Child Safety Maria Bernal, Gary Brown, Melissa Lampe, Lindsay Ortega, David Pichardo, Shauna Pries, & Elizabeth Saunders California State University, San Marcos School of Nursing Community Health Nursing Nursing 440 Dr. Jason Saude November 4, 2016
Poison Control • •
What does poisonous mean? Medicines, vitamins and minerals, cleaning, car, and gardening products, insecticides, cosmetics, batteries, arts and crafts materials, and plants. Any substance is toxic or poisonous if it can cause ANY negative symptom, even if only a mild rash.
How can you prevent poisonings? Medicine:
● Never tell a child medicine is candy ● Use child resistant covers ● Store medicine in locked cabinet ● Measure all medicine doses carefully ● Do not take medicine in front of children
Household products:
● Keep products in original containers ● Keep in locked cabinets ● Select packaging with child safety feature ● Return product to locked cabinet immediately after use. ● Don’t leave a child unattended with household chemicals present
Plants:
● Know what plants you have in your home and if they are poisonous ● Keep all plants out of children’s reach ● Teach children not to put plants parts in their mouths
Call the Poison Control Center hotline for all poison emergencies at 1-800-222-1222 or call 911
Image retrieved from http://www.calpoison.org/public/home.html
Medication Safety -
Put all medicine up and away and out of sight and keep childproof caps on the container. Consider products you might not think about as medicine. (vitamins, diaper rash creams, eye drops and even hand sanitizer)
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Check the medication label and read the expiration dates.
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Some medications often have multiple medications mixed together in one bottle. Remember simple, single medications are usually best to avoid confusion.
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Only use the dosing device that comes with the medicine. Save the Poison Help line in your phone: 1-800-2221222.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are an estimated 53,000 children under 5 years old who are brought to emergency departments each year because of unsupervised ingestions. (cdc.gov)
Firearm Safety In the United States, one out of three households have guns and firearms are a potential safety hazard for children. Talk to children about gun safety and consequences. Parents should have ammunition and gun locked at different locations. In addition, cleaning supplies for guns can be poisonous and should be locked away from children. If an adult is cleaning or handling a gun, the firearm should never be left unattended. If children are visiting the house of a gun owner, the parents should be aware of any possible safety concerns.
Electrical Safety According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2016), most toddlers and young children who experience electrical shock injuries do so from biting cords or placing metal items into unprotected outlets. Ensuring that your home is safe is the best way to prevent these types of injuries.
Prevention Tips • • • • • • • •
Cover all outlets accessible to little hands Make sure wires are insulated and no fraying or missing parts are present Tuck wires and cords out of reach Do not overload power strips and outlets • Protect power cords with power cord protectors Make sure electrical toys are in well working condition • Throw away any toy that becomes hot, smells unusual or sparks Don’t run electrical wires under movable carpets Make sure children are supervised in areas of potential electrical hazard Teach children not to pull cords from electrical outlets from an early age Image retrieved from: http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/lightbulb-thinking-clipart
Fire Safety Image retrieved from: https://conspiracychannel.net/shows/feet-to-the-fire/
According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA, 2016) most children who die in fires live in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. Following these recommendations from the USFA can help save your child's life in an emergency.
