Accidents
Accidents. Every child gets bruises, bumps, and scrapes. And minor
injuries, although momentarily upsetting, may be educational in the long
run. They teach the child valuable safety concepts. Of course, serious
accidents are another matter.
Do all you reasonably can to protect your child from accidents. But be
careful not to overprotect and give your child the idea that the whole
world is a dangerous place. Fit the precautions you take to the child’s
age and surroundings. Certain precautions are especially necessary if
you have an infant or a curious toddler. Others are important if you
live close to a busy traffic area, or if you have a lot of power
machinery.
Protecting your baby. The younger children are, the more they need
to be protected. A baby, of course, requires almost total protection.
The high chair and stroller should have straps to keep the infant from
tumbling out. Do not leave a baby alone in an infant seat on a table,
couch, bed, or car seat. The plastic seat may slide off and fall to the
floor. The crib should have sturdy sides. As soon as the baby starts to
crawl, put safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways. A playpen
may also be used selectively when you are busy in the kitchen. However,
do not pen a child in too much. Do not use baby walkers, which can be
unsafe. Instead, be sure your child has adequate “crawl and explore”
time under your supervision.
Make sure all toys are safe. Do not give the baby beads or rattles that
can be swallowed. Avoid stuffed animals with tiny button eyes that can
be pulled off and swallowed. Toy manufacturers’ age suggestions are
usually accurate.
Thin plastic, such as that used by dry cleaners, can quickly suffocate a
baby. Never cover a crib mattress with it or leave it where your baby
can get to it.
Surprisingly, more children drown at home than in public pools. These
are usually young children left alone in bathtubs, in wading pools, or
near swimming pools— sometimes for only a few minutes. Never leave
your child alone in the bathtub, even to answer the phone or the door.
Pails of water, and even the toilet bowl, may be dangerous, depending
upon the
child’s age. Some deaths from falling into pails of water and toilet
bowls have been reported.
Curiosity and caution. As soon as children can creep, they peek into
every corner and try to stick their fingers and toys into electrical
wall outlets. Eliminate this hazard by covering the sockets with caps
that are available at most hardware stores. Remove extension cords when
not in use.
To guard against electric shock, repair frayed cords and damaged
appliances promptly. Have large appliances and power tools equipped with
ground wires that divert current harmlessly into the earth. Then, if a
short circuit develops, there is no danger to a child who touches the
faulty appliance. Do not allow electric appliances near water,
especially at bath time. Your child may touch the appliance with wet
hands or pull it into the tub and be electrocuted.
Street and automobile safety. Automobile accidents are the greatest
threat to children. From the time your child is able to understand,
gradually teach traffic safety—to look both ways for cars before
crossing a street, to cross only with the green light or the “walk”
sign, to obey school patrols and crossing guards, and to walk on the
left side of the road when there is no sidewalk. Point out the hazards
of playing in the street and running into the road without first looking
in both directions.
You should have a proper child safety restraint for your automobile to
protect your child in case of an accident or a sudden stop. Up to about
the age of 1, a child should ride in an infant seat. For a child age 1
to 4, use a child safety seat. Do not buy any restraint that does not
meet federal safety standards. Children more than 4 or 5 years of age
and weighing more than 40 pounds can use the car’s safety belt.
Do not allow your child to stand on the seat, climb over seats, lean out
of windows, or play in the rear of an open station wagon or truck.
Special safety catches on doors are not necessary if the child is
strapped in. Do not remove the inside door handles. In an emergency, a
child might be trapped.
Bicycle safety. A bicycle provides pleasure, exercise, and
transportation. But it can be a hazard for your child if it is not the
right size, and if the child does not know how to use it safely. Be sure
the bicycle is sturdy, has good brakes and tires, and is equipped with
all the safety devices required by law.
Check the bicycle to be sure it is suitable for the child’s height.
