{"id":329,"date":"2019-07-30T21:15:21","date_gmt":"2019-07-30T21:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-childdevelopment\/?post_type=chapter&p=329"},"modified":"2019-08-19T15:29:44","modified_gmt":"2019-08-19T15:29:44","slug":"focus-on-safety-prevention-for-youth","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-childdevelopment\/chapter\/focus-on-safety-prevention-for-youth\/","title":{"raw":"Focus on Safety Prevention for Youth","rendered":"Focus on Safety Prevention for Youth"},"content":{"raw":"

Focus on Safety Prevention for Youth<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAlthough most people in the United States die of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer, we need to address the fact that the leading cause of death for children is unintentional injuries.\u00a0 Being aware is the first step in preventing injuries.\r\n

Road Traffic Safety<\/h3>\r\nEvery hour, nearly 150 children between ages 0 and 19 are treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes. More children ages 5 to 19 die from crash-related injuries than from any other type of injury.\r\n\r\nThankfully, parents and caregivers can play a key role in protecting the children they love from road traffic injuries. Using the correct car seat or booster seat can be a lifesaver:\u00a0 make sure your child is always buckled in an age- and size- appropriate car seat or booster seat.\r\n

Key Prevention Tips<\/h3>\r\nInstall and Use Car & Booster Seats Properly<\/strong>\r\n<\/strong>Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat\u2019s owner\u2019s manual or get help installing them from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.\r\n\r\nSeat Children in the Back Seat<\/strong>\r\nBuckle all children aged 12 and under in the back seat.\r\n\r\nDon't Seat Children in Front of an Airbag<\/strong>\r\n<\/strong>Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an air bag.\r\n\r\nSeat Children in the Middle of the Back Seat<\/strong>\r\n<\/strong>Buckle children in the middle of the back seat when possible, because it is the safest spot in the vehicle.14\r\n\r\nUse Proper Restraints Every Trip<\/strong>\r\n<\/strong>Buckle children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts on every trip, no matter how short.\r\n\r\nParents and Caregivers: Always Wear a Seat Belt<\/strong>\r\n<\/strong>Set a good example by always using a seat belt themselves.\r\n

Additional Tips<\/h3>\r\nSign a Driving Agreement.<\/strong>\r\nIf you\u2019re a parent of a teen who is learning to drive, sign a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement<\/a> with your teen to limit risky driving situations, such as having multiple teen passengers and driving at night.\r\n\r\nHelmets can Help.<\/strong>\r\nChildren should wear an appropriate helmet any time they are on a motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard, scooter, or skates.\r\n

Poisoning Prevention<\/h2>\r\nEvery day, over 300 children in the United States ages 0 to 19 are treated in an emergency department, and two children die, as a result of being poisoned. It\u2019s not just chemicals in your home marked with clear warning labels that can be dangerous to children.\r\n\r\nEveryday items in your home, such as household cleaners and medicines, can be poisonous to children as well. Medication dosing mistakes and unsupervised ingestions are common ways that children are poisoned. Active, curious children will often investigate\u2014and sometimes try to eat or drink\u2014anything that they can get into.\u00a0 Remember that children and pets can be poisoned by the liquids used for vaping.<\/em>\r\n\r\nThankfully, there are ways you can help poison-proof your home and protect the children you love.\r\n\r\n\"Poison<\/strong><\/span>\r\n

Key Prevention Tips<\/h3>\r\nLock them up and away.<\/strong>\r\nKeep medicines and toxic products, such cleaning solutions and detergent pods, in their original packaging where children can\u2019t see or get them.\r\n\r\nKnow the number.<\/strong>\r\nPut the nationwide poison control center phone number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every telephone in your home and program it into your cell phone. Call the poison control center if you think a child has been poisoned but they are awake and alert; they can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and your child has collapsed or is not breathing.\r\n\r\nRead the label.<\/strong>\r\nFollow label directions carefully and read all warnings when giving medicines to children.\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t keep it if you don\u2019t need it.<\/strong>\r\nSafely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs and over the counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. To dispose of medicines, mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter and throw them away. You can also turn them in at a local take-back program or during National Drug Take-Back events.\r\n

Sports Safety<\/h2>\r\nTaking part in sports and recreation activities is an important part of a healthy, physically active lifestyle for kids. But injuries can, and do, occur. More than 2.6 million children 0-19 years old are treated in the emergency department each year for sports and recreation-related injuries.\r\n\r\nThankfully, there are steps that parents can take to help make sure kids stay safe on the field, the court, or wherever they play or participate in sports and recreation activities.\r\n

Key Prevention Tips<\/h3>\r\nGear up.<\/strong> When children are active in sports and recreation, make sure they use the right protective gear for their activity, such as helmets, wrist guards, knee or elbow pads.\r\n\r\nUse the right stuff.<\/strong> Be sure that sports protective equipment is in good condition, fits appropriately and is worn correctly all the time\u2014for example, avoid missing or broken buckles or compressed or worn padding. Poorly fitting equipment may be uncomfortable and may not offer the best protection.\r\n\r\nGet an action plan in place. <\/strong>Be sure your child\u2019s sports program or school has an action plan that includes information on how to teach athletes ways to lower their chances of getting a concussion and other injuries.\r\n\r\nPay attention to temperature.<\/strong> Allow time for child athletes to gradually adjust to hot or humid environments to prevent heat-related injuries or illness. Parents and coaches should pay close attention to make sure that players are hydrated and appropriately dressed.\r\n\r\nBe a good model.<\/strong> Communicate positive safety messages and serve as a model of safe behavior, including wearing a helmet and following the rules.\r\n

Drowning Prevention<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWe all want to keep our children safe and secure and help them live to their full potential. Knowing how to prevent leading causes of child injury, like drowning, is a step toward this goal.\r\n\r\nWhen most of us are enjoying time at the pool or beach, injuries aren\u2019t the first thing on our minds. Yet, drownings are a leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 14, and three children die every day as a result of drowning. In fact, drowning kills more children 1-4 than anything else except birth defects.\r\n\r\nThankfully, parents can play a key role in protecting the children they love from drowning.\r\n

Key Prevention Tips<\/h3>\r\nLearn life-saving skills.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nEveryone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).\r\n\r\nFence it off.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nInstall a four\u2013sided isolation fence, with self\u2013closing and self\u2013latching gates, around backyard swimming pools. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren\u2019t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should completely separate the house and play area from the pool.\r\n\r\nMake life jackets a <\/strong>must<\/strong><\/em>.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nMake sure kids wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim. Life jackets can be used in and around pools for weaker swimmers too.\r\n\r\nBe on the lookout.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWhen kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking on the phone, and using alcohol or drugs.\r\n

Gun Safety<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nFirearms and Children<\/strong>\r\n\r\nParents, professionals and many others are concerned about the large numbers of children and adolescents killed by firearms. In order to prevent further deaths, it is important to remember the following:\r\n\r\n1) We cannot gun-proof our children and adolescents. Children are playful and active. Adolescents are curious and impulsive. Such healthy traits when mixed with guns can cause death.\r\n\r\n2) The best way to protect children against gun violence is to remove all guns from the home. If guns are kept in the home, there will always be danger.\r\n\r\nThe following actions are crucial to lessen the dangers:\r\n