Keeping Your Children Safe
The idea of having to save your baby's life is overwhelming, but it could happen. You should be prepared and aware of necessary precautions. Babies can choke on small objects, fall in pools, or get caught in cords. If your baby is ever choking or suddenly unresponsive you need to know how to react.
Statistics
According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
- Unintentional choking and suffocation is the leading cause of all injuries for infants under the age of one.
- In 2002 more than 5,000 people died from unintentional choking or suffocation, 636 of which were under the age of one.
- There are approximately 1,900 to 14,200 pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually including trauma, SIDS, respiratory causes, cardiovascular causes and submersion.
Choking Hazards
Parents need to be vigilant at all times and educated about potential choking hazards. Following are important choking tips from the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
- Any food or object that is small enough to fit through a 1-1.25 inch circle or is smaller than 2.25 inches long is unsafe for children four and under.
- Parents should always be mindful of age recommendations on toy packages. Never allow your child to play with toys intended for an older child.
- Small toys should be put away and out of reach of younger siblings.
- Check around the house and all locations where your infant and child reside to ensure there are no hidden hazards like coins or toy fragments.
- Never allow your child to play with balloons especially when uninflated or broken.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), states more children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons more than on any other type of toy.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the following common household items should never be left within the reach of your child:
- Coins
- Marbles
- Small button-type batteries
- Toys with small parts
- Pen or marker caps
- Small toy car wheels
- Toys that can be compressed small enough to fit in your child's mouth
- Small balls
- Plastic bottle tops
CPR Training
Sometimes, despite all precautions, a child may still get into trouble. For these situations, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to take classes in CPR and emergency prevention. The ability to perform CPR procedures on an infant and child who has stopped breathing can mean the difference between life and death.
