Clumsy Children: 5 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Accident Free

Children are bound to get a bump, bruise or break over the course of their little lives. You may end up finding yourself at the hospital with your kids very regularly. Luckily, a clumsy kid can be kept from the emergency room with precautions taken by them and their caretakers. Burns and Scalds To keep little hands from getting badly burned in and around hot containers, teach your kids that the stove and oven are hot. Also, keep the water heater at no more than 120 degrees to prevent accidental scalding from the tap. Put matches, lighter fluid or other flammables in a safe, preferably locked, area that is out of children’s reach. Falls More than 2.5 million injuries from falling have brought people to the emergency room. Properly installed screens and guards over windows keep children safely tucked inside. Infant carriers and chairs with straps keep kids safely grounded. Make sure TVs and furniture are secured to the walls and stairs are fenced off with sturdy gates. Poison Cleaning supplies, household products and detergents are often brightly colored, making them attractive to children. Keep these above the children’s eye level and reach at all times. Install safety locks on drawers and cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. It’s a good idea to have poison control on speed dial, 1-800-222-1222. Car Injuries Teach your children to be aware of traffic. They not only need to look both ways when crossing a street, but be aware of how close they are to moving traffic while walking on designated crosswalks and pathways. A good rule is to have them count to 10 before running after a ball or dropped backpack that has fallen into a road. Inside the car, make sure the seat is appropriate for the weight and age of the child and is up to code. Bike Injuries Children find a lot of freedom when they learn to ride a bike. As they take off on two wheels, make sure they understand the importance of wearing a bike helmet. Bike reflectors and lights placed correctly on the front and back of the bike for night riding is a good preventative measure, even if they are supposed to be home before dark. rnA first aid course can help you to feel better prepared for the minor scrapes, bumps and bruises that happen during childhood. If you feel your child has had an accident that needs professional attention, places like Emergency Care Dynamics have a staff of compassionate doctors with extensive training and education to answer any questions. That way you can make sure that your child is getting all of the proper care they need.