Accidental injuries are one of the leading causes of death in children globally, with road traffic accidents being one of the leading causes of death globally in 2019. Not every accident can be prevented, but there are easy measures that parents can put in place to protect their children from injury and harm as they continue to grow.
There are easy ways to keep children safe in the car at any age. From birth until somewhere between 2-4, a child will need a car seat that faces the back of the car. This car seat should always go in the back seat. Once your child reaches the weight limit of their car seat, you can use a forward-facing car seat that will be put in the back seat until age 5.
When your child is older than 5 or heavier than the weight limit for their forward-facing car seat, they can start using a booster seat. A booster seat will give your child the additional support needed to allow the seat belt to fit them properly. Between the ages of 9 and 12, the seat belt will fit your child well without a booster seat. When this occurs, they no longer need a booster seat.
Car seat use, booster seat use, and wearing of seat belts at all times can keep your child safe in the case of a car accident.
Drowning happens quickly and often occurs without any noticeable sign of a struggle.
Here are some easy steps you can take to prevent accidental drowning:
Drowning can happen to anyone at any time and is particularly common in younger children. Taking these precautionary steps will ensure that everyone has a safe and fun time in the water.
A concussion is a type of brain injury that results from some kind of bump or hit to the head. They can cause recurring physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and sleep problems that can be very disruptive to everyday life and increase the risk of future brain injury. However, there are some easy steps you can take to reduce your child’s risk of concussion.
Use car seats and booster seats, have your child wear a helmet when biking, roller-skating, or engaging in other similar activities, and use stair gates around the house when children are still young.
Children are curious by nature. It’s important to store prescription medication where children cannot get to it. Medications can cause accidental injury when a parent misreads how much the child needs or if a child gets into a medication bottle.
Prevent incorrect dosing of medication to your children with these steps:
Safely store medication with these tips:
Following these guidelines for prevention of accidental overdose or medication ingestion can help ensure your children are safe.