Did
you know that injuries are the leading cause of death of children younger than
4 years in the United States? Most of these injuries can be prevented. Often,
injuries happen because parents are not aware of what their children can do. At
this age your child can walk, run, climb, jump, and
explore everything. Because of all the new things he or she can do, this
stage is a very dangerous time in your child's life. It is your responsibility
to protect your child from injury. Your child cannot understand danger or remember
"no" while exploring.
Firearm
Hazards
Children
in homes where guns are present are in more danger of being shot
by themselves, their friends, or family members than of being
injured by an intruder. It is best to keep all guns out of the
home. Handguns are especially dangerous. If you choose
to keep a gun, keep it unloaded and in a locked place, with the
ammunition locked separately. Ask if the homes where your child
visits or is cared for have guns and how they are stored.
Poisonings
Children
continue to explore their world by putting everything in their
mouths, even if it doesn't taste good. Your child can open
doors and drawers, take things apart, and open bottles
easily now, so you must use safety caps on all medicines and toxic
household products. Keep the safety caps on at all times
or find safer substitutes to use. Contact your Poison Center for
more information.
Your child
is now able to get into and on top of everything. Be sure to keep all household
products and medicines completely out of sight and reach. Never store lye drain
cleaners in your home. Keep all products in their original containers. If
your child does put something poisonous into his or her mouth, call the Poison
Help Line immediately. Attach the Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) to
your phone. Do not make your child vomit.
Falls
To
prevent serious falls, lock the doors to any dangerous area. Use gates on stairways
and install operable window guards above the first floor. Remove sharp-edged
furniture from the room your child plays and sleeps in. At this age your child
will walk well and start to climb, jump, and run as well. A chair left next to
a kitchen counter, table, or window allows your child to climb to dangerously
high places. Remember, your child does not understand what is dangerous. If
your child has a serious fall or does not act normally after a fall, call your
doctor.
Burns
The
kitchen is a dangerous place for your child during meal preparation.
Hot liquids, grease, and hot foods spilled on your child will
cause serious burns. A safer place for your child while
you are cooking, eating, or unable to give him your full attention
is the playpen, crib, stationary activity center, or buckled
into a high chair. It's best to keep your child out of the
kitchen while cooking.
Children
who are learning to walk will grab anything to steady themselves, including hot
oven doors, wall heaters, or outdoor grills. Keep your child out of rooms where
there are hot objects that may be touched or put a barrier around them. Your
child will reach for your hot food or cup of coffee, so don't leave them
within your child's reach. NEVER carry your child and hot liquids at the same
time. You can't handle both.
If
your child does get burned, immediately put cold water on the
burned area. Keep the burned area in cold water for a few minutes
to cool it off. Then cover the burn loosely with a dry bandage
or clean cloth. Call your doctor for all burns. To protect your
child from hot tap water scalds, the hottest temperature at the
faucet should be no more than120°F. In many cases you can
adjust your water heater.
Make
sure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home,
especially in furnace and sleeping areas. Test the alarms every
month. It is best to use smoke alarms that use long-life batteries,
but if you do not, change the batteries at least once a year.
Drowning At
this age your child loves to play in water. NEVER leave your child alone in
or near a bathtub, pail of water, wading or swimming pool, or any other water,
even for a moment. Empty all buckets after each use. Keep the bathroom doors
closed. Your child can drown in less than 2 inches of water. Knowing how to swim
does NOT mean your child is safe near or in water. Stay within an arm's length
of your child around water.
If you
have a swimming pool, fence it on all 4 sides with a fence at
least 4 feet high, and be sure the gates are self-latching. Most
children drown when they wander out of the house and fall into
a pool that is not fenced off from the house. You cannot watch
your child every minute while he or she is in the house. It only
takes a moment for your child to get out of your house and fall
into your pool.
And
Remember Car Safety
Car
crashes are a great danger to your child's life and
health. The crushing forces to your child's brain and body in
a crash or sudden stop, even at low speeds, can cause severe injuries
or death. To prevent these injuries USE a car safety seat EVERY
TIME your child rides in the car. Your child chould ride rear
facing until she is at least a year old AND weighs at least 20
pounds. It is even better for her to ride rear-facing to the highest
weight and /or height her car safety seat allows. Be sure that
the safety seat is installed correctly. Read and follow the instructions
that come with the car safety seat and the instructions for using
car safety seats in the owners' manual of your car. The safest
place for all infants and children to ride is in the back seat.
Do
not leave your child alone in the car. Keep vehicles and their trunks locked.
There are dangers involved with leaving children in a car; death from excess heat
may occur very quickly in warm weather in a closed car.
Always
walk behind your car to be sure your child is not there
before you back out of your driveway. You may not see your child
behind your car in the rearview mirror.
Remember, the biggest threat to your child's
life and health is an injury. | 
