Do you know the answers to these safety questions? You might be surprised at the answers!
How many children die every year from unintentional injuries?
What general hazard is the leading cause of injury to children?
How many children are injured from contact with electrical cords and fixtures?
How large of an object can get lodged in a child's mouth and/or throat?
What nursery product causes the most injuries to infants & toddlers?
What nursery product is the deadliest?
What is the maximum spacing allowed between crib slats?
What is the first step to take after a child has ingested a chemical, poisonous plant or other dangerous substance?
What are at least 2 hazards to be aware of regarding toys?
What is the best choice for ground material for playgrounds?
How long does it take for a baby's skin to burn in direct sunlight with a high intensity of ultra-violet rays?
What temperature should the hot water heater thermostat be set at?
About how many children under age 5 die every year from drowning?
What common household seasoning is hazardous to small children?
Name 3 kitchen appliances from which a child can receive burns.
ANSWERS:
An average of 2,900 children under age 5 die every year from accidents. Hundreds of thousands more are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children up to age 14.
Falls are the leading cause of injury. Children fall from chairs, tables, cribs, changing tables, shopping carts, stairs, etc. Most injuries seen in hospital emergency rooms are to the head area.
Nearly 50,000 children are injured badly enough to require medical attention. Children may chew through electrical cords, insert objects in electrical outlets, play with appliances, etc.
Objects up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter can become lodged in a child's throat or mouth, causing an obstruction. More than 200 children under age 5 die every year from choking on food, toys or other objects.
Walkers are responsible for over 22,500 injuries and at least 1 death per year. They offer too much mobility for the toddler and it also hinders their walking development. Stationary exersaucers are fine as long as they are not used as a baby-sitter.
The crib accounts for more than 40 deaths per year and more than 10,500 injuries. These statistics do not include infants that die of SIDS.
The maximum spacing between crib slats and openings in the head- and footboards is 2 3/8 inches.
Call 911, the poison control center or the child's physician. Follow their exact instructions. Every year about 1 million children accidentally ingest medicines or chemicals found in the home; about 50 of these cases are fatal.
Hazards involving toys include:
Being hit with toys.
Tripping over toys.
Falling on toys.
Ingestion of toxic substances (e.g. crayons, paints, play dough).
Choking on small pieces.
Wood chips or sand are best since they can absorb a fall. Grass and dirt don't work too well since they can wear away with weather and the ground can become very hard. Concrete or gravel are never acceptable. Each year, about 15 children die from and 200,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for playground equipment-related injuries.
It only takes 10 minutes. Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and re-apply it when necessary. Be careful not to get sunscreen in the eyes. A 1st degree burn is characterized by redness and slight irritation of the epidermis. A 2nd degree burn is characterized by redness and irritation that penetrates the epidermis and the dermis and causes blistering. A 3rd degree burn, although rare, affects all 3 layers of the skin and is likely to cause blistering and permanent scarring.
The thermostat should be set no higher than 120 degrees. When water reaches 120 degrees it takes 5 minutes for a child to get a third-degree burn. At 140 degrees, it takes less than 5 seconds.
Nearly 500 children die annually as a result of drowning. Most are in swimming pools, but drownings also occur in bathtubs, toilet bowls and even small buckets. Since 1973 the CPSC reports over 300 bathtub drownings and over 40 toilet bowl drownings.
Salt--One to 2 teaspoons ingested by a 25 lb. child can cause irritability, lethargy, and possibly seizures; more than 1 1/2 tablespoons can be lethal.
