Safe Home, Safe Family

Articles

Jun 1

June is National Safety Month. During this month, we aim to provide additional info for parents or families who want to learn more about how to impact their lives with the best safety measures in mind. In recent years, many of us have found ourselves “at home” more than ever before. The National Safety Council wants to help everyone stay safe in all areas of your life. They provide information from researchers and statisticians working to keep things up to date on the best ways you can keep yourself and your family safe. You can find great resources from the NSC on how to have a safe home, both inside and outside, for your family.

Basic Safety Rules for Kids

Finding the balance between a child’s independence and making sure they are safe can be challenging. That’s why teaching your children these tips at a young age can help them be active participants in their safety routines.

Don’t open the door to strangers: letting children know who they can expect to answer the door for and who they shouldn’t teach children to not answer the door for unknown visitors when there isn’t an adult home.
Make a family emergency contact list: having the children understand who to call in times of emergencies (while also notifying the contact list that they are emergency contacts) and writing out the list helps children know who they should reach if not their parents.
Make and understand the family escape plan: making a family escape plan ensures that were something like a burglary or other emergency were to happen everyone would know where to meet, where the exits are to get out of the house, etc. so that everyone is on the same page.
Security system: showing your family how to use the alarm system but also explaining the importance of them not giving that information outside of the family to keep everyone safe.
Pay attention to allergies: educating yourself and your family about the allergies everyone has makes everyone aware of what to avoid for the safety of each person.
Water safety: teach your children basic floating methods if they aren’t able yet to swim in deeper waters. Monitoring children, especially under the age of 6 around water and explaining to them what water levels are safe for them helps everyone to practice water safety techniques.
Lock all medicine cabinets for children and animal safety.

Active Supervision

Active Supervision provides the constant presence that young ones require. No matter the place, caretakers should position themselves to be ready to listen, see, and respond to the young ones throughout the day. At school, teachers account for children during transitions by using facial recognition techniques. This method of supervision also monitors each child’s developmental levels and can help create awareness of children’s behaviors so that they can start to anticipate and plan for their reactions.

Supervising Strategies for Parents

It is so important to be conscious of the environment around kids while looking after them. As much as possible, try to anticipate their needs to help things feel smooth without upset. Another tip is to listen for sounds that could indicate a problem. Sometimes kids yell while they play, but typically a fearful sound or sound of pain is distinguishable. Most importantly, it is recommended that caretakers always stay in the area at all times.

Outside Play

Playing outside requires a level of awareness on both the parent’s and children's sides. With awareness and communication from both parties, you can assure a safe trip to the nearest outdoor space your family wants to visit.

Don’t wander off alone.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Establish safe play areas — talk with your family about where is not ok to play. The age of the child will determine what areas are off-limits.
Don’t speak to strangers — being friendly is kind but make sure your parent is with you, and don’t walk off with anyone new.
Check the weather before you leave the house — this can help avoid any weather catastrophes and help everyone know how to dress appropriately.
Dress correctly and use sunscreen.
Hydrate — make sure to keep extra water to refill if you know wherever you’re headed won’t have any.
Keep bug spray handy.
Never eat or drink anything found outdoors.

Keeping Kids Safe Online

In order to keep children safe online, it’s important to develop clear communication about what’s acceptable and what sites are appropriate. As this is made clear and you as the guardian monitor the child’s internet habits, they may begin to model good behavior, and more rights can be given with time.

By limiting usage, carefully monitoring your children’s online time, and keeping track of the web browser you are accessing, you can ensure that children accessing the internet are using it responsibly.

Summer Safety For Kids

As summer approaches, it’s important to think about the free time that children will have and how they can make sure they spend their time safely. Whether your kids stay home for the summer, go to camps, or are on the road, here are a few ways you can keep them safe at any destination:

Water Safety

Keep a very close watch of kids around water to prevent them from drowning.

Hydrate

Especially in the summer sun, ensure everyone drinks enough water each hour.

Sun Safety

Wear sunscreen and protective layers from the sun.

Pest Safety

Avoid bug bites and keep bug spray for all outdoor activities.

