Burns and car accidents are the leading cause of death for children under 5, and more than 75 percent of children’s injuries occur at home. It’s important to know the safety tips to prevent injuries at home, and it’s important to know basic first aid so you can minimize your child’s injuries and pain while you’re waiting for paramedics to arrive. Teach your children when and how to dial 911 if they are old enough. Also, it’s very important to take a CPR class if there is a child in your family or if you are a caretaker. Here is a guide to get you started. Burns: Burns are a major cause of children’s injuries in children under 5. Children’s skin is extremely sensitive and subject to infection, so even extremely hot food can cause injuries. · Make sure to warn your child of all potential burn hazards in the home. · Keep all hot items and food out of reach. · Make sure pot handles do not overhang the stove, making it easy for small children to reach up and grab them. · If a child receives a burn injury, cool burns with water, never ice. Don’t break blisters; these are what are vulnerable to infection. · Call your doctor immediately. Car accidents: The majority of children who are seriously injured or die in car accidents were riding in a car that was speeding.
- Use proper seat devices, whether car seats, booster seats or seatbelts alone, for your children.
- Never speed.
- Obey all traffic rules.
- Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Drowning: More than 900 children die each year during drowning accidents, and the majority of them were under supervision when it happened. The annual cost of drowning injury exceeds $6 billion.
- Warn your children of drowning dangers.
- Keep floatation devices handy near all water hazards.
- Adequately supervise; don’t be on the phone, reading a book or watching TV while children are playing in or near water.
- Put a fence around any pools or ponds. Also, if you live next to a family with children, know that you are liable if their child is injured on your property, according to Attractive Nuisance Doctrine.
- Remember that small children can drown in as little as one inch of water. Bathtubs are often the most dangerous drowning hazards.
- The majority of children who survive are found less that two minutes into drowning.
- Perform CPR on children who are unconscious.
Choking: Choking can occur at any age, although it is most common in infants.
- Avoid feeding infants hard food such as nuts or candy.
- Be aware of small items on the floor that the baby might put in his or her mouth.
- Buy age-appropriate toys.
- In children older than 1 year old, perform the Heimlich maneuver.
- In children younger than 1, hold the baby on his or her stomach on your arm, face pointing down towards the ground.
- Kneel down and rest your arm (the one holding the baby) on your leg.
- With your free hand, give a series of five sharp yet gentle blows to the middle of the infant’s back, between the shoulder blades.
- Turn the baby over so his or her back is against your leg.
- With two fingers, thrust sharply but gently on the center of the baby’s breastbone.
- Repeat until the item is dislodged. You might even be able to see the item in the baby’s throat and sweep it out with your finger. Be careful not to push it down further.
- If the baby is unconscious, after one round of sharp blows to the back, tilt the baby’s head back and give two gentle breaths, with your mouth covering his or her mouth and nose regions.
- Continue this, as well as CPR techniques, until the child is breathing. During this, call 911 or have someone else do it for you.
Fires: Make sure to talk about what to do in the event of a fire, and practice weekly. Have escape routes planned out.
- Teach your children when and how to evacuate.
- Teach them the “stop, drop and roll” technique.
- Make sure they stay low to the ground if there is a lot of smoke.
- Make sure fire alarms are functioning and properly installed.
- Consider having a fire extinguisher.
If any of your child’s injuries were caused by someone’s neglect and the injuries were preventable, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.