Adjust the seat so that it is parallel to the ground. Then, have your
child sit on the bicycle with one thigh, leg, and heel extended down in
a straight fine. The foot should rest comfortably on the pedal at its
lowest point. The handlebars should be about as wide as your child’s
shoulders. The handlebar grips should be at right angles to the
handlebar stem and a little higher than the seat.
Never buy a bicycle that is too big in the hope that the child will grow
up to it. A bicycle that is too big or too small is hard to handle and
may be the cause of an accident.
Your child should learn to ride the bicycle in the backyard or in a
playground—not on the sidewalk, where pedestrians may be hit, or in
the street, where there are cars.
While learning to handle a bicycle, children should also learn the
importance of courtesy and safety. They should be able to recognize
traffic signs and signals. They should know and obey all traffic
regulations and safety rules pertaining to bicycles in your city. Local
programs of bicycle safety will be successful only if parents support
them, and if they insist that their children obey all rules.
Caution your child against showing off on a bicycle by jumping curbs or
riding “no hands.” Your child should not ride a bicycle at night, but if
for any reason it is necessary, the bicycle should be equipped with
front and rear lights and the child should wear light-colored clothing
and a helmet.
Teach your child to keep the bicycle in top condition. Check
periodically to be sure the brakes are in good working order and that
the handlebars are securely fastened. A well-cared-for bicycle is safer
than a neglected one and will last longer.
Burns are a hazard. Small children are fascinated by fire and sense
little danger, and so they will walk right up to flames. Never leave
your child in a room with an open gas fire or a burning fireplace. Make
Birth to 4 months
(Wriggles, rolls over)
Dangerous objects
Do not allow very small or sharp objects near your baby. Do not use
objects not intended for play, such as a can of baby powder, to distract
the child. Do not place a string or necklace around the baby’s neck.
Fire
Do not smoke around the baby. Do not buy baby clothing or blankets that
are flammable. Install smoke alarms in your house.
Motor vehicles
Never park a buggy where it might roll into traffic. Your baby’s safest
spot in a car is strapped in an infant safety restraint seat on the rear
seat. Do not leave the baby alone in the car.
Play areas
The best play areas are a padded playpen or a blanket on the floor.
Stairs, doors, windows
Do not put your baby near an open door or window that is so low that the
baby could roll out. Do not park the buggy near an open stairway.
Toys
Give your baby only large, soft toys and sturdy rattles. Do not give the
baby toys with sharp points or edges.
Water
Before your baby’s bath, check the water temperature with your elbow.
While bathing the baby, hold the infant securely. Never leave the baby
alone in a bathtub.
Special hazards
Keep crib sides up. Do not leave the baby alone in an infant seat on a
couch or bed. Do not leave the baby alone on a changing table, bed,
sofa, counter top, or chair. Do not put pillows on your baby’s bed. Do
not use filmy plastic sheets or coverings on the crib mattress. Do not
carry, drink, or eat anything hot while you are holding your baby.
- to 7 months
(Begins to sit and crawl)
Dangerous objects
Keep buttons, pins, beads, and pieces of hard food out of your baby’s
reach. Check the floors and the playpen for small objects before letting
the baby play there.
Fire
Never leave your baby alone in the house. Do not smoke around the baby.
Motor vehicles
Keep your baby strapped in an infant safety restraint seat attached to
the rear seat. Never leave the baby alone in a car.
Play areas
Your baby will love to play in the yard or on the porch, and possibly in
a playpen. Keep these areas clean and free of things that might cause
harm.
Poisons
Do not leave poisons, medicines, or other materials such as bleach,
detergents, or baby powder within reach. Remove all harmful substances
from the cabinet under the sink and other storage spaces.
Stairs, doors, windows
Put gates at stairways and porch steps. Never leave your baby alone near
an open stairway, door, or window that is not securely screened.
Toys
Give your baby only soft rubber and soft plastic toys. Beware of toys
small enough to swallow. Do not put strings of beads across the crib.
Water
Follow the same bath routine. Never leave your baby alone near water. A
baby can drown quickly in only a few inches of it.
