Child Safety

According to Medline Plus, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children in the United States. Understanding child safety basics is essential to preventing accidental injury and death in children. Attention to safety begins the day parents welcome their first child into their lives.

Child Safety Issues

According to WebMD the most common causes of accidental injury or death in young children are motor vehicles, drowning, burns, falls, poisoning and guns. Adult supervision, teamed with knowledge of potential safety hazards and taking precautionary measures, is the best strategy to avoid tragedy.

Motor Vehicles

According to car seat safety expert Sherri Hannan, parents should follow the following guidelines for car seat and overall motor vehicle safety:

Children should be secured in car seats every time they ride in a vehicle.
The safest place for children to be while driving is in the back seat.
A child should ride in a rear-facing car seat until his second birthday or until he meets the maximum weight and height requirements allowed by the manufacturer.
Front-facing car seats should be used as long as possible, before transitioning to a booster seat, as long as he meets the weight/height requirements of the seat.
The child should ride in a booster seat until he is 4 feet, 9 inches tall, generally between the ages of 8 and 12.
A child is ready to use a seat belt when the belt lies across the chest instead of across the neck, but should continue to ride in the rear seat until he is 13 years old. Because of the possibility of airbag injuries, children should ride in the back seat until they reach adult size.
One of the best ways to assure children remember to use seat belts at all times is for parents to use their own seat belts at all times.
Parents should be aware that items left loose in a vehicle can become projectiles during a motor vehicle accident. Keep any heavy items like tools or laptops in the trunk.

Drowning

A young child can drown in only a few inches of water, which means toilets and cleaning buckets are potential hazards. If toddlers live in or visit the home often, toilet seats should have child safety locks. Cleaning buckets full of water should never be left unattended.

Backyard pools present several dangers; the following guidelines help keep children safe:

Pools should always be enclosed by tall, four-sided lockable fences with self-closing latches.
Alarms can be purchased for pool fences to protect young children from drowning.
Wading pools should be emptied after each use and should always be stored upside down.
Children should begin some form of swimming instruction around four years of age.
Children should be closely supervised when near any body of water.

Scalds

Every year in the United States, hundreds of children die from burn injuries, and thousands are hospitalized due to burns, while hundreds of thousands of children suffer from mild burns that don't require hospitalization. Children are most frequently burned by scalding accidents. Scalding can occur when a child pulls something off the top of the stove or when he is exposed to very hot water from a sink or tub faucet. Follow these guidelines to prevent scalding:

Parents should use the back of the stove whenever cooking, and children should always be supervised around a hot stove or oven.
Pot handles should always be turned away from the front of the stove.
Parents should never carry a container of hot liquid while young children are underfoot.
Homeowners with children should set their hot water heaters to 120 degrees, or less, to prevent accidental scalding injuries.
People living in apartment complexes should be especially aware of the risk of scalding to child safety; apartment water heaters are often set very high to accommodate the upper level apartments.
Never turn the water from any faucet on a child full force.

House Fires

The second most common cause of burn injuries in children is house fires. According to the Safe Kids fire prevention fact sheet, fires are most often caused by adult cigarette use, electrical malfunction, and misuse of heating equipment. Parents should pay particular attention to fire safety recommendations by adhering to these guidelines:

Never smoke in bed.
Smoke detectors should be used in every home, and checked routinely. Batteries should be changed once a year.
Families should have escape routes and plans in place and they should be discussed and practiced with children.

Falls

Falling down will always be a part of every child's life experience, but, according to the Home Safety Council, more than three million children are injured each year due to falls. It is the job of the parent to try to prevent falls from becoming major accidents. Simple safety measures will help to minimize the impact of a fall. Keep in mind that the younger the child, the more susceptible he is to dangerous falls.

As soon as a child begins to crawl, safety gates should be used on all stairways.
Windows should always be kept securely locked. Small children can fit under a window that is only open a few inches and screens are not strong enough to hold the weight of a child.
Walkways should be kept clear of tripping hazards, and safety straps should always be used on highchairs, changing tables, and strollers.
Children should always be supervised around heights like on decks, balconies, or open porches.
Stairs should always have sturdy hand rails.
Bath mats should be kept in any bath tub where a child may bathe.

Poisoning

Almost every home has a number of household items that are poisonous if consumed. All cleaning supplies, pest control products, fuels, alcohol, medications, and vitamins should be kept well out of the reach of young children inside the home and garage. Some common household plants, like irises, are also poisonous. Parents should educate children on the dangers of poisons and label all dangerous items with a "No" or "X" sticker. Keep the poison control phone number in your area posted near every phone as well.

Gun Safety

According to the Rand Corporation, one-third of all American homes have a gun in them. Therefore, whether you are a gun owner or not, children should learn about gun safety. Follow these tips to ensure your child does not become the victim of a firearm incident:

Guns should always be kept unloaded, locked, and out of the reach of children.
Ammunition should always be kept locked, out of the reach of children, and separate from the gun.
Keys should also be hidden from children and should never be kept with other household keys.
Children should be taught that they should never touch a gun, that they should leave any area where a gun may be found to prevent being injured by someone else, and that they should tell an adult if a gun has been found.
Children should never be allowed to play with guns.
Parents should think about whether or not they allow their children to play with toy guns as well.

Overcoming Safety Hazards

Parents need to be aware at all times of the hazards facing their children. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and parents need to be able to react immediately to prevent tragedy. Parents and families may find it helpful to attend a parent safety course for education and keep abreast of new changes in rules and regulations, which is important for the safety of the entire family.