Thursday, April 23, 2015

Summer Safety Tips


                      Summer Safety Tips

Summer in Rochester is a beautiful and wonderful time of year. The weather is pleasant and there is so much to do - swimming, boating in one of the lakes, picnicking in the parks, or enjoying one of many outdoor sports. Enjoy this time of year even more by taking a few precautions to protect your child(ren) and yourself from some of the more dangerous aspects of this season.

Sun Safety

Sun safety should actually be practiced year-round, but we are more likely to experience the damaging effects of the sun in the summer simply due to the greater amount of time spent outdoors. The following are precautions that should be taken by children and adults to avoid sunburn, sun/heat stroke, and dehydration:
  • Use Sunscreen: Wear sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Apply sunscreen all over the body (even in places covered by clothing) 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Sunscreen should be worn for any outdoor activity, even on overcast or cloudy days.
  • Avoid the Heat: Avoid outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are the most intense.
  • Get the Right Gear: Wear sunglasses with 100% UV (ultraviolet) protection. Everyone, especially very young or very fair-haired children, should wear a hat. Wear cotton clothing, preferably with a tight knit.
  • Stay Hydrated: Be sure to consume enough water, and avoid sugary and/or caffeinated drinks such as soft drinks.
  • For Babies: Dress your baby in lightweight clothing with long pants and long-sleeved shirts and a wide-brimmed hat. Keep baby's feet covered with a lightweight blanket. If necessary, small amounts of sunscreen can be applied to exposed areas. Use strollers with a large canopy.

Water Safety

Whether swimming in the neighborhood pool or boating in a local lake, the water provides many opportunities for fun days and happy memories. Keep your child safe by following a few simple guidelines:
  • Swim under adult and/or lifeguard supervision only.
  • Never be out of arm's reach of your baby or toddler in or near the pool or body of water.
  • Follow all posted rules.
  • Avoid use of inflatable swimming aids ("floaties"). These can provide a false sense of security.
  • On a boat: all children must wear properly-fitting life jackets at all times.
  • Do not consume alcohol when swimming or boating.
  • Pay attention to the weather conditions and forecasts and take proper precautions.
  • ....
            Home Safe Home
Each year, more than 28,000 deaths and nearly 7 million injuries occur as a result of accidents in the home, and around 60% of the victims are children. Whether or not you have children, and regardless of the age of your children, there are steps we can all take to make our homes safer places:
  • Prevent scald burns by setting your water heater's thermostat to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Install and maintain smoke alarms on every floor and outside of the bedrooms.
  • Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors near all bedrooms.
  • Cover all unused electrical outlets with plastic covers.
  • Make sure your home does not contain lead-based paint. If your home was built before 1978, have a professional check this for you.
  • Keep all appliances and their cords in good repair.
  • Unplug all appliances when not in use.
  • Plan a fire escape route and make sure the whole family is well informed. Plan and hold fire drills.
  • Keep a list of all emergency numbers by the phone, and make sure children and babysitters know who to call in case of emergency.
Maintain a smoke free home. Learn facts about second hand smoke.

           Age-Specific Safety Tips


Whether your child is seven days old, seven years old, or 17 years old, as a parent you want to provide him or her with a safe and loving environment. This isn't always easy—just when you think you have it figured out, your child enters a new phase in life, achieves greater independence, and the steps necessary to keep him or her safe change. Check out your child's age group for tips on providing a safe and supportive home:
As you hold your new bundle of joy in the hospital, you promise to always love and keep your baby safe. You know he/she depends on you for everything, and you want to give your baby your best. Besides following general home safety tips and childproofing your home, below are safety tips especially for baby:

Bathing

  • Bathe baby in a specially designed, slip-resistant infant bathtub.
  • Fill tub with 2-3 inches of warm—not hot—water (check temperature with your wrist or tub thermometer. The water should be between 96-100 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Stay within arm's reach of your baby while he or she is in the tub.

Nursery

  • Bassinet and/or crib should meet current safety standards.
  • Keep items such as pillows, comforters, quilts, and stuffed toys out of the bed.
  • Mattress should be firm and fit snugly within the bassinet/crib.
  • Remove mobiles when baby can sit on his or her own.
  • Remove bumper pads and shift crib mattress to lowest position when baby can pull to a standing position.
  • Keep bassinet/crib positioned away from windows, heaters, lamps, and other furniture.
  • Do not leave baby unattended on a changing table, and be sure to use the safety strap.
  • Avoid walking away from baby by keeping all changing supplies within arm's reach of changing table.
  • Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back.

Feeding

During the first year of life, eating is constantly an adventure. Baby can rapidly move from breast milk/formula to trying his/her first table foods. Plus, babies use their mouths to learn about their world, so many non-food items also find their way into little mouths. Due to all of the action these mouths see, choking is an inherent danger. Following are a few tips for keeping your baby safe:
  • Until age 4, avoid foods that can block the airways such as: peanut butter, hot dogs, popcorn, whole grapes, raw carrots, raisins, nuts, hard candies or toffees and chewing gum.
  • Provide safe finger foods such as bananas, well-cooked pasta and vegetables, o-shaped low-sugar cereals (such as Cheerios).
  • Keep items such as coins, buttons, balloons, safety pins, barrettes, and rocks out of your child's reach.
  • Follow age recommendations on toys, especially those with small parts, and make sure toys are in good repair.
  • Be vigilant. Small children put many things in their mouths. A watchful adult is often the best defense.

