September Means Safety
Parents – you don’t need me to tell you that babies are always curious. Being new to the world, and their body, who can blame them? As a father of three, I know firsthand the relentless curiosity inherent in children.
With this insatiable curiosity and tireless exploration comes the potential for a whole myriad of accidents. Baby Safety Month serves as a reminder to do some exploring of your own to make certain your child’s environment is secure and “explorer” proof.
Consider the following tips about ensuring your child’s safety.
- Beware of in-home drowning. Many parents are aware of the hazards that swimming pools pose, but may overlook other drowning threats within the home. Bathtubs, spas, hot tubs, water buckets and other liquid containers pose as threats. Ensure all drowning hazards are properly secure for your child’s safety.
- Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. One of the most effective ways to prevent SIDS is to always put your child to sleep on their back. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is a five times greater chance of SIDS when a child sleeps on their stomach.
- Beware of tip-over dangers. A threat this often overlooked, but is very real, is tip-overs. Appliances, furniture and TV’s can all be pulled or tipped-over, causing injuries to children. Put all cords out of reach and secure furniture so that it does not have the chance of tipping over or falling when pulled or ran into.
- Beware of curtain cords. Never place an infant or their crib near cords for blinds or curtains. They pose significant strangulation risks.
- Crib safety and setup. With record crib recalls in the past few years, it is important to check your child’s crib to make sure it is not a part of a safety recall. Also, check to see that the crib or playpen has been assembled correctly and safely.
As a father, I understand the joys that babies can bring. I also know that this list of tips could have been infinite. I just hope that it can serve as a reminder to avoid the many safety hazards that injure or kill children every year. Use this month as a chance to reflect on the safety of your child’s environment. Have a happy and SAFE September.
Category: In The News
