Injury Prevention Tips

Birth to Six Months

• Children are totally dependent on adults to keep them safe.
• Wash your hands! To help protect your baby from infection, wash your hands vigorously with soap and water each time before touching or feeding him, and after changing a diaper.
• To reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), place babies on their backs to sleep. Remove all fluffy pillows, toys and blankets. Make sure the crib mattress fits snuggly against the sides of the crib.
• Don't smoke near your baby. Babies, children and adults who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more susceptible to colds and other diseases, including SIDS.
• Babies need to spend some of their awake-and-alert time on their tummies. This time will give them the opportunity to strengthen muscles in their necks, backs and arms so that they will be strong enough to push up, turn over, creep and crawl. A good rule of thumb is "back to sleep, belly to play."
• Never shake your baby. Shaking, bouncing or spinning a baby can cause blindness, learning disabilities, mental retardation, paralysis, seizures, and even death.
• Newborns are able to wiggle, squirm, scoot, and sometimes turn over. Never leave your baby unattended on any surface higher than the floor. Don't leave him unattended on a bed, couch or chair, even if he's sleeping.
• Before buying or using baby equipment or toys, check to make sure they comply with the standards set by the National Safety Council.  Mail in registrations and warranties, this will allow the manufacturer to notify you in case of a recall.
• Use infant seats with caution; they can tip over easily. When using an infant seat, belt your baby in. And, unless you are holding the seat, place it on the floor. Babies should ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of vehicles.  Never put baby in the front seat of a car with a passenger air bag. Have the car seat checked for proper installation by a certified car seat technician.
  • Never hold a child on your lap or in your arms in the front seat. In a crash, the child could be crushed by the dashboard or by the force of an air bag.
  • Tray-shield convertible safety seats are not the safest choice for a newborn baby.
  • Don't buy head-support padding or place anything under your baby in the car seat. Thick padding can cause slack in the harness, and your child will not be as secure in a crash. To support your baby's head during the first few months, place a rolled towel or receiving blanket on each side of his or her head.
• Avoid burns. Babies have thin skin and any burn can be serious.
  • Set the hot water thermostat at 120 degrees.
  • Do not warm a bottle in the microwave. Microwaves do not heat evenly, so some of the formula may be just room temperature and some may be hot enough to burn your baby's mouth.
  • If a baby gets burned, hold the burned area under cool tap water; don't put any butter, oil or other ointments on burns. Call your pediatrician.
• Be Sun Safe.  Protect your baby from the sun!  Hats, clothing, sunglasses and shade help.  Avoid the sun, when possible, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  On hot days, breastfeed more frequently; or if you bottle feed, give your baby water in addition to his regular feedings to keep him/her hydrated. 
• Your baby can drown in just two inches of water. Turn buckets and pails upside down. Close toilet seat lids. Never leave babies alone in the bathtub.

Six Months to One Year

• Childproof your home!  Your child will start to crawl/walk/grab/put things into his/her mouth.
• Use gates on stairways and doors. 
• Mount any large shelves and dressers to wall.
• Children can suffer serious head injuries falling from shopping carts, tables and chairs. 
• Make sure blinds do not have long strings that a baby could wrap around his/her neck.
• Be sun safe.  Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF 15 to your child while in the sun and be sure to reapply frequently. Have your child wear hats, clothing, and sunglasses. Avoid the sun, when possible, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and drink plenty of water. 
• To prevent choking, children under the age of four should avoid eating grapes, raw carrots, hard candy, hot dogs, spoonfuls of peanut butter or other small, hard pieces of food.
• Babies must ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of a car until they are at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds.  The back seat is the safest place for any child to ride in a car.

Injury Prevention 1 to 2 years

• Children at this age need constant supervision! Your child can run, climb, jump, open doors/cabinets, doesn't understand/remember what danger means, what hot means, what poison means, what drowning means. 

Poison Prevention:  Lock up all toxic cleaners/substances.  Leave in original container.  Do not leave medications in your purse.  Use safety caps.  Look for non-toxic household products to use.  Keep bottle of syrup of ipecac on hand, only use if poison control center has instructed you to use it.

• To prevent choking, children under the age of four should avoid eating grapes, raw carrots, hard candy, hot dogs, spoonfuls of peanut butter or other small, hard pieces of food.
• Children over one year old AND 20 pounds can be placed in a forward-facing car seat with a harness in the back seat.  The back seat is the safest place for any child to ride in a car.
• If you have a pool, have a self-latching gate, a fence that is   five feet tall surrounding the pool. and the spaces between the slats should be three inches or less.   If your child is missing, always check the pool first.  Children can drown in any standing water including just two inches of water.  Turn buckets and pails upside down.  Always close the toilet seat.  Never leave children alone in the bathtub.
• Be sun safe.  Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF 15 to your child while in the sun and be sure to reapply frequently. Have your child wear hats, clothing, and sunglasses. Avoid the sun, when possible, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and drink plenty of water. 
• Avoid burns.  Babies have thin skin and any burn can be serious.  Set the hot water thermostat at 120 degrees.  If a baby gets burned, hold burned area under cool tap water.  Don't put any butter, oil or other ointments on burns.  Call the pediatrician.

