The following information is an excerpt is form the text:

Child Safety is No Accident - A Parents Handbook of Emergencies

by Jay M. Arena M.D.

by Miriam Bachar, M.A.

CHILD SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT

"Accidents are the number one health hazard for children. More than 1/3 of childhood deaths between the ages of one and fourteen are caused by accidents, which kill more than the five leading fatal diseases combined. Accidents are not only the largest single cause of death in children under 15 years of age, but also are the leading cause of disability, permanent or temporary, in those over the age of one year.

How can we reduce the number of accidents and achieve a greater level of safety for our children? As individuals, we can and must take more effective action to assure the safety of our children.

PLAN A SAFE LIVING PATTERN

Before you can begin to do something in a different way, you must take a few minutes to think about how you and your children do things now. Some people are quick and eager to try anything. Others are more deliberate and consider the consequences before acting. Others are unsure and reluctant to consider new things. Life would not be possible if all potentially dangerous events were to disappear. However, some family life styles overprotect children; others unnecessarily expose them to danger.

A safe life style does not mean a total absence of hazards, nor does it mean constant restrictions, limitations, or nagging cautions. A safe life style exists when you are aware of the inevitable hazards in life and, through knowledge and good safety habits, feel that you can cope with them under extraordinary situations.

Appropriate attention to safety by you and your child will strengthen your child's courage and his ability to take risks and enjoy adventures. He will learn to anticipate hazards and to remain in control of his reactions to them. His safety will not be dependent upon external controls but will become a part of his developing life styles.

ATTITUDES ABOUT ACCIDENT PREVENTION

An accident can be sudden, unexpected event which may result in injury or death. It is important, however, to be aware of the fact that accidents are not always due to chance or to events beyond our control. Accidents are complex, often the result of a complicated interrelationship of factors, of which human performance is only one. Within the context of daily living it is possible for you to look at some of the factors which lead to accidents. You can make practical changes in your life style which can result in fewer accidents.

Start with an appreciation of safety which can become a part of your way of life. Regard for safety grows out of deep-seated values and concerns.

An infant continually experiences your complete caring for him. From this care, the child learns gradually to care for himself and for others, and begins to feel that he is worth taking care of. He learns to behave responsibly and safely because he values himself as well as others. To be loved is to be cared about and cared for, to be protected and kept safe. As your child grows in responsibility, he learns that to love or have a friend is also to respect and care about that person's well-being. A commitment to helping your child grow with good safety habits is to instill in him values that encourage independent action-and yet with full respect for the safety of others.

HABITS OF ACCIDENT PREVENTION

Our lives are filled with innumerable efforts to deal with unglamorous events that may be dull and repetitious. We understand and accept the responsibility for the routines needed to avoid and prevent undesirable events; every day we dress to avoid discomfort; eat to avoid hunger; rest to avoid fatigue; build friendships to avoid loneliness. We know that the rewards of such daily repetitive actions are difficult to identify each time. But we do recognize a sense of comfort and well-being which is our motivation for continuing to repeat these actions.

Safety must be understood to require that same motivation. Safety actions must become just as important as those many other routine chores we have learned to accept as contributing to our pleasure and comfort.

You are doing many repetitive things now which prevent injury to the infant you cradle in your arms, supporting his head until his muscles become stronger; the toddler whose hand you hold when crossing the street; the school child you remind to obey his teacher.

Habits of accident prevention should be thought of as normal daily living practices. Until these practices become automatic, a specific review of how you try to avoid accidents and what you child does is needed. In order to change and improve behavior, think about what you are doing now.

STAY IN TUNE WITH YOUR BABY'S WORLD:

Get down on your hands and knees and crawl where he does. You may be amazed at the deadly treasures you can find. What has rolled under the dresser? Have you looked under your couch lately? You may discover nails or exposed springs that are in just the right location to poke into your crawlers eye.

-Never underestimate the rapid rate of a baby's physical, mental and social development.

-Always, be prepared for the unexpected.

-Never leave a baby alone outside the crib or playpen when he is awake.

-Never leave a baby alone when he is in the tub.

-Never leave a baby alone on anything from which he may fall.

-Keep all objects and substances out of reach.

-Toys should never be smaller than the baby's mouth.

-Begin using the word "no" only when necessary, and follow through on what you have said. Be consistent."

The Following information is an excerpt is from the text:

Keeping Your Kids Safe - A Handbook for Caring Parents

Gene Brown 1985. Cloverdale Press

KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE

"You can keep your children safe! Most accidents occur because of carelessness or ignorance. You can minimize both by making your home safe and by teaching your kids what to watch out for, indoors and out.

TEACHING SAFETY

"Protecting an infant or toddler from harm is a one-sided operation: It's all up to you.

But when your child begins to talk and walk, instruction becomes part of the shield that will keep the child safe. At this point, you're offering him not only protection but also the tools with which he will ultimately protect himself."

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE

"Your home is your family's haven. It's the place where everyone feels safe. The best way to keep it safe is to take a regular safety inventory. This means simply checking each part of your house for dangerous objects or practices and, if you find any, deciding what to do about them."

