Balancing Safety and Exploration for Toddlers

1. Toddler Safetyfrom More Good Days with Kidswww.gooddayswithkids.com

2. Topics We’ll Cover • Balancing Safety and Exploration • Safety-Proofing • Most Common Injuries for Children • Preventing and Treating • Teaching Safe Behavior & Smart Choices

3. Finding a Balance Between Safety and Exploration

4. Why we need to think about safety • Unintentional injury: leading cause of death for children age 1 – 4. But don’t panic – chance of death 1 in 10,000 • 1 in 10 toddlers visit the ER for an injury. • Many injuries are preventable through: safety-proofing, awareness of hazards, and close supervision.

5. What’s the Flip Side? • Kids need to explore to learn. • If parents over-protect, child may never learn safety skills. • Facing some mild risks helps a child learn safety skills and decision making and build courage / competence.

6. Safety Proofing: Creating a Safe Environment for Exploration

7. Keys to Safety Adult supervision! Pay extra attention when sick, tired, away from home, or child is in someone else’s care Learn about child development so you’re always stay one step ahead.

8. Development & Safety Ask yourself: What can my child do right now? What can’t she do yet? What risks could this pose?

9. Development & Safety Large motor skills: What can he reach? What can he climb? Small motor skills: What can she open? Cognitive skills: What has he watched you do?

10. Development & Safety Safety issues change as your child gets older and more skilled. • Some things that used to be risky are now safe. • Some things that used to be safe are now risky. Continue to adapt your safety proofing and your limits to child’s new abilities.

11. Evaluating Risk When making decisions about • child-proofing • setting limits on behavior • and letting your child explore it may help to think about different levels of risk.

12. No Risk: Green Light • No real risk of harm • Sit back, relax, let the child explore

13. Low Risk: Yellow Light • Could cause • minor bumps and bruises, or • minor property damage (spill, torn page, broken toy) • Make your own parenting decisions: • Is it a risk or is it an inconvenience? • Consider your mood and child’s temperament. • Could it be a low-risk learning experience? • Observe your child, and adapt as needed.

14. Moderate Risk: Orange • Could be major injury (but not life-threatening) • Remove these hazards from places they play unsupervised • Teach them to stay away

15. Highest Risk: Red Light • Could become life-threatening in the blink of an eye. • Remove hazards or block them off.

16. Preventing the Most Common Childhood Injuries

17. Most Common Accidents

18. Motor Vehicle Safety Keep child in each type of seat as long as possible

19. Motor Vehicle Safety Install seat correctly. Use correctlyOnly give child soft toys to holdNo loose things in car – keep low and securedDon’t leave a child alone in a car

20. Motor Vehicle Safety Pedestrian / Bike Safety • Don’t let children play near cars • Carry or hold hands around cars • Model safe pedestrian habits • Use bike helmets, teach safe habits

21. Water Safety / Drowning Prevention • Never leave a child alone near water! • At home, use caution: child can drown in 2” of water. • Near lakes, rivers, and boats: always use flotation devices • Swimming lessons great, but do not “drown proof”

22. What to do if Drowning Occurs Perform CPR if child is not coughing, breathing, or moving. • Call 911 (if alone, CPR for 2 minutes, then call) • 30 compressions • Airway, 2 breaths • Repeat till child recovers Illustration: wikihow

23. Burn Prevention Hot! • Smoke / carbon monoxide detectors • Fire extinguishers • Never smoke inside • Matches out of sight & reach • Gate wood stoves, heaters, use screens on fireplace • Don’t hold child while cooking, eating hot foods, or drinking hot drinks • Use back burners – pot handles pointing in • Water heater temp down to 120° F • Outlet covers, cords out of child’s reach

24. What Can You Do If Your Child is Burned? Burn Treatment • Apply cool water for several minutes • Keep the burn area clean • Call your health care provider • Give pain medication as prescribed • Call 9-1-1 if burn larger than child’s hand print or severe burn to hands, face, genitals

25. Fall Prevention

26. Fall Prevention • Playground: teach safe behavior, supervise • Stairs: Teach safe stair use • Avoid climbable furniture near windows; use window guards; check balcony railings • Don’t allow child to climb on furniture • Don’t put objects of desire on high shelves.

27. Treating Minor Cuts & Bruises • Bumps and bruises: If turning red or swelling, apply ice for 20 minutes to relieve pain and reduce swelling. • Bleeding: wash well with soap & water. Apply pressure to stop bleeding. Bandage, keep clean & monitor for signs of infection.

28. In case of a severe fall • Stay calm • Stabilize neck • Check breathing and pulse. CPR? • Give TLC while checking for injury • Seek medical care as necessary

29. Poisoning Prevention

30. Prevention Poisoning Prevention • Get rid of things you don’t use! • Keep medicine locked up • Store products out of sight and reach • Use “Mr. Yuk” stickers. • Teach child to ask before eating

31. If Poisoning is Suspected • Call Poison Control 1-800-222-1222 • If recommended: Give water to drink. • Call 9-1-1 if recommended. • Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended for home

32. Expect they will choke and learn what to do! Choking Prevention • Keep small objects away • Provide age-appropriate toys & food • No walking or playing while eating

33. If child appears to be choking • Assess: Can child talk, cry, or breathe? • If so, do nothing. • If not: back blows and Heimlich maneuver. • Continue until object is out and baby is breathing well, • If child stops breathing: Call 911. CPR.

34. Safety around Animals NO animal can be trusted alone with a young child Train your pet Teach your child how to: • be gentle • respect an animal’s space • not mess with animal’s food • never touch without asking

35. Teaching Safety Skills

36. Teaching Safety Skills • Prepare, don’t scare. • Demonstrate skills. • Practice. • Play games, but make sure you’re clear when it’s not a game. • Honor his/her instincts. • Say no to unsafe behavior.

37. Talking about Safety Go for it! Have fun!. Careful… Gentle…… Fragile... Danger!! Hot! Slow Down! STOP!! Ouch! Hands off!

38. No Risk: Green Light • Body language, expression and words all say: “It’s safe. Go play!” Have fun!. Go for it!

39. Low Risk: Yellow Light • Look positive but thoughtful • Lean forward to show you’re paying attention • Calmly suggest what to do to be safe Slow down… Careful of the edge… Gentle touch… Be careful not to spill…

40. Moderate Risk: Orange • Look concerned (not scared) and attentive. • Stand up and move closer. • Use a strong voice to tell them what the risk is and what they need to do. It’s not safe to run in the parking lot. I need you to hold my hand. The oven is hot. Move over there. That would be a big fall. Go that way instead.

41. Highest Risk: Red Light • Rules are non-negotiable, and must be followed every time. • Loud, simple, specific commands • Explain later when they’re safe STOP!! Danger!!

42. Kids’ Favorite Risky Games • Great Heights • Rapid Speeds • Dangerous Tools / Elements • Rough & Tumble Play • Disappearing / Getting Lost How do you indulge these desires while still keeping your child safe?

43. Community Resources In case of Emergency, call 9-1-1