Safety Tips

Unintentional injury is still the number one killer of America?s children, taking more lives than disease, violence and suicide. In 1999 alone, nearly 6,000 children died from unintentional injuries, and each year more than 14 million children ?? a staggering 1 out of 4 ?? are injured seriously enough to require medical attention.

	Airway Obstruction Airway obstruction injury is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children under age 1. The airway obstruction injury death rate among children ages 14 and under declined 15 percent between 1987 and 1998. However, the airway obstruction injury death rate among children under age 1 has shown no decline in the past decade. Airway obstruction injury is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children in this age group.
	Babies Although your home should be a safe haven for your baby, it can be dangerous. Babies face a list of potential injuries ? including choking, drowning, falls, poisons and burns ? that can overwhelm any parent. Yet each of these risks can be reduced or eliminated by taking simple, time-tested steps.
	Cars Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death. In 1998, 1,765 child occupants ages 14 and under died in motor vehicle crashes, and in 1999 an estimated 272,000 were injured. Even if you're a careful driver, you can't control other drivers' behavior or eliminate the possibility of a crash. You can, though, greatly reduce the risk that your children will be seriously injured or killed.
	Emergency Make sure your children know whom to call in an emergency and what to say. Talk to them about different kinds of emergencies. Point out that fire fighters, ambulance drivers, and police can help them in an emergency. TEACH your children how to get help by using the phone. Practice with a toy phone.
	Falls The death rate from falls among children ages 14 and under declined 28 percent from 1987 to 1998.  However, falls remain the leading cause of unintentional injury for children. Children ages 14 and under account for one-third of all fall-related visits to hospital emergency rooms. More than half of all nonfatal injuries to children are associated with falls.
	Fire Safety Fires can be furious and deadly. Each year, more than 600 children ages 14 and under die, and nearly 47,000 are injured, in fires. Despite a dramatic 56 percent decline in the fire death rate since the National SAFE KIDS Campaign began in 1988, fires remain a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children in the United States.
	Firearms Firearms are a common household risk for children in the United States. Research shows that exposure to guns increases the risk of unintentional and intentional firearm injury to children. There are an estimated 200 million firearms in US homes, including 60 million handguns.
	Firearm Safety Myths Five Myths and the Truth about firearm safety.
	Helmets Nationwide, over 1,000 people die each year from bicycle crashes -- mostly from head injuries. Even a low-speed crash on a bike path can cause serious brain damage. A bike helmet reduces your risk of senous head injury by at least 85 percent in most crashes.
	Pedestrians An estimated 25,000 children are injured in pedestrian incidents involving motor vehicles every year. Worse, child pedestrian injuries are frequently serious or deadly. Between 25 and 50 percent of them require hospital admission, and in 1998 more than 700 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries. Despite recent declines, pedestrian injury remains one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related death among children.
	Poison In 1998 more than 1.1 million unintentional poisonings among children ages 5 and under were reported to U.S. poison control centers. The same year 69 children ages 14 and under died from poisoning incidents.
	Poisonous Plants Everyone likes springtime flowers! But did you know the Daffodil in your backyard could be poisonous to your child? Here is a list of plants in and around your home that should be removed or out of children's reach.
	Scalds Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire, in fact, hot liquids, not fire, are the most common cause of burns to young children. Hot water can cause serious, painful scald burns - quickly.
	Schools/Playgrounds These days when you hear people talk about school safety, they're usually referring to recent violence. However, studies indicate that school-age children are nine times more likely to sustain an unintentional injury than to be the victim of violence while at school.
	Summer Tragedies peak during the summer months (May to August) because children are supervised less, have more free time and engage in more outdoor activities. Don't take a vacation from safety. Close supervision, proper protective gear, and other simple prevention steps will help your child avoid danger.
	Sports The popularity of sports for children has skyrocketed. In turn, sports- and recreation-related injuries are quickly growing. This year, SAFE KIDS and Johnson & Johnson join forces with a powerful new partner, the National Athletic Trainers' Association and its Research & Education Foundation, to enhance and strengthen this year's sports safety program.
	Toddlers The qualities that make toddlers so charming ? mobility, curiosity and a "taste" for discovery ? also put them at risk. Children ages 1 to 4 account for the majority of injuries and deaths in a number of areas, including falls, airway obstruction and drowning.
	Toys Follow these Play Smart Tips to help your children play safe.
	Water Drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death of children. Most drownings and near-drownings happen when a child accidentally falls into a pool or is left alone in the tub.
	Wheels Each year, thousands of children are seriously injured from bike falls and crashes that could have been prevented. Bicycles are vehicles,not toys.
	Wendoll Water Drop In Oregon and the U.S., drowning is the second leading cause of death of 5 to 14 year olds. Most are children untrained, unaware, unsupervised and unprepared. Falling off inner tubes, poor swimming skills, no life jacket and no adult supervision are the major contributors to these fatalities. This information is designed to be fun for kids and to assist you in teaching children the importance of water safety