Special hazards
Do not put pillows on your baby’s bed or filmy plastic sheets or
coverings on the mattress. Do not leave your baby unattended on a bed or
other high place.
7 to 12 months
(Crawls, sits, stands, walks)
Dangerous objects
Put knives, scissors, pins, coins, and breakable objects high out of
your baby\’s reach. Beware of dangling tablecloths and appliance cords.
Do not give the baby such foods as peanuts, popcorn, or raisins that are
easily breathed into the windpipe. Do not use baby clothing that has
bells, pompons, or loose buttons that can be swallowed. Beware of
sharp-edged furniture.
Fire
Empty ashtrays before your baby does. Never leave the baby in a room
with an open, burning fireplace. Use a fireplace screen. Never let the
baby crawl or walk around hot stoves or heaters. Do not leave hot
liquids on table or counter tops where the baby may reach them. Do not
carry hot liquids or foods near your child.
Motor vehicles
Keep your child strapped in an infant restraint seat. At home, never
leave your child alone outside near driveways or traffic.
Play areas
The playpen is still the safest place for a child, especially when you
are cooking.
Poisons
Lock up everything poisonous. Do not keep household chemicals under the
sink. Do not keep lye drain cleaners in the house. Do not leave
medicines where your baby can get them, not even in your purse. Keep
syrup of ipecac in the home.
Stairs, doors, windows
Keep all gates closed. Keep screens locked or nailed in place.
Water
Watch your baby in the bath, wading pool, or even around a pail of
water. In a boat, every child should wear a life jacket. Even if taught
to swim, babies are not safe around water.
Special hazards
Put safety caps on wall sockets. Prevent your baby from chewing on
cords. Do not leave plastic bags lying around.
- to 2 years
(Crawls, walks, runs, climbs)
Dangerous objects
Keep sharp tools and glass objects out of your child’s reach. Do not let
a toddler eat popcorn, peanuts, or candy with nuts.
Fire
Keep matches and lighters out of reach. Never let your child near a
trash burner or leaf fire. Teach your child that fire is hot and will
burn.
Motor vehicles
Use a child safety seat. Teach your child not to run into the street or
play in the driveway or near the street. Teach your child the importance
of “buckling up.”
Play areas
Fence the section of the yard where your child plays so that the child
cannot wander into traffic. Supervise the child outdoors.
Poisons
Your child will eat anything and will climb great heights to get it.
Lock up medicines (including aspirin), insecticides, and household
chemicals (including kerosene and furniture polish). Never get your
child to take pills by saying they are candy.
Stairs, doors, windows
You may need taller gates now. Watch your child carefully. Lock gates
and doors to any dangerous areas. Use window guards on the upstairs
windows. Do not use wax on stairs.
Toys
Everything your child picks up will go into the mouth. Avoid toys with
removable parts (check the wheels on toy cars). Do not repaint toys with
lead paint.
Water
Safety precautions are the same as for a younger child. Also, fence in
ponds, pools, and cisterns.
Special hazards
Keep all hot appliances—toasters, irons— out of reach. Put a guard
around heaters and radiators. Do not leave a chair where a child might
use it to climb to a dangerously high place.
- to 3 years
(Always investigating)
Dangerous objects
Turn in handles of pots on stove. Lock up power-operated tools. Do not
allow your child near operating machinery, including power lawn mowers.
Fire
Do not let your child play with matches. Never let your child poke a
fire. Beware of fluffy skirts around fire.
Motor vehicles
Your child should be kept in a safety seat. Teach your child how to
cross the street, but not to cross it alone. Teach the meaning of
traffic lights and walk signs. Do not let the child play near streets.
Play areas
Keep the play area in the yard free of dangerous debris. Check play
equipment for slivers and loose bolts and nails. Supervise the child
outdoors.
Poisons
Keep all poisonous substances locked up. Never leave empty containers
where your child can find them. If your child swallows a poison, call
the nearest poison control center. Keep the telephone number for the
center handy for fast reference. Keep syrup of ipecac on hand, but do
not use unless directed to do so by a physician.
