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:
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!!!!