Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Child Injury Statistics and Child Safety Tips
We all want our children to be safe. Yet injuries are the leading cause of death in children ages 19 and younger. Nearly 9.2 million children between ages 0 and 19 are seen in emergency departments for injuries each year. These child injury statistics are reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Massachusetts child injury lawyer Thomas M. Kiley, concentrates on laws that protect children and their health.
But many of these child injuries are preventable and there are many resources available for parents to protect their children. As part of their new "Protect the ones you love" initiative, the CDC Injury Center has podcasts, e-cards, fact sheets, and other materials free of charge on their website.
There are many resources available through the USA Safe Kids website. There is a Safety Works newsletter available as well as a subscription for monthly e-mail updates on child safety tips. The website has child safety tips for parents in several areas such as car safety, fire and burn safety, pedestrian safety, poison, railroad safety, toy, and water safety. There are many resources available about what kind of bike helmets to use, home and hidden hazards, sports and recreation safety issues, as well as school and playground safety issues.
There is also information on the laws and regulations for each state regarding child safety issues, because each state is different.
Here are some child safety tips from CDC and the USA Safe Kids website:
* keep kids safe from burns from fire and scalding water
* wear personal flotation devices to prevent drowning while swimming and boating
* install and maintain smoke alarms in the home
* install fences and gates around backyard swimming pools
* make sure playground equipment is safe and has soft landing surface below
* store household cleaners and medicines out of children’s reach and in locked childproof cabinets
* keep children in seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats appropriate for their age and weight
* use mylar balloons instead of latex ones that break into small pieces that can choke
* don’t allow your children to play with toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches that can strangle
* don’t allow children under age 8 to play with electrical toys that can cause burns
* play with your kids, rather than supervising from a distance
* when selecting toys, consider the child's age, interests and skill level; look for quality design and construction, and follow age and safety recommendations on labels
* inspect toys regularly for damage and sharp edges; make necessary repairs or discard damaged toys
* purchase a small parts tester to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under age 3 at toy or baby specialty stores.
* Check websites for recalled toys
For more information about child safety in Massachusetts, request a FREE copy of Thomas M Kiley’s book: When A Kiss Isn’t Enough: Child Injury Guide.
