularly. , -
Step 3: Do not leave toys in your child's crib or bed when you or another caregiver is absent.
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Step 4: Keep poisonous chemicals locked away where children cannot reach them.
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Step 5: Ensure that there are no areas in your home that are painted with lead-based paint that is peeling away.
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Step 6: Keep your attention on your children at the playground.
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Step 7: Practice water safety when your kids are near a pool.
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Step 8: Keep kids safe on bicycles.
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Step 9: Tell children to inform an adult if they are confronted by a bully.
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Step 10: Inform kids that they should not talk to strangers.
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Step 11: Keep guns in a locked safe if you own any.
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Step 12: Have children chew food thoroughly before swallowing.
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Step 13: Make sure children are safe during sporting activities.
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Step 14: Teach children to look both ways and obey traffic signals before crossing a street.
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Step 15: Have a plan for evacuating your home in case of an emergency and teach it to your children.
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Step 16: Keep smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.
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Step 17: Learn CPR in case of an emergency.
Detailed Guide
Secure infants in rear-facing safety seats until they are at least a year old and 20 pounds.
Once they are bigger, seat them in a forward-facing child safety seat.
Put kids who are 40 pounds or heavier in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit securely in the adult seat belt.
Stay focused while driving.
Refraining from using a cell phone while driving will reduce the risk of an accident.
, Objects in a child's sleeping area increase the risk of choking and smothering. , Teach children about the chemicals in your home so they know the difference between a food product and a poison.
Do not store chemicals near food.
Know the phone number for poison control or keep it handy. ,, Remove dangling accessories from children when they are on the playground.
These include scarves, purses, necklaces and drawstrings for clothing.
Keep children younger than 5 in an area away from the bigger kids at a playground. , Make sure your children can swim before getting in the water.
If they cannot, ensure that they use proper flotation devices and stay with them the whole time.
Install fencing around a private swimming pool. , Children should always wear well-fitted helmets when riding bikes.
Make sure their bicycles are equipped with reflectors.
Though it depends on local laws, it is often safest to have children ride their bikes on the sidewalk.
A bike is too big if a child cannot sit on the seat and still be able to touch the floor with his feet.
Ensure that the bicycle is well tuned, with filled tires and functioning brakes and gear shifters. , Fighting back is not a safe option. ,, Also, teach your children about how dangerous firearms are. , Taking smaller bites will also prevent choking. , Different sports require different precautions, so research the activity and equip them accordingly.
Teach children to warm up and stretch before playing a sport.
Take a child to a doctor for a physical before he or she starts a new sport. ,,, Test and make sure they are working regularly. ,
About the Author
Frances Anderson
Brings years of experience writing about practical skills and related subjects.
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