Trauma Tips

Car Seat Safety

• Use a seat appropriate for the age & weight of your child
• The safety of your child depends on them being appropriately fitted to the car seat
• Register your car seat
• This allows you to receive any recalls or important information on your car seat
• Install the seat properly
• Improperly installed seat are not protecting your child, and can become dangers for other passengers in the vehicle
• Get your car seat inspected by a Child Passenger Safety Technician
• Visit Garnet Health Medical Center and have one of our certified technicians check your car seat
• Keep your children safe, learn about your car seat
• Buying a used car seat can be dangerous. Car seats must be replaced after an accident.
• Car seats have expiration dates. Check the manual to see where the stamped expiration date is on your seat.
• Never leave your child alone in a car

Visit these resources:

• Safe Kids
• NHTSA
• Safest Generation

Water Safety

• Buddy Up – always swim with a partner
• Learn lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid
• Never leave a young child unattended by the water
• Teach children to always ask permission to go near pools, oceans, bath tubs and lakes
• Learn to swim
• If you own a pool be sure it is fenced in, has a barrier, or uses water alarms
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration when swimming, boating or lounging by the pool
• Have inexperienced swimmer, or children wear approved life jackets in the water, or on boats
• If boating, jet skiing or rafting, be sure to bring water proof whistles and a phone to call for help
• When swimming in the ocean, swim in lifeguard zones only
• If anyone is missing around pools, lakes or oceans, always call for help and check the water first

Anchor It

• Every 24 minutes a child is injured by furniture, or TV’s falling on them
• 81% of tip-over deaths occur in homes
• A TV can fall with the force of 1000 pounds
• Most tip-over incidents result in head injuries
• Most injuries occur to toddlers

• What Can Parents Do
• Use straps or brackets to secure any TV that’s not wall mounted
• Secure top heavy furniture with anti-tip brackets
• Mount flat screen T.V.’s
• Only place televisions on furniture that is able to support it
• Remove objects children will be tempted to climb, pull down or reach for
• Do a walk through, look for items that may injure your child in each room

Bicycle Safety

• Wear a properly fitted bike helmet
• Check your equipment prior to riding
• Wear clothing that makes you be seen…bright colors, reflective of safety vests
• Watch out for road hazards i.e. garbage in road, pot holes, loose gravel, leaves and animals
• Avoid riding at night
• Go with the traffic flow
• Obey traffic laws
• Stay alert
• Do not pass on the right
• Dress appropriately for weather conditions
• Make eye contact with drivers, be sure you are noticed by drivers
• Ride with a partner or group

Check out how to properly size your bike helmet

Resources
wsdot.wa.gov/bike/safety.htm
nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/

Head’s Up: Concussion Prevention

Did you know?

• Emergency departments treat about 173,000 sports, and recreational traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a force exerted on or into the head that disrupts normal brain function
• Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe, even death
• Leading causes of TBI is falls, blunt trauma accidents, and assaults
• TBI affects all ages

How to prevent TBI

• Use Seatbelts and car seats
• Helmets save brain tissue, use them:
• Bikes, motorcycles, ATV’s, and snowmobiles
• Contact sports lacrosse, football, boxing or wrestling
• Roller skates, blades, ice skating or skateboards
• Baseball, horseback ridding, snowboarding or skiing
• Practice safety at home for young children
• Window guards
• Safety gates on stairs
• Electric cords for appliances secured
• Use fall prevention strategies
• Remove tripping hazards
• Secure all rugs
• Clear pathways to restrooms, kitchen and bedroom
• Keep objects off steps
• Light stairways
• No throw rugs
• Fix uneven surfaces

Hypothermia Facts & Prevention

• In cold temperatures your body loses heat quicker than it can produce it
• Body temperatures that are too low affects the brain
• Heavy exertion, not taking in fluids and not eating in cold weather can lead to hypothermia
• Ensure you have adequate food, clothing and heat sources
• Keep blankets in your car, and extra around house
• Limit time outside on cold days
• Protect hands, ears, face and feet in extreme cold
• Move around, activity generates body heat
• Dress in layers, outer layers should have wind protection
• Stay dry, take off wet clothing as soon as possible
• Keep emergency supplies in your vehicle; extra jackets, matches, candles and kitty litter for traction
• STAY WARM!!!!!!!

Snowmobile Safety Tips

• Use protective gear (helmets, goggles, gloves, buoyant suits)
• Dress in layers
• Know your abilities
• Know your ridding area
• Alcohol and snowmobiles Do Not Mix
• Have a snowmobile buddy
• Leave route information with family or friends
• Be aware of ice, drowning is the leading cause of snowmobile deaths
• Stay Alert!!!!