Fireworks Safety

Never let young children touch fireworks — it is a danger to everyone involved and they should not be permitted to light or handle them by themselves.

Car Safety

Make sure car seats for little ones aren’t too hot in the summer and make sure children are securely buckled before heading off for family vacations.

Temperature Safety

Keep an eye out for heat exhaustion — make sure kids drink enough water and monitor if they seem like they have heat fatigue.

Bike Safety

Ride bikes appropriately — make sure children wear correct gear like helmets and padding to protect them from any accidents. Also, make sure the padding is the correct size.

Boat Safety

Always ensure children are wearing a life jacket on boats, jet skis, or other watercraft.

Sun Safety

Don’t mess around — if it's an extra hot day make sure to limit your time in the direct sun and provide children with enough water. Extra caution may be needed on these hot days to keep the children safe from heat exhaustion.

Some people would be surprised to know that some of the top causes of injury happen during a person’s normal routine or time at home. Many safety precautions you can put in place are easy to do and could potentially prevent a harmful situation for someone in your household. The top reasons for unintentional harm in communities are related to the following sources:

Medicines or Chemicals

Most people have many different kinds of products for cleaning in the home. The most common items that can be harmful if ingested are cleaning supplies, medicine, and batteries. Your home also should be monitored for chemicals in the air like carbon monoxide and gas. Lead could be present in some water sources or in old paint, so checking these to be sure can help ensure safety. Simply being conscious of where you store hazardous items like medicine can make the difference. Be sure that they are not easily accessible or available for children or those who could be harmed. Install detectors for carbon monoxide and be sure to have your furnace checked regularly.

Road Safety

While we know that motor vehicle accidents happen when you don’t expect them, we can all still take an active role in implementing safety measures for our families. Distracted driving plays a large part in many accidents on the road today. Make sure everyone in your home is on the same page and does not allow the phone to distract them while they operate a vehicle.

Safety for Slip & Fall

For families which include anyone elderly, slip and fall accidents are common. Simple safety precautions can be implemented to help prevent them from happening. Aging can simply affect strength, coordination, and balance, and occupational therapists can help recommend specific ideas that will be helpful in your household. Adding walking aids to your normal routine or rearranging furniture for safer walking routes around the home are great places to start.

Choking or Blockage

Blocking off the airway is one unintentional way children and adults alike might inflict harm. With small children and babies, considering the safety precautions of your crib is very important. The NSC has a list of different considerations and guidelines you can follow if you’re looking for more safety information.

Pool & Bathtub Safety

For children, pools and bathtubs pose a safety risk if they are left alone or unsupervised. It is important to ensure kids are monitored near the pool and safety precautions like pool gates surround the area as well. You can find a Pool Safety Toolkit for your family from NSC with their pledge for pool safety.

Fire Safety

Home fires are also a common cause of unintentional harm. A smoke detector is a great way to take a step toward home fire safety. According to the Red Cross, installing smoke alarms and having a fire safety plan that everyone in your house understands can help you escape and recover if a fire happens in your home.

Natural Disaster

Even if natural disasters are not common in some areas of the country, it is important to consider what cases of extreme weather happen where you live, or where you visit. Thunderstorms and intense rain or flooding can have a sudden and dramatic impact if you are in an area with flood risk. Having an emergency kit and an emergency plan are always smart to have ready for your family.

In addition to the most common causes of unintentional harm, the NSC has many different topics you can consider reading about to improve safety. Particularly in desert climates, the heat presents a unique challenge for those living in such hot weather. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are real issues that you can try to prevent for your family. Infants, small children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions are at high risk for heat stroke or exhaustion. Keeping yourselves and others hydrated is, of course, very important to maintain body temperature in the heat. Be sure that you take time to cool off and to rest when feeling any symptoms of heat exhaustion like fatigue, fast heart rate, muscle cramps, or headache.

You can find safety information for things like skateboarding, playing on playgrounds, using fireworks, ladders, car seats, sports injuries, and more from the National Safety Committee.

Learn more about other topics for families at home, like how to incorporate a daily schedule to keep everyone feeling good this summer!