Stairs, doors, windows
Your child can now open doors and possibly windows. Lock those that may
lead to a dangerous situation. Keep stairs clear.
Toys
Balls, blocks, and stuffed animals (without bead eyes or other ornaments
that can come loose and be swallowed) are good toys for this age.
Water
Supervise the bath closely. Do not leave your child alone in the
bathroom. Begin to teach the child how to float. Never leave a child
alone near a body of water.
Special hazards
Teach your child to play gently with pets and to avoid stray animals.
- to 4 years
(Always in motion)
Dangerous objects
Same as for 2-year-old.
Fire
Same as for 2-year-old.
Motor vehicles
Teach your child never to chase a ball into the street. Make sure the
child is kept in a safety seat.
Play areas
Teach your child that a closed gate means to stay in the yard. Check the
child’s activities frequently. Your child is now good at climbing fences
and opening locked gates.
Poisons
Same as for 2-year-old.
Stairs, doors, windows
Never let your child lean out open windows. Caution about running up and
down stairs. Tack down carpeting. Avoid using throw rugs that might be
slipped on.
Toys
Your child can use simple playground equipment. Check all toys for sharp
edges.
Water
Start teaching your child to swim. Do not let your child use an inner
tube or inflated toys alone.
Special hazards
Never leave trunks or large picnic coolers where your child may crawl
into them and suffocate. Warn about the dangers of abandoned
refrigerators. Do not keep such refrigerators around; if you do, remove
all their doors. Advise your child to be careful around strange animals.
4 to 6 years
(Getting independent)
Dangerous objects
Caution your child about picking up sharp or rusty objects. Tell him or
her to avoid broken glass.
Fire
Store flammables out of reach. Begin to teach safety rules about fire.
Children should not go near brush fire. Children should not turn on the
stove.
Motor vehicles
Teach your child to obey traffic signals, crossing guards, and police
officers. See to it that your child uses the car safety belt.
Play areas
Take your child to park playgrounds. Teach safe use of swings and
slides. Supervise your child carefully.
Poisons
Same as for 2-year-old.
Stairs, doors, windows
Teach your child never to lock the door to any room, including the
bathroom. Teach the child not to pound glass. Protect the glass in storm
doors with an adequate glass guard, or replace the glass with
plexiglass.
Toys
Keep your child\’s toys in good repair, or discard them. The child can
throw and catch a bail. Warn your child not to dart into the street
after the ball.
Water
Never let your child swim alone. Watch your child closely.
Special hazards
Let your child participate in home fire drills and practice escaping out
the bedroom window. For second floors, get a portable ladder that
attaches to a window and teach the child how to use it.
6 and older
(Goes to school)
Dangerous objects
Continue to lock up hazardous objects. Do not let your child use
dangerous tools or power mowers. Stress that safety rules also apply
away from home.
Fire
Teach your child first aid for burns, what to do if clothes catch fire,
and how to call the fire department.
Motor vehicles
Be sure your child looks both ways before crossing a street. Teach the
rules of bicycle safety.
Play areas
Warn your child about playing in construction areas, around large holes,
in caves, and in abandoned or empty houses. Do not let your child play
in the car.
Poisons
After 6 years, the child usually loses appetite for distasteful
substances that can poison, but take no chances—tell your child what
substances around the house are poisonous.
Stairs, doors, windows
Tell your child to sleep with the bedroom door closed to keep out smoke
in case of fire.
Toys
Games, puzzles, creative toys, sports equipment. Teach your child to
handle balls and bats safely.
Water
Sign your child up for formal swimming lessons. Stress that children
should “always swim with a buddy.”
Special hazards
Be sure your child knows what to do if lost, never to go with strangers,
and how to handle emergencies.
your child keep a safe distance from burning trash, bonfires, and
barbecues. Protect your child from hot substances—turn the handles of
pots and pans toward the back or center of the stove, and put the cords
of electric appliances out of reach.
