Did you know that
injuries are the greatest threat to the life and health of your
child? Injuries are the cause of death of school-aged children.
Yet you can prevent most injuries!
At
age 8, children are now taking off on their own. They look to friends for approval.
They try to do daring things. They may not want to obey grown-up rules. But your
child can learn safety rules with your help and reminders. Your child now goes
out more without you and could drown, be hurt on a bike, or be hit by a car. And
your child still can be hurt or killed while riding in a car if he is not buckled
by a seat belt.
Sports
Safety
Ask your
doctor which sports are right for your child. Be sure your child wears all
the protective equipment made for the sport, such as shin pads, mouth guards,
wrist guards, eye protection, or helmets. Your child's coach also should be able
to help you select protective equipment. Water
Safety
At this
age, your child is not safe alone in water, even if he or she knows how to swim.
Do not let your child play around any water (lake, stream, pool, or ocean)
unless an adult is watching. Never let your child swim in canals or any fast-moving
water. Teach your child to always enter the water feet first. And
Remember Bike Safety
Make
sure your child always wears a helmet while riding a bike. Now is the time
to teach your child "Rules of the Road." Be sure he or she knows the
rules and can use them. Watch your child ride. See if he or she is in control
of the bike. See if your child uses good judgment. Your 8-year-old is not old
enough to ride at dusk or after dark. Make sure your child brings the bike in
when the sun starts to set. Car
Safety
NEVER
start the car until you've checked to be sure that your child is properly restrained
in a booster seat. Your child should use a booster seat until the lap belt
can be worn low and flat on the hips and the shoulder belt can be worn across
the shoulder rather than the face or neck (usually at about 80 pounds and about
4 feet 9 inches tall). Be sure that you and all others in the car are buckled
up, too. Install shoulder belts in the back seat of your car if they are not already
there. Serious injuries can occur with lap belts alone. The
safest place for all children to ride is in the back seat.
Firearm
Hazards
It is best
to keep all guns out of your home. If you choose to keep a gun,
store it unloaded and in a locked place, separate from ammunition.
Ask if the homes where your child visits or is cared for
have guns and how they are stored. Your child is at greater
risk of being shot by himself, his friends, or a family member
than of being injured by an intruder.
Would you be able
to hlep your child in case of an injury? Put emergency numbers
by or on your phone today. Learn first aid and CPR. Be prepared....for
your child's sake!
Safety
in a Kid's World
Dear Parent:
Your child is old enough to start learning how to prevent injuries.
The games below are designed to help your child think about safety.
Print these pages. Read the messages with your child and talk
about them together. Then post this Safety Sheet at home where
everyone can see it.
It
takes time to form a safety habit. Remind each other what it says. Make safety
a big part of your lives.