Smoke Alarms
● Should be on every level of your home and in every bedroom ● Should not be older than 10 years old ● Check to make sure they are working every month ● Change the batteries once a year- if your alarm is “chirping” it is time to change the batteries
Have an Escape Plan ● Have a plan for kids who can’t get outside by themselves ● Practice your escape plan twice a year ● Know two ways out of every room
Keep Curious Hands Away from Danger ● Keep lighters and smoking materials away from children at all times ● Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from your child's bed ● Use fireplace gates
Image retrieved from: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/fief/up_in_smoke_parents_brochure.pdf
Bicycle Safety The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the U.S. in 2013 saw over 900 bicycle related deaths and emergency departments saw an estimated 494,000 bicyclerelated injuries (cdc.gov). Safe Riding Tip for Kids (nhtsa.gov)
● Helmet Fit. Helmets should not be loose and should secure under the chin with a strap. ● Bike Size. Your feet should reach the ground from the seat when stopped. ● Safety Check. Make sure tires are inflated, reflectors are present, and brakes work before riding. ● Be Seen. Wear bright colors and reflective tape when riding. Cars may not see you even if you see them. ● In Control. Always ride with your hands on the handle bars. Carry things in a backpack or basket. ● Look Out. Watch the road for hazards like potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. Image retrieved from: http://www.fairview.org/fv/groups/public/documents/images/157704.jpg ● Daylight. Avoid riding your bike at night; you are
Choking Safety • • •
Food accounts for over 50% of choking episodes. Cut food into pieces smaller than ½ an inch. Children should sit while they are eating. They can choke while running, playing or lying down with food in their mouth. • Keep your kitchen counter tops free from small items. • DIAL 911 for EMERGENCY HELP for any choking person Avoid the following foods if your child is younger than 4 years old: Hot Dogs Nuts and Seeds Chunks of Meat or Cheese Whole grapes Hard or Sticky Candy
Popcorn Chunks of Peanut Butter Large pieces of raw vegetables Chewing Gum Small hard Candy
Small items children can choke on that should be kept out of reach: Coins, Buttons Refrigerator magnets Toys with small parts that detach Toys that can fully fit in child’s mouth
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Small balls, Marbles Small hair clips, bows, rubberbands Pen or Marker caps Small Button Batteries
If an object can fit into a toilet paper roll it is too small for a child under 4 to have in reach. Check under furniture and between couch cushions for small items that children can find. Toys have age ranges, do not allow your child to play with a toy outside of their age range.
Image retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Responding-to-a-Choking-Emergency.aspx
Dog Safety Children 5 to 9 years old have the highest risk of dog-bite– related injuries and more than half of dog-bite injuries occur at home with dogs that are known (cdc.gov). HOW TO GREET A DOG (akc.org). ● Always ask the dog’s owner if you can pet the dog. ● Wait until the owner says “yes” before petting the dog. ● If the owner says “no”, do not pet the dog. ● Make a closed fist and allow the dog to sniff the back of your hand first (dogs sniff people to learn their scent). ● After the dog has sniffed your hand, pet it gently under the chin or on the chest. WHAT TO DO IF A DOG CHASES YOU (akc.org). ● Stand still like a tree. ● Hold your arms and hands close to your body. ● Look down at your feet. ● Tell an adult when the dog goes away!
Image retrieved from: http://doggonesafe.com/Content/Pictures/Picture.ashx?PicId=251497
Water Safety According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2016), the leading cause of death or injury for children ages 1 to 14 is drowning, and every day there are 3 childhood deaths. Second only to birth defects, drowning kills children ages 1-4 years old more than any other mechanism (CDC, 2016).
SAFETY TIPS
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Learn life-saving skills: swimming basics (floating, treading water, turning onto back) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation Install a fence around the pool: should be 4sided, have a gate with a lock, and be separate from play areas Always ensure there is close supervision DO NOT leave children unattended in bathtubs or near buckets of water • Highest number of infant deaths (Safe Kids Worldwide, 2016)
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Empty all kiddie pools and store them upside down Drownings are PREVENTABLE
(Image retrieved from personal photos)
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Responding to a Choking Emergency. Retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Responding-to-a-Choking-Emergency.aspx American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Electrical shock injuries in children. Retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Electric-Shock.aspx American Kennel Club. (2010). AKC’s Safety Around Dogs. Program for Kids of All Ages. Retrieved from: http://images.akc.org/pdf/PBSAF2.pdf. California Poison Control System. (2016). How can you prevent poisonings? Retrieved from http://www.calpoison.org/public/prevent.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Bicycle Safety. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/bicycle/index.html. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016). Drowning Prevention. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/safechild/drowning/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Medication Safety Program. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/parents_childrenadversedrugevents.html. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Preventing Dog Bites. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/features/dogbite-prevention/index.html National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2006). Kids and Bicycle Safety. Retrieved from: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb. Safety Kids Worldwide. (n.d.). Safety Tips. Retrieved from https://www.safekids.org/medicinesafety Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). Water Safety at Home. Retrieved from https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/water-anddrowning The Nemours Foundation. (2016). Gun Safety for Parents. Retrieved November 02, 2016, from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/gun-safety.html The United States Fire Administration. (2016). Keeping kids safe from fire. Retrieved from: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/children.html