RMHC CO Parent March 2011 final_RMHC Colorado Parent 2/10/11 10:44 AM Page 1
March 2011
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Whether due to an ACL injury from the championship game or an accidental poisoning from a cleaning product, emergency department visits are fairly common among children and adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidental injury is the leading cause of death in children and young adults. While you can’t prevent every bump or bruise, you can learn
ways to reduce the chance your child will be seriously hurt. Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC) at Swedish Medical Center is committed to helping parents and children protect themselves from injuries and accidents. Here are some safety tips to help keep your children safe. >>> continues
Our mountain kids mean Trusted Care for Kids! Learn more at
www.RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com
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Playground Safety
Each year, 500,000 injuries requiring medical attention occur on a playground. Most of these injuries are the result of falls from playground equipment.
Arrive Prepared Adult supervision is a must
✿ Check to make sure your child’s
clothes are tucked in and not a hazard; items that may get caught in the equipment and cause a strangulation risk include hoodies, scarves, loosehanging strings, jewelry, hooks, cords and helmet straps. ✿ Insist that your children wear shoes to
protect feet. ✿ Carry a basic first aid kit with you. ✿ Remove bicycle helmets prior to
playing. ✿ Review and enforce playground rules.
Safety First Inspect the play area
✿ Make sure playground equipment is
age-appropriate. ✿ Check the temperature of the equip-
ment to make sure it is not too hot. ✿ Look for broken equipment, protru-
sions (such as S-hooks and bolts) and sharp points or edges. Also, make sure that equipment is anchored securely. ✿ Make sure the surface around play-
ground equipment is made of wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel or poured-in-place rubber mats. Surface areas made with concrete, asphalt,
grass, blacktop, packed dirt or rocks are not safe for playgrounds. ✿ Ensure that surfaces
around playground equipment are at least 12" deep and extend at least six feet in all directions from play equipment.
Playground Rules Instruct your children in safe play with these simple rules: ✿ Play responsibly; no pushing or rough-
housing while on the equipment. ✿ Take turns; one person at a time on
a swing, slide, monkey bars or other equipment. ✿ Swing safely; remain seated while
swinging, slow down before getting off and don’t walk close to someone swinging. ✿ Slides are for sliding; do not climb up
the front of a slide. ✿ Look first before you jump or slide
and make sure no one is below you.
Poison Safety Each year, more than 1.2 million children ages 5 and under are unintentionally poisoned.
Facts
✿ Children are at a significantly greater
risk than adults for accidental poisoning because they are smaller, have faster metabolic rates and are less able to physically handle toxic chemicals. ✿ 83% of poisonings result from unin-
tentional exposures; substances most frequently involved in accidental poisonings include analgesics, cosmetics/personal care products, cleaning supplies and prescription drugs.
Drugs, Medicines and Vitamins
✿ Keep medicines and
vitamins in their original child-resistant bottles and containers, locked up and out of reach. ✿ Don’t call medicine “candy.” ✿ Avoid taking medicine in front of
children because they often imitate adults. ✿ Exercise caution when
keeping medicine in purses, suitcases and pillboxes as children may be curious.
Household and Chemical Products ✿ Store
household and chemical products locked up, away from food and out of sight of children.
Poison Prevention Week is March 13-19, 2011. One of the themes is “Children Act Fast – ✿ Store all products in their So Do Poisons.” It’s important to reoriginal containers. member that what young kids see and reach, they usually put in their mouths. ✿ Never mix household products together as they may produce As children’s mobility and capabilities inpoisonous gases. crease, they can reach medicines and household products wherever they’re ✿ Don’t leave poisonous products stored. Source: safekids.org unattended.
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First-Aid Kit Checklist A well-stocked first-aid kit is your
first line of defense in treating injuries and scrapes. Keep one in your home, each car and stash one away in your suitcase. Pre-packaged kits can be purchased at drugstores or you can assemble one of your own in a durable, waterproof case (plastic tackle, sewing or art supply boxes work well).
