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Health Tips

Child Safety Tips

Animal Bites

If a bite occurs:

Clean the bite with soap and water immediately, using large amounts of water.
Call your doctor or have the child evaluated by your Emergency Department.
Report the incident to the county animal shelter. Have the animal confined for observation.
Wild animals such as bats, foxes, and skunks transmit rabies, so the child may need to receive the rabies vaccine.

Safety tips:

Teach children to respect animals by being aware that any animal caught or injured is apt to bite. Even pets may bite if annoyed while eating, sleeping, frightened, injured, or ill.
Beware of animals acting strangely or of "friendly" wild animals.
If menaced by a dog, stand still, face him, and talk gently to him. If attacked, protect the neck and face with crossed arms.
If chased while on a bicycle, dismount with the cycle between you and the dog.
Cats and dogs should be immunized against rabies.

Automobile Safety

Safety tips:

Never think that holding the baby is safety enough. Use car safety seats which can prevent most injuries. Ask your doctor which seats are safest. Make certain that the car seat is installed properly, and use it every time your child is in the car.
Children weighing over 40lbs. and over 4 ? feet tall can be strapped in an adult seat belt with a shoulder strap.
The center of the back seat is the safest location in the car. Doors should always be locked.
Children must hold an adult's hand when crossing street or walking in aparking lot.
Teach youngsters with bikes the rules of the road, such as keeping to the right in traffic. Never ride against traffic.
When a child in the car needs attention, pull the car to a safe stop. Do not let your attention to safe driving be distracted.

Water Safety

Have constant adult supervision for children at the beach, lake or pool. Never leave them alone in or near open water-no matter how shallow. Don't depend on lifeguards to watch your children.

Put a fence around the swimming pool, and keep the gate locked. Warn children never to play at a neighbor's pool without your permission and adult supervision.

Don't depend on flotation devices or toys to keep children safe. Teach children how to swim, or have them take a course with a certified instructor. Teach them to always swim with a buddy and not to dive into shallow water.

Have children wear life jackets at all times when boating.

Preventing suffocation and choking

Keep small objects away from children. Nuts, buttons, pins, beads, balloons, etc., can be deadly. Don't buy toys with small, removable parts. Make bedtime safe by making sure the crib has a snug-fitting mattress, and slats spaced no more than 2 3/8" apart. Don't put your baby to sleep on soft bedding (fluffy blankets, comforters, etc.). Don't let your baby sleep with pillows, cushions, stuffed animals, small toys, etc. Secure cords on draperies, blinds, toys, appliances, phone, etc. Don't attach toys with long cords to the crib. Remove drawstrings from clothing. Never let children play with plastic bags. Keep plastic bags and wrap out of children's reach.

Prevent poisoning

There may be poisons in any room of your home. To protect your children:

Keep chemicals and medications out of reach away from food items and never under the sink.
Lock cabinets containing medications and chemicals.
Keep products in their original containers-never store chemicals or medications in soda or milk bottles, jars, etc.
Select containers with childproof caps and close them tightly after each use.
Be careful with medications-never give them in the dark. Reread the label each time. Don't call medicine "candy".
Keep houseplants out of reach-some are poisonous.
Check for lead-based paint on cribs, toys, walls, windowsills, and any items children might chew or suck on. (Call your local health department about lead testing and the safe removal of lead hazards.)

Preventing falls

To prevent serious falls:

Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs to keep toddlers off.
Keep stairs clear of other items indoors and of snow and ice outdoors.
Open windows from the top and install window guards (on windows not used for fire escape).
Make sure there is good lighting anywhere children might be at night.
Check playground equipment regularly to make sure it's stable.
Never leave an infant unattended on any raised place, even for a moment.
Use a harness to keep your baby from falling out of a highchair, stroller or shopping cart.
You can protect your children from many dangers. Check your home from top to bottom, and eliminate any potential hazard's. Teach children safe habits for walking, playing, swimming, climbing, biking and riding in a car. Set a good example by practicing safe habits yourself.