Home Safety Practices A guide for pediatric safety By Vanessa Almaraz, Jacqueline Chua, Steven Hendrickx, Ani Khachatryan, Jarleny Munoz and Lindsey Santos
Table of Contents Pool Safety………………………………………………………………………..3 Stair Safety……………………………………………………………………....4 Window Safety…………………………………………………………………..5 Burn Prevention & First Aid…………………………………………….....6 Sleep Safety and Suffocation……………………………………………….8 Poison Safety………………………………………………………………….....9 Gun Safety……………………………………………………………………….11 Choking Prevention in the Home for Pediatrics…………………….12 Sun Safety……………………………………………………………………….13 Sharps Safety…………………………………………………………………….14 Fire Safety………………………………………………………………………..16 References………………………………………………………………………..18
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Pool Safety Drowning is the number one cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old. Tips for prevention: ● Keep an eye on children when they are around bodies of water ● Provide children with swimming lessons ● Learn how to do cpr ● Make sure swimming pools in the home are gated ● Start slow with babies 3
Stair Safety ● ● ● ● ●
Install hardware mounted gates as soon as a child can crawl Gates should be less than 3 inches from the floor Remove the gate if a child can open it or climb over it keep stairs clear of clutter educate children to use the handrail
A child under 5 is taken to the ER every 6 minutes due to a stair-related injury 4
Window Safety ● all windows should have locks ● install window stops to prevent windows from opening more than 4 inches ● keep furniture away from windows to prevent climbing to the window. ● use window guards on all windows above the 1st floor. ● educate children on window safety.
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Burn prevention ● Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or the manufacturer's recommended setting. ● Check the water with your wrist or elbow before giving your baby a bath. ● Avoid using microwave to heat baby formula or baby milk. ● Keep hot liquids out of reach of children. ● Install barriers such as safety gates around fireplaces, ovens and furnaces ● Use the back burner of your stove and turn pot handles away from the edge. 6
Burn first aid Call 911 if: ● The burn penetrates all layers of skin ● The skin is leathery or charred looking ● The hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned. ● The person is infant
How to treat burns: ● Stop burning immediately ● Remove constrictive clothing immediately ● Cool burn (do not ice it) ● Protect burn with with clean non-adhesive bandage ● Treat the pain ● Contact the doctor if you see signs of infection, like increased pain, redness, swelling, fever, or oozing. Outcome: Mothers will verbalize burn prevention and safety interventions and understanding of how to treat fresh burns 7
Sleep safety and suffocation Unintentional suffocation is the leading cause of injury-related death among children under 1 year of age. Nearly three-quarters of suffocation deaths among infants are from accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed. Babies should always sleep in a safe crib, bassinet or pack-n-play. Lay your baby on his or her back for every sleep. Use a firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet instead of soft and cushioned bedding. ● Do not put any objects in the crib, including stuffed animals and toys. ● Room-sharing is a safer option than having your baby sleep in bed with you. Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort. ● Make sure your baby is not too warm. Instead of a blanket, use light sleeping clothing for your baby such as a one-piece sleeper, if the room is cool. Outcome: Mothers will verbalize safe sleeping habits for their children and demonstrate appropriate child positioning. ● ● ●
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poISON Safety ● Store all medicines and household products up and away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them. ● Do not put your next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them—it only takes seconds for a child to get them. ● If you have to do something else while taking medicine, such as answer the phone, take any young children with you. ● Secure the child safety cap completely every time you use a medicine. ● Never refer to medicine as "candy" or another appealing name. ● Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage. For liquid medicines, use the dosing device that came with the medicine. Never use a kitchen spoon. 9
● Keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order. ● Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries annually ● Install a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas, and keep them at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances ● Do not use a grill, generator or camping stove inside your home, garage or near a window. ● Do not heat your house with a gas oven ● Do not leave cars running in the garage ● Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning - seek prompt medical attention if you suspect co poisoning.
“Each year, more than 2 million people – about half of them under age 6 – swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance” (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017) 10
Gun Safety
Never leave a gun unattended
Moms need to explain and teach
● that real guns are unlike toy guns, or on tv, it can really hurt people. ● never to touch a gun to immediately tell an adult if the see one. ● Store guns in a locked location ● Talk to grandparents and parents of out of the reach and sight of their friends about gun safety and children. proper gun storage. ● Keep the keys and combinations . hidden. ● Make sure all guns are equipped with effective, child resistant gun locks.
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Choking prevention in the home for pediatrics Avoid giving these foods to your toddler ● hard candies ● hot dog ● Popcorn ● Nuts ● Seeds ● whole grapes ● Cheese ● Chewing gum ● Rasins ● Marshmallows ● Rasins
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Safe proof your home Vacuum the floor before putting down your child. Put all medications in the cabinet where it is out of reach from children Start CPR if your child is choking If your child becomes unconscious
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Supervise your child while he or she is eating. DO NOT leave your child alone. Have your child sit down while eating and not walking around If your child is starting to crawl, make sure the floor is clean and free of choking hazard objects such as: ○ Coins ○ Marbles ○ Legos or toys with small parts ○ Balloons that have been inflated ○ Beads ○ Any small items
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Sun Safety The sun's ultraviolet rays can damage the skin within 15 minutes of sun exposure
By avoiding skin damage you can while outside: ● Find shade under a tree or umbrella ● Wear protective clothing such as, long sleeves, and long pants ● Wear a hat that covers ears, face, and back of neck ● Avoid straw hats with holes that lets sunlight go through ● Use sunglasses to protect your eyes. It reduces the risk of cataracts ● Keep in mind you can still get skin damage when it's cloudy ● Limit sun exposure between 10am and 3pm.
