| Taking Care of Your Child's Health |
Safety Guidelines |
| Be a role model for your child - have regular check-ups, eat healthy, exercise, and do not smoke. |
Know CPR, care for choking, and first-aid basics. Many organizations, such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association, offer courses in child and infant CPR. |
| Make sure your child has regular check-ups and immunizations. |
Put safety first. Know how to safety proof your home and your child's environment - the best treatment for injuries is prevention. |
| Provide a healthy diet and regular exercise for your child. Helping your child stay healthy and strong may help minimize problems when they do occur. |
Install safety devices in your home such as smoke detectors, handrails, stairway gates, and fire extinguishers. Cover electrical outlets, as needed. |
| Teach your child to wash his/her hands well, especially before meals and after using the toilet. |
Place medicines, cleaners, chemicals, and potential poisons out of your child's reach. Install safety locks on cabinets that contain dangerous or sharp items. |
| Never leave a baby or young child alone - not even for a moment. |
Develop a fire escape plan and make sure each family member knows what to do in case of fire. |
| Put babies to sleep on their backs or sides until they can turn over by themselves. |
If you must keep a gun in the home, make sure it is unloaded and store it in a locked cabinet. Lock ammunition in a separate place. |
| Supervise your child and make sure he/she takes part in age-appropriate activities. |
Wear your seat belts and make sure your child uses an approved car safety seat or seat belt that has been installed properly. |
| Help your child to learn how to handle anger and stress in appropriate ways. |
Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy, including your local emergency medical services (EMS), your child's physician or healthcare provider, police, and fire departments, and your local poison center. |
| Learn about your child's school, friends, and environment. Be on the look-out for unsafe behaviors and be ready to intervene if they occur. |
Teach your child how to dial 911 or your local EMS system in case of an emergency. |
| Teach your child how to be safe - at home, at school, and with play and sports activities. |
Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit handy at home and in the car. |
| Make sure sitters and other childcare providers know the appropriate safety and first-aid measures to take in the event of an emergency. |
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