As a parent or child care provider, your job is to know where the dangers are and to eliminate them. Medicines, toxic bleaches, oven and drain cleaners, paint solvents, polishes, and waxes lead the list. Look for items packaged in CHILD-RESISTANT containers. Don't leave them under a sink or in plain view in a garage -- lock them away in a secure place, out of your child's sight and reach.
A BREATHTAKING TOY
Keep all thin plastic wrapping materials, such as those used for dry cleaning, groceries, or trash away from children. NEVER USE THIN PLASTIC MATERIAL TO COVER MATTRESSES OR PILLOWS -- the plastic film can cling to a child's face causing suffocation.
HIGH VOLTAGE HAZARD
Guard against electrical shocks. Cover unused outlets with safety caps. DISCONNECT electric rollers or hair dryers when not in use; some children have been electrocuted when hair dryers that were left plugged-in fell into bathroom sinks or tubs.
GUARD AGAINST FALLS
Keep children away from open windows to prevent falls. Don't depend on screens to keep the child from falling out of the window. They are designed to keep insects out, not children in. Avoid placing furniture near windows to keep children from climbing to a window seat or sill.
NURSERY EQUIPMENT: PARENTS BEWARE
Many nursery products have a long life and may be stored in anticipation of future use. When choosing USED or NEW nursery equipment, check for sturdy construction and stability. Avoid exposed screws, bolts, or fasteners with sharp edges or points; avoid scissor-like mechanisms which could crush fingers; and avoid cutout designs that could entrap a child's head.
BUCKLE UP
Safety straps on high chairs and strollers are a must. Look for straps that are easy to fasten and unfasten so that you will be sure to use them properly each time.
KEEP CRIBS CLOSED
Mesh playpens and portable cribs should NEVER be used with a side left hanging open. They can pose a serious hazard to newborns and infants because the mesh forms a loose pocket into which an infant can roll and suffocate. When children begin to climb and explore, they can become caught in small or narrow openings. Some have been strangled when they caught their heads or necks in the open "V" shapes atop expandable wooden gates or enclosures, or in decorative cutouts in cribs.
HANGING HAZARDS
If cribs or playpens are placed near a window, make sure there are no drapery or venetian blind cords hanging within your baby's reach. Don't hang objects with strings or elastics (toys or laundry bags, for example) around cribs or playpens where your child might become entangled and choke to death.
Never Tie Pacifiers or Other Items Around Your Baby's Neck. Cords and ribbons can become tightly twisted, or can catch on crib corner posts or other protrusions, causing strangulation.
WHO TO CALL?
In an emergency, call your local physician, hospital or nearest poison control center.