The Following excerpts have been provided by various sources; including professional chilproofers and information in the public domain.

SOME KEY TIPS ON KEEPING SAFETY SERIOUSNESS WITHIN THE HOME

1. Unstable furniture or lamps should be removed, mounted to the wall or blocked off so that your child cannot tip them.

2. Hanging cords from answering machines, telephones, lamps and appliances are a strangulation hazard and should be kept out of reach of your child.

3. Keep VCR's out of reach of babies and young children. Keep a tape in the VCR to prevent little hands from getting inside.

4. Cords to blinds should be lifted high out of reach of your child.

5. Pet doors should be blocked off so your baby does not go through them.

6. Do not use tablecloths, they can be pulled down and everything on top can fall onto your child.

7. A baby must never be unattended anywhere - even for just one minute.

8 . Your garage must be off limits to children.

9. Do not use tacks or staples to secure electrical cords to walls.

10. Have all emergency numbers posted by the telephone.

11. Cover all used or unused electric outlets that are accessible.

12. Knives, tools, pencils and other sharp objects (this includes boxes with serrated edges like plastic wraps) should be locked away or out of reach.

13. Keep plastic bags out of children's reach.

14. Make sure furniture is in good repair and with no sharp corners.

15. Keep walkways and stairwells clear of objects, cords or rugs that could cause tripping.

16. No containers of water should be left accessible to young children (this includes the potty; all toilets should be equipped with a potty lock).

17. Remove two piece door stopper. They pose a potential choking hazard.

18. Keep bedroom doors closed while sleeping.

19. If children sleep in another room, use a monitor to listen for them.

20. If you have a garbage disposal, use a switch blocker to prevent a child from turning it on.

21. Keep wastebaskets covered with childproof lids or put them out of reach.

22. Check china cabinet for stability, most furniture taller than wide poses a tumbling hazard. Use mounting brackets to attach it to the wall.

23. Remove table with glass tops or inserts until children are older.

24. Before bathing your baby, gather all the items you will need and place them within your reach so you are not tempted to leave the child and retrieve something. If you forget something, take your child with you to get it, even if he/she is dripping wet. NEVER TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF A BABY DURING A BATH AND NEVER LEAVE A BABY UNATTENDED DURING BATH TIME.

25. Never leave your child alone in wading or swimming pool, pail of water, toilet of any other body of water.

26. As soon as feasible, teach your child 911, their home area code, phone number, address and your work number.

27. If possible, teach them a few phone numbers ie,,close friend or relative.

28. Use safety gates to keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.

29. Wrap used razor blades/sharp objects in paper towel before disposing of them.

30. Keep small objects like coins, small doll shoes, marbles and paper clips picked up and out of sight.

31. Never give a balloon to a child under three. There have been numerous cases of children choking on balloons.

32. Put away all small objects.

33. Acquire a small object tester.

34. When cooking, all pot handles should be turned in so your baby does not reach up and pull them. If possible, use back burners.

35. Never carry your child and hot items at the same time.

36. Never carry your child while cooking inside or out.

37. Do not use the microwave to heat baby formula.

38. Place hot foods in the center of the table to prevent children from pulling them off onto themselves.

39. Turn your hot water down below 120 degrees to prevent scalding. A candy thermometer can be used to check the temperature of your water. If the water is too hot, it can be turned down at the water heater or Scald safe Devices can be installed.

BABY EQUIPMENT SAFETY

1. Wall hangings should never be put over the crib. If your child pulls it down, nails or glass could fall into the crib.

2. Mobiles should be removed when your child is 5-7 months.

3. The space between crib bars should be no more than 2 3/8 inches. On any side, you should be able to put only two fingers between the mattress and crib frame.

4. Cribs should have no knobs or posts that stick up more than a half inch. Babies may catch their clothes on knobs and choke.

5. Try not to use older cribs that have been repainted. Many of the older paints contained lead, which can cause serious nerve and brain damage. The paint on these items can be tested with a lead test kit.

6. The crib rail should require two movements to be moved down. This ensures that an infant cannot put the rail down.

7. Do not hang toys in the crib. Babies can get tangled.

8. Locate the crib away from windows. Breaking glass and hanging cords from window dressings are dangerous to infants.

9. Keep cribs away from electric outlets. Even if outlets are covered

10. Check often for loose nuts and bolts on cribs.

11. Playpen mesh should have holes less than 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch.

12. If you use a walker never let the child out of your sight. We recommend that you do not use walkers. Walker are generally considered unsafe. Stairs are an extreme hazard where walkers are concerned.

13. Keep high chair far enough away from the wall, table or counters to prevent the child from pushing it over.

SUMMARY

We take safety very seriously and hope that you will too. To this end, we've made available this site and hope that you have found it to be enlightening. We feel that it is far better to be over-protective than to be under-protective! As more information is obtained, we will continue to update this information. Thank you for taking the time to visit and adding to your seriousness on safety.