Hot radiators and registers are especially hazardous to infants and
toddlers. A brief contact can cause a serious burn.
Tap water scalds can also occur. Water heaters should be set below 120°
F. (48° C.), and parents should test the bathwater before placing the
child in it.
Fire safety. What can you do about your child’s fondness for fires?
First, do not provide the chance to experiment. Keep matches and
cigarette lighters out of reach. Teach your child about fire and its
dangers.
Never leave a young child alone in the house. A child can start a fire,
or a fire can spring up and trap the child. A child panics easily in
fire and may hide under a bed or in a closet. When your child is old
enough, demonstrate how to escape from a fire, especially from the
child’s room. If the child sleeps on the second floor, buy a rope ladder
that fastens to a window so the child can climb down in case of fire.
Encourage your child to sleep with the bedroom door closed, because a
door provides a barrier against fire and smoke. Teach your child never
to open a door if a fire is suspected. Tell the child to first feel the
doorknob and panels. If they are warm, the door should not be opened,
because there are flames and superheated air on the other side. One
whiff of hot air could fell a child in an instant. Equip your home with
smoke detectors, and have your child inspect the detectors with you to
ensure that they are in good working order.
Protection from poisons. Put locks on medicine cabinets, and keep
other potentially dangerous materials safely out of reach. Until
children are about 6 years old, they will eat anything, including
bleach, medicines, insecticides, and cosmetics. Crawling children easily
invade low spaces, such as under-sink cabinets, so never keep household
chemicals there. Older children often search for pills that they think
are candy. Flavored aspirin for children is a great menace. A child can
swallow a lethal dose of 30 to 40
tablets in minutes. Do not leave drugs in a nightstand, briefcase, or
purse, and never encourage your child to take medicine by calling it
candy.
If your child swallows poison, call the nearest poison control center or
your physician. Keep the telephone number of the poison control center
in a handy place for reference. Have syrup of ipecac on hand, but do not
use this unless directed to do so by a physician.
A child of 6 is less likely to drink bad- tasting substances, but
develops new fascinations just as dangerous, such as guns, machinery,
and fire. The 6-year-old is intensely serious about discovering how
things work.
Guns are deadly. It is not enough just to hide a gun. Many children
have found not only the guns, but also the ammunition. Often children
insert the bullets, fire the guns, and kill playmates or themselves.
Lock up empty guns and ammunition in separate places, so that your child
cannot discover both at once. Never allow a loaded gun in the house.
Power machinery is treacherous. A young child should not be allowed
around farm machinery, power tools, and power mowers unless carefully
supervised. Do not allow your child near a power mower while it is being
operated. The mower may throw off stones, wire, or even broken blades at
tremendously high speeds. You can lessen the hazard by picking up loose
objects before mowing.
Do not let an older child operate a power mower, power tools, or other
hazardous machines without close supervision. Remember that a child may
sneak into a workshop, and equip stationary tools with key-operated
switches or plugs. Lock portable tools in a cabinet.
Swimming safety. One of the most important lifesaving skills
children will learn, either from parents or in a class, is swimming.
Children should follow strict swimming rules—they should never swim in
quarries or other unsupervised places and never swim without a
responsible person who can swim. Older children who swim should know how
to administer CPR and other elementary first aid.
Avoiding animal bites. In many instances, the child, and not the
animal, is the cause of a bite. To protect your child from animal bites,
teach these safety precautions:
Never touch a sick or injured animal.
Never try manually to stop a fight between animals. Call an adult or
use a stream of water from a hose.Never take food away from an animal.
Never pet strange animals, [m.g.]
helpful for removal of blackheads, pustules, and cysts.
Many young people worry excessively about skin disorders and become
discouraged while trying to clear them up. You can reassure them by
pointing out that acne is a common problem that can now be treated
effectively, [a.m.m.]
See also Abscess; Endocrine glands; Hair care; Nutrition; Vitamins