Other

  • Purchase and correctly install an infant car safety seat.
  • Avoid burns by not holding your baby while cooking or holding hot food or beverages.
  • Never leave baby unattended on beds, sofas, chairs, or any place where he or she may fall.
  • Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
  • Never leave baby alone with other young children or with pets.
Before baby begins crawling, childproof your home.



Now the real fun begins! Once your child is up on his/her own two feet, he or she is ready to conquer the world, and every day is a new adventure. This is an exciting and fun stage of life, but certainly has its risks and dangers too. The following are things you need to know to keep your budding explorer safe.

Poisoning

Poisoning is a particular danger because children this age (1-4 years old) are curious about everything! Younger toddlers will be inclined to put things into their mouths, and preschoolers are curious about items found in drawers and cabinets. Protect your child from an accidental poisoning:
  • Keep all medicines (and vitamins as well) out of the reach of children.
  • Never refer to medicine as "candy."
  • Store all cleaning products or other dangerous products out of the reach of children and/or in a locked cabinet.
  • Keep the number for poison control 1(800) 222-1222 on or near your phone.

Burns

Little fingers want to touch everything, so you need to take extra precautions to keep your child from being burned:
  • Keep your child in a safe place while you are cooking or ironing.
  • Turn pot/pan handles inward on the stove.
  • Never allow children to be unsupervised in the kitchen.
  • Keep items such as matches, lighters, curling irons, candles, and hot foods and liquids out of a child's reach.

Falls

Children of this age fall often, either because they are still a little unsteady on their feet, or because they are enjoying the thrill of climbing. Some tips to keep your child "well grounded":
  • Keep doorways leading to dangerous areas, such as basements or attics, locked.
  • Keep safety gates at the top and bottom of each stairway.
  • Keep window guards on all windows.
  • Put skid-proof pads underneath all rugs.
  • When grocery shopping, use the safety strap to buckle your child into the seat, and remain close to the cart at all times.
  • Keep a close eye on your child when they are climbing on furniture or at the playground so you can react quickly in case of a fall.

Choking

This age group is particularly susceptible to choking because so many things - both foods and non-foods - go into their mouths. The following are some key tips for preventing your child from choking:
  • Until age 4 avoid foods that can block the airways such as: peanut butter, hot dogs, popcorn, whole grapes, raw carrots, raisins, nuts, hard candies or toffees, and chewing gum.
  • Provide safe finger foods such as bananas, well-cooked pasta and vegetables, o-shaped low-sugar cereals (such as Cheerios).
  • Keep items such as coins, buttons, balloons, safety pins, barrettes, and rocks out of your child's reach.
  • Follow age recommendations on toys, especially those with small parts, and make sure toys are in good repair.
  • Be vigilant. Small children put many things in their mouths. A watchful adult is often the best defense.

Other

  • When riding in a vehicle, your child should be restrained in a safety seat appropriate for his/her size and age.
  • Childproof your home and practice standard home safety tips.
  • Never leave your child alone in or near water. Small children can drown even in very shallow water, such as the bathtub, wading pool or toilet.
  • Children should wash their hands frequently, especially after playing outside. Kids this age still put their hands and other objects into their mouths often, and this is the chief way of transmitting colds and viruses.
  • Outside play should always be supervised by an adult.
  • School-Age Safety
  •  TipsEver since he or she uttered that first "no!" and took his or her first clumsy step away from your loving arms, your child has been striving for independence. Heading off to school is a significant milestone in that pursuit. While your child no longer needs a parent's watchful eye over every movement, he or she is still depending on you to provide a safe environment and guidelines for his or her growing independence.
    Protect your school-age child (age 5-12):
  • Make sure your child is aware of "stranger danger" and knows the difference between "good touch" and "bad touch."

  • Teenage Safety Tips


  • The teenage years are a wonderful, yet tumultuous time in every life–kids and parents included! Your son or daughter is on the brink of adulthood, but is still a child in many ways. While it seems that so many elements of his/her life are out of your control, the truth is, there are many things you can do to safely steer your teen through these years.
    The following is information and tips for keeping your teen safe through some of the more common dangers
  • The facts are startling. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of injury and death among people aged 1-34 in the United States. While preventing an accident is not always possible, we can take measures to significantly decrease the chance and severity of injury to ourselves and our children.
    The following tips have proved invaluable in preventing serious injury and even death:
    • Always wear a seatbelt. Even in vehicles equipped with airbags, nothing can replace the effectiveness of wearing a seatbelt.
    • Make sure your child is restrained in a child safety seat, suitable to his or her size and age.
    • Children under the age of 12 should always ride in the back seat.
    • Teenage/new drivers should be well-informed of safe driving practices.


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