Children are curious by nature and therefore have a tendency to explore and sometimes take risks. This means that parents need to be on the alert for potential threats to a child's safety both within the home and outside. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is one of many resources which offer a wide variety of educational publications and online information designed to prevent the risk of injuries to children.
Backyard Play Equipment
According to the Home Safety Council, more children die each year from injuries they receive while playing in their own backyards than from playing on public playgrounds. Parents need to supervise children closely when they are playing on an outdoor play set. Cover areas around and under play areas with hardwood chips, rubber mulch or pea gravel to lessen the impact if a child falls. Grass and dirt are not safe as children can break bones or suffer head injuries when they fall. Soft materials should be at least 9 inches deep and extend 6 feet away from all sides of play equipment. Keep play equipment in a well-maintained condition.
Toy Safety
Facts compiled by Safe Kids USA show that at least 15 children younger than age 14 die every year from toy-related incidents. The Home Safety Council recommends allowing your child to play only with age appropriate toys. Toys that can cause choking, strangulation or head injuries are among some of the most common threats. Read the label to see if a toy is right for your child's age. Also check to see if a laboratory has tested the toy for safety. A toy must be labeled with a warning if it contains any hazardous materials. Toys for infants and toddlers should be too big to fit in a child's mouth, as small parts can be a choking hazard. Repair or get rid of any broken toys. Keep toys and games designed for older children put away where smaller children cannot get to them. Toys that have strings or cords are another potential safety hazard. To prevent the possibility of strangulation, cut cords to a length of no more than 7 inches.
Pool Safety
Swimming provides fun recreation for children of all ages. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that about 300 children under the age of 5 drown in residential and public pools each year. Thousands of others require hospitalization or treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Parents should supervise children the entire time they are in a pool. Safety groups advocate the use of protective measures such as fencing around pools and anti-entrapment drain covers to help reduce the risk of children drowning.
Teen Driving Safety
When it comes time for your teen to start driving, there are some things that you can do as a parent to help reduce the risk that your child will be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Give your teen lots of experience behind the wheel with you in the car. Expose your young driver to all kinds of traffic situations. Clarify the driving rules from the start. Do not allow your teen to take a cell phone or other teen passengers when driving the car. Make sure that your teen understands that driving is both a responsibility and a privilege. Explain that there is to be no speeding or drinking alcohol, and that he is to use his seat belt at all times. The National Safety Council reports that two out of three teens killed in auto accidents did not have their seat belts buckled at the time.
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