Source:
Did you know that injuries are the leading cause of
death of children younger than 4 years in the United States? Most of these
injuries can be prevented.
Often, injuries happen because parents are not aware
of what their children can do. At this age your child can walk, run, climb,
jump, and explore everything. Because of all the new things he or she can do,
this stage is a very dangerous time in your child’s life. It is your
responsibility to protect your child from injury. Your child cannot understand
danger or remember “no” while exploring.
Firearm Hazards
Children in homes where guns are present are in more
danger of being shot by themselves, their friends, or family members than of
being injured by an intruder. It is best to keep all guns out of the home.
Handguns are especially dangerous. If you choose to keep a gun, keep it
unloaded and in a locked place, with the ammunition locked separately. Ask if
the homes where your child visits or is cared for have guns and how they are
stored.
Poisonings
Children continue to explore their world by putting
everything in their mouths, even if it doesn’t taste good. Your child can open
doors and drawers, take things apart, and open bottles easily now, so you must
use safety caps on all medicines and toxic household products. Keep the safety
caps on at all times or find safer substitutes to use. Contact Poison Help for
more information.
Your child is now able to get into and on top of
everything. Be sure to keep all household products and medicines completely out
of sight and reach. Never store lye drain cleaners in your home. Keep all
products in their original containers.
If your child does put something poisonous into his or
her mouth, call Poison Help immediately. Attach the Poison Help line
(1-800-222-1222) to your phone. Do not make your child vomit.
Falls
To prevent serious falls, lock the doors to any
dangerous areas. Use gates on stairways and install operable window guards
above the first floor. Remove sharp-edged furniture from the room your child
plays and sleeps in. At this age your child will walk well and start to climb,
jump, and run as well. A chair left next to a kitchen counter, table, or window
allows your child to climb to dangerously high places. Remember, your child
does not understand what is dangerous.
If your child has a serious fall or does not act
normally after a fall, call your doctor.
Burns
The kitchen is a dangerous place for your child during
meal preparation. Hot liquids, grease, and hot foods spilled on your child will
cause serious burns. A safer place for your child while you are cooking,
eating, or unable to give him your full attention is the playpen, crib, or
stationary activity center, or buckled into a high chair. It’s best to keep
your child out of the kitchen while cooking.
Children who are learning to walk will grab anything
to steady themselves, including hot oven doors, wall heaters, or outdoor
grills. Keep your child out of rooms where there are hot objects that may be
touched or put a barrier around them.
Your child will reach for your hot food or cup of
coffee, so don’t leave it within your child’s reach. NEVER carry your child and
hot liquids at the same time. You can’t handle both.
If your child does get burned, immediately put cold water
on the burned area. Keep the burned area in cold water for a few minutes to
cool it off. Then cover the burn loosely with a dry bandage or clean cloth.
Call your doctor for all burns. To protect your child from tap water scalds,
the hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120°F. In many
cases you can adjust your water heater.
Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on every
level of your home, especially in furnace and sleeping areas. Test the alarms
every month. It is best to use smoke alarms that use long-life batteries, but
if you do not, change the batteries at least once a year.
Drowning
At this age your child loves to play in water. NEVER
leave your child alone in or near a bathtub, pail of water, wading or swimming
pool, or any other water, even for a moment. Empty all buckets after each use.
Keep the bathroom doors closed. Your child can drown in less than 2 inches of
water. Knowing how to swim does NOT mean your child is safe near or in water.
Stay within an arm’s length of your child around water.
If you have a swimming pool, fence it on all 4 sides
with a fence at least 4 feet high, and be sure the gates are self-latching.
Most children drown when they wander out of the house and fall into a pool that
is not fenced off from the house. You cannot watch your child every minute
while he or she is in the house. It only takes a moment for your child to get
out of your house and fall into your pool.
And Remember Car Safety
Car crashes are a great danger to your child’s life
and health. The crushing forces to your child’s brain and body in a crash or
sudden stop, even at low speeds, can cause severe injuries or death. To prevent
these injuries USE a car safety seat EVERY TIME your child rides in the car.
All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat until
they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height
allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. Be sure that the safety seat
is installed correctly. Read and follow the instructions that come with the car
safety seat and the instructions for using car safety seats in the owners’
manual of your car. The safest place for all infants and children to ride is in
the back seat.
Do not leave your child alone in or around the car.
Keep vehicles and their trunks locked. Children who are left in a car can die
of heat stroke because temperatures can reach deadly levels in minutes. They
can be strangled by power windows or knock the
vehicle into gear. Always walk
behind your car to be sure your child is not there before you back out of your
driveway. You may not see your child behind your car in the rearview mirror.
Remember, the biggest threat to your child’s life and
health is an injury.
Last Updated 5/11/2013
Source TIPP—The Injury Prevention Program (Copyright © 1994 American Academy of
Pediatrics, revised 03/2011)
The information contained on this Web
site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your
pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may
recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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