Child Safty

KidsHealth
from Nemours
for Parents
for Kids
for Teens
Parents Home
General Health
Infections
Emotions & Behavior
Growth & Development
Nutrition & Fitness
Recipes
Pregnancy & Newborns
Medical Problems
Q&A
Positive Parenting
First Aid & Safety
Doctors & Hospitals
Medications
In the News
En Español
Teachers - Looking for Health Lessons? Visit KidsHealth in the Classroom
What Other Parents Are Reading
setWhatOthersWant('Parents')
Tips for Treating Sore Throat
Facts About Fifth Disease
All About H1N1 Flu
Pregnant? Your Baby's Growth



Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents
KidsHealth> Parents> Pregnancy & Newborns> Home & Family Issues> Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents
Print
AAAText Size

When was the last time you crawled around your home on your hands and knees? As strange as it sounds, give it a go. Kids explore their everyday environments, so it's crucial to check things out from their perspective to make sure your home is safe.
And though we often think of babies and toddlers when we hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 years old and under, with more than a third of these injuries happening at home.
Household injuries are one of the top reasons kids under age 3 visit the ER, and nearly 70% of the children who die from unintentional injuries at home are 4 years old and under. Young kids have the highest risk of being injured at home because that's where they spend most of their time.
Supervision is the best way to prevent injuries, in the home and out, but even the most watchful parents can't keep kids completely out of harm's way every second of the day.
Here are some simple ways to help prevent injuries in your own home.

Continue
Accidents That Can Happen at Home
The common causes of home-injury deaths are fire and burns, suffocation, drowning, choking, falls, poisoning, and firearms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most home accidents happen where there's:
water: in the bathroom, kitchen, swimming pools, or hot tubs
heat or flames: in the kitchen or at a barbecue grill
toxic substances: under the kitchen sink, in the medicine cabinet, in the garage or garden shed, or even in a purse or other place where medications are stored
potential for a fall: on stairs, slippery floors, from high windows, or from tipping furniture
You can take precautions to make these places safer, but the most important thing to remember is to watch young kids at all times. Even if your home is childproofed, it only takes an instant for babies and toddlers to fall, run over to a hot stove, or put the wrong thing in their mouths. Your watchfulness is your child's best defense.
However, accidents will still happen, so it's important to be prepared. If you're expecting a baby or have kids, it's wise to:
1. Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the age-appropriate Heimlich maneuver.
2. Keep the following near the phone (for yourself and caregivers):
poison-control number: 1-800-222-1222
doctor's number
parents' work and cell phone numbers
neighbor's or nearby relative's number (if you need someone to watch other kids in case of an emergency)
3. Make a first-aid kit and keep emergency instructions inside.
4. Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Check out these articles for more information:
Household Safety: Preventing Injuries From Falling, Climbing, and GrabbingHousehold Safety: Preventing Burns, Shocks, and FiresHousehold Safety: Preventing Strangulation and EntrapmentHousehold Safety: Preventing SuffocationHousehold Safety: Preventing ChokingHousehold Safety: Preventing PoisoningHousehold Safety: Preventing DrowningHousehold Safety: Preventing CutsHousehold Safety: Preventing Injuries in the CribHousehold Safety: Preventing Injuries From Firearms
Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MDDate reviewed: December 2007
Back
setDivStyleToNone('2');

1 • 2
For Teens
For Kids
For Parents
For College Students
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
CPR
Fire Safety
Gun Safety
Head Injuries
Household Safety Checklists
Instruction Sheets
Playground Safety
Water Safety
Contact Us
Print
Additional resources
Send to a friend
Reprint guidelines
Bookmark this page
Share this page using:
What are these?
Delicious
var yahooBuzzBadgeType = "text";

ARTICLEURL

Buzz up!

StumbleUpon

Digg This

Facebook
Note: Clicking these links will take you to a site outside of KidsHealth's control.
setVars();PKTChoose(8,0,0,0);
Sign up for our free weekly eNewsletters here