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Safety & Prevention

Dive Into Water Safety

As summer winds down, there’s still plenty of warm days left to enjoy a cool splash in the water. Whether you have a pool in your backyard, belong to a local swim club, or go to the shore on weekends for a swim in the ocean, water safety is vital to keeping your family safe and happy. Water Safety at Home Having a pool isn’t just fun and games – it’s also a big responsibility. Some safety precautions in your backyard, in the pool, and other places around the house can help prevent water accidents. Install safety features. Put a fence around all four side of a family pool. The fence should be at least four feet tall and have self-closing and self-latching gates. Install and maintain drain covers in a pool or spa to prevent entrapment. Consider installing an alarm to the doors or windows that lead from your house […]

Preventing child from being left in hot cars.

Kids in Hot Cars: Prevention Facts and Tips

As summer temperatures continue to climb, be careful to keep your kids out of hot cars. If a child does get left in a hot car or is accidentally locked in while playing, the consequences can be severe, and even deadly. Never leave your child in a car alone or leave your car unlocked around children, no matter what the temperature outside might be. Cracking the windows will not keep the car cool and even “just a few minutes” is too long. Although it may seem unimaginable for a child to be forgotten in a car, it occurs far too often. So know the facts and try out a few prevention tips to keep this kind of tragedy from affecting your family. The Facts It happens: On average, a child dies every 10 days from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Year after year, children are left in […]

An ATV with a helmet shows the importance of ATV safety

ATV Safety: 7 Injury Prevention Tips

Summer is full of opportunity and adventure for kids who like the outdoors. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are exciting and many kids can’t wait to get off-road and try them out. Although these vehicles may seem like a fun summer activity, they can lead to some serious – even fatal – injuries, especially if you don’t follow ATV safety rules and regulations. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 16 not ride ATVs at all. They say this age group lacks the necessary physical strength, coordination, and judgment to drive an ATV safely in all situations and conditions. Still, despite the risks, many kids are legally able to ride ATVs. Each state has different guidelines and laws about age requirements, many of which allow children under 16 to ride ATVs. But before you let your kiddos hop onto an ATV, know the risks and follow these […]

Toddler touching eating puppy doesn't know how to prevent dog bites

Dog Bites: Take a Paws for Prevention

For so many, dogs are our best friends and trusted companions. Despite how warm and loving they can be, all breeds of dogs are capable of biting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, and more than half of those bites happen at home with a familiar dog. Of those who endure dog bites, more than half are children under the age of 14 and nearly a million require medical attention. Most dogs won’t bite without a reason. A family dog may bite when a new baby is brought home or a child plays too roughly, teases, or startles the dog. A dog you don’t know may bite when approached without taking the proper precautions. Knowing how to prevent dog bites will help keep your family safer this summer — and beyond. […]

Safer Cookouts: 4 Steps to Curb Food Poisoning, Michell Fullmer, RD, LDN, CSP, CNSC | Promise, Powered by Nemours Children's Health System

Safer Cookouts: 4 Steps to Curb Food Poisoning

Picnics and BBQs are a fantastic time for family and friends to get together. And the food is one of the best parts, right? But foodborne illness (often called food poisoning) can strike when you least expect it — and can be very dangerous. Foodborne illness comes from contaminated food or liquids. The most common foods or beverages that spoil easily are: raw or undercooked poultry, eggs, seafood, beef and pork milk untreated water fresh fruits and vegetables — especially if not washed correctly salads — pasta, egg, potato salad, etc. unpasteurized ciders, milk and cheese Who’s Most at Risk for Food Poisoning? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that there are 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year. The people affected are both healthy and unwell (i.e., they have other chronic conditions). However, those with compromised immune systems are more highly susceptible to foodborne illness. For example, […]

Lyme Disease: Facts & Fiction

It’s that time of year again, when kids are (hopefully) outside more than inside. With the warmer weather comes concerns about ticks and Lyme disease. Here’s some information to help you decipher what’s true and false as your family enjoys the great outdoors. Fiction: Lyme disease comes from ticks, so it’s a problem all over the country. Fact: Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which live in certain mammals such as mice, chipmunks and deer. Ticks bite these animals, and then carry the bacteria to humans. Most of the disease is seen in these 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. Your chance of getting Lyme disease in a state other than these is low. Fiction: If I notice a tick on my child, it has probably already transferred Lyme disease to my child. Fact: Actually, ticks […]

