Lifesaving Lessons
Jun 8, 2018, 6:08 PM | Updated: Jun 9, 2018, 2:47 pm
Spring in Utah brings out all sorts of recreational activities across our great state. With those also come increased risks for accidents that all too often turn tragic. We’ve seen too many accidental drownings, ATV crashes and window falls over just the last few weeks. Many children have died as a result.
Of course, accidents can happen with even the safest and most attentive of parents, but what can parents and others do decrease the risks of these tragedies?
Primary Children’s Hospital has several facts and tips to help parents make their children safer.
Water Safety
Doctors at Primary Children’s Hospital say the best way to avoid an accidental drowning is teach your children how to swim and always supervise them around water.
They have provided tips on water safety and dangers to avoid a tragic incident that could have been prevented.
Water Safety Tips
- Never take your eyes off of children in the water
- While supervising, stay alert and avoid distractions
- Learn infant and child CPR
- Keep a telephone nearby in case of an emergency
- Empty all buckets and wading pools after use
- Never leave children in a bathtub alone or with an older brother or sister
- Install child safety locks on toilet lids in households with toddlers
Visit Primary Children’s Water Safety section online for more tips on Pool & Hot Tub Safety, and Open Water & Boating Safety.
Window Safety
More than 190 children fall from windows each year, according to Primary Children’s Hospital. They say one out of every four children is hospitalized as a result of these injuries.
There are ways to avoid window falls.
- Keep windows closed and locked when children are around. If they are opened for any reason, make sure they are windows high enough or out of the reach from children.
- Screens keep bugs out and are easily removed or pushed out. Do not depend on screens to keep children safe.
- Furniture or anything children can climb should be kept away from windows.
- Talk to your children about playing away from windows. Set and enforce rules for playing in safer places.
- Most window falls occur when children are left alone. Make sure your children have adult supervision.
See Primary Children’s Hospital for more facts about the frequency and severity of window falls.
Driveway Safety
Every seven days a Utah child is run over in a driveway or parking lot, according to Primary Children’s Hospital. They say more than 60 Utah children have been killed and more than 500 have been injured in accidental rollovers.
Easy Habits to Avoid Rollovers
- Walk around your vehicle before getting inside and driving away. The extra few seconds may save a life.
- Listen and be aware of your surroundings. Roll down your windows and actively listen for anything out of the ordinary. Wait to turn on your radio, and do not drive with headphones.
- Eliminate distractions, like the radio, phones and pause your conversations.
- Backup cameras help see behind you, but they don’t show everything. Do not rely on the camera alone.
More tips on reducing your blind spots and how to talk to your children about not playing in or around vehicles.
Car Safety
Primary Children’s Hospital says nearly 525 children died from 1998 to 2011 after being left alone in a vehicle. A third of children who have died from being left in a hot car were less than one year old. It’s also easier than people realize to forget a quiet or sleeping child in the back seat.
Don’t forget to check the back seat
- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
- Make a habit of checking your vehicle before leaving it,.
- Keep a stuffed animal or other reminder next to you in the car as a cue that your child is with you.
- If you see a child left alone in a car, contact the police or call 911.
Visit Primary Children’s Hospital for more safety tips and facts about children left in cars.
Primary Children’s Hospital has additional resources and tips for avoiding injury and keeping your children safe.
Information courtesy Primary Children’s Hospital
