Safety is everybody’s concern.
Did You Know?
Young children can drown in less than one inch (6,5 cm) of water in seconds.
Some children are burned because they believe clothes protect them from flames.
In a crash at 30 mph, an unbelted child would hit the dashboard with as mush force as a fall from a three-story building.
A child can fall out of a window that is opened only 35 cm.
Drinking mouthwash can cause a child to fall into an alcohol coma.
But most accidents can be predicted and prevented. The fact is, some basic steps can save thousands of children from death, and hundreds of thousands from being disabled for life.
Five leading risk:
Traffic injuries
Drowning
Fires and burns
Choking and poisoning
Falls
Injury prevention is not difficult. It doesn’t coast a lot or take much time. But it does require your attention and some effort. And it’s worth it. Make safety a habit. Think safety and practice safety!
Fire and kids
Everyone is frightened by fire. The reason a large number of kids die in home fire can be explained by their reactions to fire. Adults believe that children will run to or call a parent, or leave a burning building. This is not the case. Children often hide under the beds thinking they are safe from fire. The sound of fire alarm or sirens can scare children. A firefighter appearing in full firefighting gear can appear “monster-like”.
| For adults: | For kids: |
| Install fire alarm outside all sleeping areas; | A. STOP! Don’t run if your clothing catches fire. |
| Teach children what alarm sounds like; | B. DROP! Fall to the ground immediately when on fire. |
| Spend time with children planning exits; | C. ROLL! Roll on the ground to smother the fire. |
| Children will panic if they are not sure what to do; | D. CALL! Call for someone to help you. |
| Teach children to crawl under the smoke; | |
| Teach children to never re-enter a burning building; | |
| Take your children to your local fire station; | |
| Designate an outside meeting place; | |
| Make sure that all know the meeting place and | |
| Go there immediately after leaving the house. |
Real fires are dangerous, no matter how small. If you see a fire, get out and tell an adult.
Hot liquids – not fire – are the most common cause of burns.
Hot water can cause serious, painful scald burns – quickly.
Lower the temperature of your hot eater heater.
Activity:
True or false
Testing a fire alarm’s battery is important…………………………………T F
When a fire detector sounds, I have 10 minutes to get out………………...T F
I will not be able to see clearly in a fire…………………………………....T F
I will be safe if I hide during a fire………………………………………...T F
I will not be able to breath normally in a fire……………………………...T F
Traffic safety
Each year, car crashes injure and kill more than any disease. If used properly, child safety seats and safety belts do protect kids in a crash and help save lives. So no matter how short your way are, make sure everyone in the car is buckled up, including you. Vehicles and bicycles are not toys.
Always wear a bike helmet!
Stop before riding out into traffic from a sidewalk or parking.
Look left, right, and left again.
Ride on the right with traffic.
Obey stop signs and red lights.
Activity:
S t o p b z
H e l m e t
B c i s l k
J s g a t i
K e h f g d
S a t e v s
Y t e f a s
1.stop 2.light 3.helmet 4.safety 5.belt 6.kids
Falls
The home is a minefield of potentially dangerous falls for children of all ages. Falls are the leading cause of hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
Prevent falls from furniture:
Don’t leave kids along on beds, changing tables or sofas.
Always strap children into highchairs and strollers.
Prevent falls down stairs:
Keep stairs well-lit and clear of clutter.
Don’t let children play on stairs.
Use safety gates.
Prevent falls from porches:
Don’t let children play alone on a fire escape, high porch or balcony.
Don’t rely on windows’ screens to prevent falls.
Move chairs and other furniture away from windows
Opened unguarded windows only 30 cm pose a danger to children.
Some ways to teach prevention
Remember: children can’t fly.
Supervise children.
Keep common medicines out of sight and reach of children.
Children know that some poisons smell good, but they don’t know that they have bad taste.
Reinforce what you teach several times. Children don’t learn anything by being told just once.
Relate what you teach to your children’s interest – nobody knows your children better than you.
Keep up to date emergency numbers next to your phone.
Activity:
Fill in this list of numbers. Take it with you whenever you go out.
Ambulance…………………………………………
Police……………………………………………….
Fire…………………………………………………..
Doctor/clinic……………………………………….
Dad’s work………………………………………....
Mum’s work…………………………………………
Neighbors…………………………………………..
Friends………………………………………………