Fall Prevention, Powered by Nemours Children's Health System

Preventing Falls: 4 Safety Hot Spots

The world is a jungle gym to little ones. Anything — and everything — can be a mountain to hike, a vine to swing on, or a river to dive into … at least through their eager eyes. But these fun adventures can quickly turn dangerous, even in your own home. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children in the United States, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Although you may joke about keeping your kids in a plastic bubble to keep them from harm, there are more practical ways to make sure they’re safe, inside and outside your home. May is National Trauma Awareness Month, and Safe Kids Worldwide offers these fall prevention tips to keep your kids safe. 1. Inside the Home Use approved safety gates at the tops and bottoms of all staircases. Not all safety gates are intended for use at the tops of stairs, so […]

Top Bike Safety Tips You May Be Overlooking

As the days get longer and warmer, kids will naturally be spending more time outside — many of them on bicycles. Before they ride off, though, take the time to make sure your kids are riding safely and smartly. Dress for Safety Before your kids even leave the house, they should be dressed to ride. The Clothes Dressing for safe bike riding means children should: Most importantly, wear a helmet. Wear brightly-colored clothing so that other vehicles and pedestrians can easily see them coming. Avoid wearing loose clothing that can get caught in the pedals or chains. The Shoes Kids should wear shoes: with grips (like sneakers) with tightly tied laces. If laces are really long, they should be tucked into the shoe so they don’t get caught on the bike that can be snugly fastened on their feet — no flip-flops or slide-on shoes that could fall off or […]

Laundry Pod Dangers, Powered by Nemours Children's Health System

Laundry Pod Poisonings Increasing Despite Safety Warnings

In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, I can really appreciate the small conveniences that are available to make our lives easier…drive-throughs, single-serve coffee makers, even microwave meals. One of the biggest things that make our lives easier is washing machines. They make washing things so much more efficient. Many people would be lost without their washing machines and dishwasher. This is why many homeowners decide to insure their appliances at https://homewarranty.firstam.com/homeowner/home-warranty/michigan. That makes sure that homeowners can receive 24/7 support if their appliances break down. Someone will also come out and take a look at the appliance too. Hopefully, they’ll be able to fix it, allowing us to continue with our washing. But sometimes these little conveniences can carry a danger we never considered, especially when using pods. The laundry (and dishwasher) detergent packets/pods are a great example of what seems to be the perfect modern-day convenience. […]

Super Lice, Really?, Powered by Nemours Children's Health System

Super Lice: Really?

Every few months, some kind of infection sweeps through classrooms, camps and daycare centers — chickenpox, colds, pink eye and ear infections — each taking their turn infecting children. One occurrence, though, seems to send parents into a tailspin when there’s a slightest whisper of the dreaded word — lice. And now, with the appearance of what many are calling super lice — or lice that are resistant to most over-the-counter treatments — parents are more concerned than ever about the little creatures that nest in children’s hair. First and foremost, super lice are still treatable, but instead of the affordable over-the-counter remedies, super lice can be treated with an expensive prescription medication that only some insurance companies will cover. Prevention is the best solution for your child — and your bank account. With all of the tips, tricks and rumors about lice you may have heard, it’s difficult to tell […]

Spring Safety: 5 Quick Tips

Despite its mild beginning, winter definitely packed a punch this year. It’s also kept many families cooped up indoors. If your family is anything like mine, you’re ready to throw open those windows and let spring in. While warm weather is right around the corner, and should have us all running for the nearest park, playground or even the backyard, let’s take a moment to be sure any and all outside activities are done safely and with as little risk for injury as possible. Here are five quick tips to remember. 1. Make sure everyone wears a helmet. A family bike ride, skateboarding, inline skating, scooters and horseback riding are all great ways to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. But all require a well-fitting helmet. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the best way to prevent a brain injury. A helmet fits well if it sits level on the head […]

9 Tips to Help Prevent Poisoning in Kids from the Experts at Nemours Children's Health System

9 Tips to Help Prevent Poisoning

Every year, about 3 million people – many, young children under age 5 – come into contact with poisonous substances. And most poisonings actually happen when parents or caregivers are home, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If you’re like most parents, you’ve probably taken safety precautions in your home. All of those baby gates, locks and childproof caps can help protect your child from harmful substances – that is, when everything is going according to plan. But when little ones sneak out of sight or there’s an inevitable change in your routine – like family visits, babysitters, running late, parties, holiday get-togethers, etc. – those safety measures may not work as well as they would on an ordinary day. And when you visit other people’s houses (like grandma and grandpa’s), there’s no telling what kids will get into. The Most Common Poisoning Culprits medicines cleaning products liquid nicotine […]

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