Injury Prevention 2 to 5 years

• Children begin to explore more and still need constant supervision.  Many accidents occur because parents/caregivers aren't aware of how much a child this age can do. 
• A child three years of age is strong enough to pull the trigger of a gun.  Lock up all firearms and ammunition separately.
• Children over one year old and between 20 and 40 pounds can be in forward-facing car seat in the back seat.  Children between 40 and 80 pounds (usually four to eight years old) need booster seats.  Booster seats make lap and shoulder belts fit correctly.  The back seat is the safest place for any child to ride in a car.
• If you have a pool, think about swim lessons after age three. Be sure to have a self-latching gate, a fence surrounding the pool that is   five feet tall, and the space between the slats is three inches or less. If your child is missing, always check the pool first.
• Lock up all toxic cleaners/substances
  • Leave in original container. 
  • Do not leave medications in your purse. 
  • Use safety caps. 
  • Look for non-toxic household products to use. 
  •  Keep bottle of syrup of ipecac on hand, only use if poison control center has instructed you to use it.
• Children should avoid (under the age of four) eating grapes, raw carrots, hard candy, hot dogs, spoonfuls of peanut butter or other small, hard pieces of food, to prevent choking
• Avoid burns! 
  • Children have thin skin and any burn can be serious.  If your child gets burned, hold burned area under cool tap water; don't put any butter, oil, or other ointments on burns. Set the hot water thermostat at 120 degrees.
  • Teach your child not to play with matches or lighters. 
  • Check smoke detectors each month. 
  • Use your child's day of birth to remember when to change the batteries.
• Be sun safe
  • Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF 15 to your child while in the sun and be sure to reapply frequently.
  • Have your child wear hats, clothing, and sunglasses. Avoid the sun, when possible, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and drink plenty of water

Injury Prevention 5 to 10 years old

• Children need to wear a helmet whenever they ride a bike, skateboard, scooter or skates.  They should never ride in the street.  Teach children the rules of the road.
• This is a good time to teach your child how to swim. 
  • There are many good programs at public pools. 
  • Don't let your child swim in canals or fast-moving water. 
  • Teach them not to dive into shallow water headfirst.
• When a child is more than 80 pounds and is approximately 4'9", he/she can fit correctly in lap/shoulder belts. 
  • If your child is sitting in the front seat, move the seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.
• Teach your child not to play with matches or lighters. 
• Check fire detectors each month; use your child's day of birth to remember when to change the batteries.
• Sports Safety
  • Make sure your child wears all the protective gear.  Never encourage you child to "work through the pain." 
  • Being active decreases the risk of Diabetes and increases self-esteem.
• Gun Safety:  keep all firearms and ammunition locked up!
• Be sun safe 
  • Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF 15 to your child while in the sun and be sure to reapply frequently.
  • Have your child wear hats, clothing, and sunglasses. Avoid the sun, when possible, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and drink plenty of water

Injury Prevention 10 to 15 years

• Home Alone: Your child may be "too old" for a babysitter but still need adult "backup." 
  • Set clear limits for home-alone activities, visitors, answering the phone/door, using the stove, etc. 
  • Make certain your child has a trusted neighbor or adult he can call when he/she needs advice or help.
  • Know your child's maturity level:  Don't set him up for disaster by expecting him to be responsible for younger siblings before he/she is ready.
• Sports:
  • Make sure children wear protective gear.
  • Never encourage children to "work through the pain."
  • Encourage helmets for in-line skating, skateboarding and cycling.
  • Being active decreases the risk of Diabetes and increases self-esteem.
• Guns:  keep all firearms and ammunition locked up. If your child is depressed, get the guns out of the house!
• Be sun safe
  • Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF 15 to your child while in the sun and be sure to reapply frequently.
  • Have your child wear hats, clothing, and sunglasses.
  • Avoid the sun, when possible, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and drink plenty of water
• Drug use: Talk to children about the choices they will need to make about drugs and alcohol.
• Depression: Watch your child for signs of confusion, depression, withdraw, fear or other personality changes that may need your attention or professional help.
  Make sure everyone wears a seat belt in the car.

Injury Prevention 15 to 17 years

• Learning to Drive:
  • Wear your seat belt.
  • Do not ride in the back of a pick-up truck.
  • Don't drink and drive. 
• Sports:
  • Wear protective gear.
  • Don't try to work/play through pain. 
  • Being active decreases the risk of Diabetes and increases self-esteem.
• Guns:  keep all firearms and ammunition locked up. 
  • PARENTS - if your child is depressed, get the guns out of the house
• Water Safety: Water-related activities mixed with alcohol can be deadly.  Never dive head first into shallow water.
• Sex
  • Get the facts from a reliable source, preferably your parents. Many sexually transmitted diseases have no cure (AIDS, Herpes). Arizona ranks one of the highest in the U.S. for unwanted teenage pregnancy.
• Depression: If you experience a loss of energy, sleeplessness, anxiety, loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy, talk to a trusted adult - seek help.
  • Avoid experimenting with drugs or alcohol (self medicating). 
  • Mood swings are common at your age.
• Tattooing and Body Piercing: The medical professionals at TSMC do not recommend any tattooing or body piercing and serious complications and infections may occur. What you need to know:
  • You will be unable to donate blood for one year after tattooing/piercing.
  • Reactions to dyes can happen years later.
  • Make sure all needles/ink are wrapped and sterile.
  • Tongue rings can create hazards and even block your airway if first aid is needed.