• A well-organized first-aid manual • Sterile gauze pads of different sizes • Adhesive tape
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
Bandages in several sizes An elastic bandage/wrap A splint Antiseptic wipes Antibiotic ointment Antiseptic solution (i.e. hydrogen peroxide) Hydrocortisone cream Pain relievers (i.e. acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen) Tweezers Sharp scissors Disposable instant cold packs Anti-itch cream (i.e. Calamine lotion) Alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol
✿ Turn on a fan and open
windows when using chemical products.
• • • • •
Burn gel or aloe vera A thermometer Plastic non-latex gloves A flashlight and extra batteries A mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross) • Any prescription medications used by your family members • A list of emergency phone numbers • A blanket and a jar of distilled water (stored in your cars)
✿ Call 911 if the person has collapsed, is not breathing or
is having a hard time breathing. If the person is awake and breathing normally, call the Poison Control Center. ✿ Be prepared to provide the person’s weight, age, type
Around the Home
✿ Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Appliances that use gasoline, kerosene, propane, natural gas and wood produce carbon monoxide, which is an odorless gas often called the “silent killer.” Be sure to maintain and check fuelburning appliances annually. ✿ Do not keep your car running in an attached garage as
the carbon monoxide emitted from the automobile can enter your home. ✿ Keep poisonous plants out of reach of children
and pets. ✿ Keep children away from plants and lawns that have
been sprayed with weed killer, bug killer or fertilizer. ✿ Teach children not to put mushrooms, leaves and
berries that grow in the yard in their mouths.
Be Prepared and Calm
✿ Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near
your phone.
Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222
and brand of poison, time of poison exposure and the address where the poisoning occurred when you call. ✿ Stay on the phone and follow instructions from the emer-
gency operator or Poison Control Center.
Window Safety
About 18 children ages 10 and under die annually from falls from windows. Another 4,700 children ages 14 and under require treatment each year for window fall-related injuries. (National Safe Kids Campaign). While some falls occur from windows, it is important to realize that in the event of a fire a window can also save a child’s life by providing a secondary means of escape or rescue.
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AIRLIFE
>>> continued ✿ Make sure landscaping under-
neath windows will help lessen the impact of a fall if one does occur. ✿ Do not underestimate children’s
mobility and or ability to learn how to release safety devices.
The Injury Prevention Team at HealthONE’s Swedish Medical Center
is a leader in community education to help prevent injuries in adults and children. Because of their commitment to preventing injuries and accidents before they happen, this dedicated team has developed the com-
munity’s best resource of injury prevention recommendations. Visit www.swedishhospital.com/ conditions-we-treat/trauma-center/injury-prevention.htm for a complete library of important information for your family.
Window Safety Checklist
✿ Make sure windows are not painted or sealed shut. ✿ Keep windows closed and locked when children are
around. ✿ Do not allow children to play near
windows, balconies and decks. ✿ Install and maintain window and
door safety devices. ✿ Do not consider a window screen to be a
safety device; screens keep bugs out, but don’t keep children in. ✿ Make sure the window safety devices
have emergency release mechanisms in case an emergency escape or rescue is needed. ✿ Don’t install window air conditioner
units in bedroom or other windows that may be needed for escape or rescue in an emergency. ✿ Keep furniture and other climbing
hazards away from windows, balconies and decks.
Sports Safety
Each year, more than 775,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sportsrelated injuries. Most of the injuries result from falls, being struck by an object, collisions and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities. (American Academy of Pediatrics and National Kids Safe Campaign).
Before and During the Game
✿ Get to know the coach. Find out if she/he is a state-
approved coach for the sport and has training in CPR and first-aid. ✿ Make sure your child wears the appropriate safety
gear and equipment for the sport. ✿ Reinforce the importance of warming up and stretching
before playing. ✿ Make sure children are supervised by an adult
at all times. ✿ Keep children hydrated prior to, during and
following athletic activities.
Prevent Overuse Injuries by Following the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines ✿ Limit training to no more than five days a week.
✿ Encourage participation in sports that emphasize
fun, safety, sportsmanship and learning. ✿ Don’t enroll children in organized sports before the
age of five.
Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children and its family of locations in every HealthONE hospital brings trusted experience and proven care to you and your children. For information on parenting, health tips and more, visit www.RockyMountainHospitalForChildren.com. At Swedish Medical Center