Practical Safety Tips

There are numerous non-profit organizations focusing on ways to keep children safe. For parents who are on-the-go during the summer months, it’s nice to have trusted resources to turn to for tips and advice.
BellyLaf likes an organization called Safe Kids USA, who’s mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children under 14. Each year, Safe Kids USA releases a number of research reports and injury facts to help educate the public on childhood injuries. Unfortunately, summer injuries aren’t limited to skinned knees and scraped elbows; they include paralysis, brain damage and even death.

Here are some tips for keeping your children safe this summer:

• Actively supervise children in or around water. Never take your eyes off of your children. Always make sure your children wear life jackets when riding on boats or playing in or near open bodies of water.
  
• Properly secure all children younger than 13 in a back seat for every ride in the car. Keep children in the right type of car seat or booster seat until adult lap and shoulder belts fit them correctly. If you are flying to your destination, bring any car seats with you so your children ride safely in cars while on vacation.
  
• Make sure your children wear a helmet and other protective gear every time they bike, skate, skateboard or ride a scooter. Bring the gear with you if none will be available while you’re traveling.
  
• Bring your own folding playpen rather than using a borrowed crib. If you do use a hotel’s crib, inspect it for broken or missing parts to make sure it is not defective, damaged or even recalled from the market. Visit http://www.recalls.gov/ to check the model number.

Have a safe vacation and keep your summer full of giggles!

Hazard: Your Bathroom!

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year more children die of unintentional injuries in the home than from all childhood diseases combined. Over 3.4 million children per year are treated in emergency rooms due to household injuries according to Safe Kids USA. In 2004, approximately 2,300 children under the age of 14 died from accidental injuries in the United States. Most of these accidents are preventable - especially if parents are alerted to the hidden hazards in the home.

The bathroom remains one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. The National Safety Council estimates that 200,000+ injuries occur each year in bathrooms due to slips on wet floors and drowning accidents. Young children are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries in the bathroom as they do not fully understand the dangers of slippery surfaces such as marble tile or porcelain tubs. Whether you are a first time parent or an experienced one, keeping bathroom safety top of mind can help reduce the risk of accidental injuries to your children.