Keeping children from injuries and hazards.

Keeping children safe involves removing hazards from their environment and using protective safety equipment to prevent or minimize injuries from accidents. Unintentional injury is a serious threat to children as these 1991 statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics illustrate: each year approximately 7,250 children are killed and another 50,000 are permanently disabled from injuries that could have been prevented. Parents, caregivers, and school personnel should continually monitor the indoor and outdoor environments for safety and should teach children about safety practices.

Safety at Home

Every room in the house may feature hazards for infants, toddlers, and young children. Parents should begin childproofing as soon as their infant is able to sit and roll, so that by the time he or she is crawling, their home environment will be welcoming and safe. By looking at each room with an eye for potential hazards, parents...