Pediatric SafetyPediatric Safety

Keeping children safe will prevent Keeping children safe will prevent injuries and prevent the need for injuries and prevent the need for rescue.rescue.

““An ounce of prevention is worth An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”a pound of cure.”

Ben FranklinBen Franklin

AHA Association AHA Association Safety ChecklistSafety ChecklistThe safety list was designed to keep the The safety list was designed to keep the

home and work environment as safe home and work environment as safe as possible for infants and children.as possible for infants and children.

Car SafetyCar Safety General Indoor SafetyGeneral Indoor Safety Kitchen SafetyKitchen Safety Bathroom SafetyBathroom Safety Fire ArmsFire Arms Outdoor SafetyOutdoor Safety

Car Safety Car Safety

Every person wears a seat belt.Every person wears a seat belt. Children 12 and younger sit in the Children 12 and younger sit in the

back seat.back seat. Use a rear facing safety seat for Use a rear facing safety seat for

infants weighing less than 20 infants weighing less than 20 pounds.pounds.

Use a booster seat for children Use a booster seat for children weighing 40-80 pounds and for weighing 40-80 pounds and for children less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.children less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

General Indoor SafetyGeneral Indoor Safety

Place emergency phone numbers near or on Place emergency phone numbers near or on the telephone.the telephone.

Install smoke detectors on the ceiling in the Install smoke detectors on the ceiling in the hallway outside sleeping areas and on each hallway outside sleeping areas and on each floor of your home. Check monthly and floor of your home. Check monthly and replace the batteries twice a year.replace the batteries twice a year.

Ensure there are two unobstructed emergency Ensure there are two unobstructed emergency exits.exits.

Develop and practice a fire escape plan.Develop and practice a fire escape plan. Ensure that working fire extinguishers are on Ensure that working fire extinguishers are on

the premises.the premises. Ensure that electrical cords are not frayed or Ensure that electrical cords are not frayed or

overloaded, and placed out of children’s reach.overloaded, and placed out of children’s reach.

General Indoor SafetyGeneral Indoor Safety

Install “shock stops” or outlet covers Install “shock stops” or outlet covers on all electric outlets.on all electric outlets.

Prevent falls by keeping one hand on Prevent falls by keeping one hand on the infant while they are on high the infant while they are on high surfaces like changing tables.surfaces like changing tables.

Position healthy full-term infants on Position healthy full-term infants on their back to sleep.their back to sleep.

Be sure the crib is safe with no more Be sure the crib is safe with no more than 2 fingers between the mattress than 2 fingers between the mattress and crib railing and no more than 2 and crib railing and no more than 2 and 3/8 inches between crib slats.and 3/8 inches between crib slats.

General indoor SafetyGeneral indoor Safety

Check the strength of stairs, railings, Check the strength of stairs, railings, porches, and balconies.porches, and balconies.

Light hallways and stairs to prevent falls.Light hallways and stairs to prevent falls. Use toddler gates at the top and bottom of Use toddler gates at the top and bottom of

stairs.stairs. Do Do not not use infant walkers.use infant walkers. Store medicines and vitamins out of reach of Store medicines and vitamins out of reach of

children in child-resistant containers.children in child-resistant containers. Store cleaning products out of reach and out Store cleaning products out of reach and out

of sight.of sight. Install safety latches or locks on cabinets that Install safety latches or locks on cabinets that

contain potentially dangerous items.contain potentially dangerous items.

Kitchen SafetyKitchen Safety

Minimize the risk of burns, keep Minimize the risk of burns, keep hot liquids, foods, and cooking hot liquids, foods, and cooking utensils out of a child’s reach.utensils out of a child’s reach.

Keep foods and all small items Keep foods and all small items away from the child. (test toys away from the child. (test toys with a toilet paper roll)with a toilet paper roll)

Keep knives and other sharp Keep knives and other sharp objects out of a child’s reach.objects out of a child’s reach.

Bathroom SafetyBathroom Safety

Bath children in 1-2 inches of water. Bath children in 1-2 inches of water. Stay with infants and young children.Stay with infants and young children.

Use skidproof mats or stickers in Use skidproof mats or stickers in bathtub.bathtub.

Adjust the temperature on the water Adjust the temperature on the water heater to 120heater to 120o-o-130130o o F.F.

Keep electrical appliances out of the Keep electrical appliances out of the bathroom. Use GFI outlets near bathroom. Use GFI outlets near water.water.

FirearmsFirearms

Firearms should be locked and Firearms should be locked and inaccessible to children.inaccessible to children.

Store guns locked and unloaded, Store guns locked and unloaded, and store ammunition separately.and store ammunition separately.

Outdoor SafetyOutdoor Safety

Be sure that the childBe sure that the child knows the rules of safe bicycling.knows the rules of safe bicycling. is properly protected when roller is properly protected when roller

skating or skateboarding.skating or skateboarding. is properly protected while is properly protected while

participating in contact sports.participating in contact sports. Wears helmets and protective Wears helmets and protective

equipment that fits properly.equipment that fits properly.

Outdoor safetyOutdoor safety

Reduce the risk of animal bites by Reduce the risk of animal bites by teaching children how to handle teaching children how to handle pets and to avoid unfamiliar pets and to avoid unfamiliar animals.animals.

Home pools should be totally Home pools should be totally enclosed with a fence five feet tall enclosed with a fence five feet tall and self-closing/self-latching gates. and self-closing/self-latching gates. Alarm systems are also available.Alarm systems are also available.

An ounce of An ounce of prevention….prevention….

ResourceResource

Download a complete copy of the Download a complete copy of the American Heart Association American Heart Association Pediatric Safety ChecklistPediatric Safety Checklist

http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1053558311665Pediatric_Safety_Checklist.pdf1053558311665Pediatric_Safety_Checklist.pdf