HOW TO USE SUNSCREEN
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Use broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Higher numbers indicate more protection. Put on a thick layer Reapply sunscreen if you're out in the sun for more than two hours or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off Make sure you check the expiration date
AVOID TANNING BEDS AND TANNING OUTSIDE. THIS CAN CAUSE SKIN CANCER!!!! 13
Sharps safety Making physical changes around the house is one of the best way to reduce risk of injury when there are young children. One of the ways is to look at the obvious risks and hazards and remove the risk. For example, if there are sharp edges or corners that you can attach corner covers that can be bought at a local store or furniture can be temporarily remove or store elsewhere in the house where children cannot have access to. Other safety precaution that can be done includes: ● ● ●
Changing the layout of the room also can help create a safer environment. 2. Keep knives, forks, scissors, and other sharp utensils in a drawer with safety latch or child safety lock Keep glass objects or household items in cabinets where children cannot reach 14
Sharps safety
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Make sure all mirrors are safety attached and secured to the wall Keep paper shredders out of children’s reach Store appliances with any sharp blades out of reach of small children or in lock drawers If razor is not being use, keep it in a lock cabinet and all extra blade store in safe place with other sharp personal or grooming instrument Store all tools, including gardening and automotive tools in locked containers Make sure all metal outdoor play equipment is free of rust and sharp edges Keep garbage can behind or inside cabinet door with safety latch 15
fire safety
Have a fire escape plan: Escape plan and route will be need to determined. Adults in the house will need to talk about who will help which children out of safety. Practice plan at least 2 times a year. Identify two ways on how to get out of the house: Always have an alternative exit just in case the original exit route is blocked or dangerous to use. Have a clear path to your exits: Clear exit route will help escape easier for children and adults. Make sure all doors and windows are not blocked by furniture so these can be use as escape route. Quick release devices on windows and doors will heal exit from burning house or building easier. Teach children how to dial 911: Children will need to learn on how to call local emergency number
It is very important to always have a fire safety plan whenever there are children in the home. Majority of children at home are not knowledgeable of escape plan or know how to escape unless an adult show them how to. Once fire started, it can get out of control in minutes, that is why it’s always best to have a home fire prevention and plan as early as possible. 16
Candles: never use candles for emergency lighting and think about using battery-operated candles. Always put candle on top of sturdy candleholder. Do not leave burning candle alone. Always keep burning candle 12 inches away from items that can easily burn. Choose a meeting place outside your house: Practicing or fire drill at home will help children on what to do when there are no adults around. Teach the children on never to go back inside a house or building that is on fire. Meeting place should be in area where firefighter can easily see you.
fire safety
Appliances and electrical fire safety: Check electrical cords: Replace any cracked, damaged and loose electrical cords and extension cords. Do not overload extension cords and power strips. Appliances: Make sure refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer should be directly plugged directly into a wall outlet. Clean dryer lint every time dryer is use. Smoke Alarm: Smoke alarm should be put on every sleeping room, replace alarms after 10 years, test smoke alarms once a month, and install interconnected smoke alarm for best protection. Make sure everyone knows the smoke alarm sound and know what to do if they hear it.
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References Better Health Channel. (2017). Child safety – at home. Retrieved on October 31, 2017 from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/child-safety-at-home Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Tips to prevent poisoning. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/poisoning/preventiontips.htm Distro Home. (2017). Home accidents: 7 tips to prevent fires at home. Retrieved on October 31, 2017 from http://www.distrohome.com/home-accidents-7-tips-to-prevent-fires-at-home Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. (2017). Skin ancer. Retrieved November 02, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm Kids Health. (2017). Household safety: preventing cuts. Retrieved on October 31, 2017 from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-cuts.html Nationwide Childrens Hospital. (n.d.). Choking hazard safety. Retrieved November 02, 2017, from http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/choking-hazard-safety Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. (2017). Make safe happen. Retrieved on 10/31/2017 from http://makesafehappen.com/articles/stair-safety-kids The Nemours Foundation (2017). Gun safety. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/gun-safety.html#kha_12 18
References Parent.Guide. (2017). How to baby proof windows in your home. Retrieved on 10/31/2017 from https://parent.guide/how-to-baby-proof-windows/ Poison Prevention and Treatment Tips National Poison Prevention Week. (2017). (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Poison-Preventionand-Treatment-Tips-.aspx Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). Burn prevention for babies. Retrieved from: https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_age/babies-0%E2%80%9312-months/field_risks/burns-and-scalds Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). Gun safety kids. Retrieved from: https://www.safekids.org/tip/gun-safety-tips Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). Sleep safety and suffocation. Retrieved from: https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/sleep-safety Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). Swimming safety tips. Retrieved from https://www.safekids.org/tip/swimming-safety-tips. U.S. Fire Administration. (2017) Keeping kids safe from fire. Retrieved on October 31, 2017 from https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/children.html
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