Safety

Bicycles

Riding a bicycle is a great form of exercise; it actually puts less strain on your body than jogging does. However, there are risks to riding a bicycle, which can be reduced by wearing a helmet and taking other safety precautions.

Protect Your Head – Wear a Helmet

• Be sure your helmet meets government safety standards.
• The helmet should fit snugly and flat on top of your head; do not wear it tilted back.
• Your helmet should not obstruct your field of vision.
• Make sure your chin strap is buckled at all times.
• Do not use a helmet that has been involved in an accident.

Other Bicycle Safety Tips

• Avoid biking at night. If you must ride at night, wear reflective clothing and install head and tail lights on your bicycle.
• Wear bright colors during the day.
• Always check your brakes and wheels before each ride.
• Educate yourself on traffic laws.
• Ride with the traffic and remain alert.

Buckle Up When Driving

Did you know that you can cut your risk of dying in a car crash in half simply by buckling your seatbelt?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, safety belts saved the lives of an estimated 15,632 people over 4 years of age in the United States in 2005. Additionally, motor vehicle-related injuries kill more children and young adults between the ages of 1 and 34 than any other single cause in the United States , according to the Centers for Disease Control.

For more information, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site.

Candles

Keep these safety tips in mind when you’re burning candles:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Do not burn a candle near flammable objects such as towels, blankets or lampshades.
• Burn candles only on heat-resistant surfaces.
• Always keep your candle wicks trimmed to one-fourth of an inch.
• Snuff the flame out when less than a half inch of wax is left.

Car Seats

Rear-Facing Seats

Until children reach age 1 and weigh at least 20 pounds, they should ride in a rear-facing car seat. Rear-facing car seats should have more than one set of harness slots to give your baby room to grow. They should also have adjustable buckle positions and overhead shields.

Forward-Facing Seats

Once children are over age 1 and weigh at least 20 pounds, they can ride in most forward-facing seats. However, some forward-facing seats have minimum weight requirements over 20 pounds.

Booster Seats

When children outgrow forward-facing seats, they can switch to a booster seat. You know children are ready for a booster seat when their:

• Shoulders are above the harness slots
• Ears have reached the top of the car seat
• Weight and height are over the maximum limit for the car seat

Booster seats raise children up so their seat belts fit properly. Harness straps are not included; children wear seat belts the same way an adult does.

When children reach 8 to 9 years of age and are about 4’9" in height, they are usually ready to use a seat belt like an adult.

For more information, view the American Academy of Pediatrics’ car seat guide.

Choking Hazards

If you have a child age 5 or younger, it is important to educate yourself on choking hazards. Food products are one of the most common culprits, especially with young children.

Please be aware of common choking hazards from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Hot dogs
• Nuts and seeds
• Chunks of meat or cheese
• Whole grapes
• Hard, gooey or sticky candy
• Popcorn
• Chunks of peanut butter
• Raw vegetables
• Raisins
• Chewing gum

Drowning Prevention

Swimming Pools

• Do not substitute pool toys, such as rafts or inner-tubes in place of flotation devices. The toys are designed to entertain children in the water, not to prevent drowning.
• Remove pool toys immediately after pool time is over. Children may be attracted to toys in the pool.
• Install a four-sided pool fence that is at least 4 feet high, has vertical bars and separates the pool from the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that close and latch automatically, open outward, and make sure the latches are out of a child’s reach. Openings in the fence should be no more than four inches wide.
• Install a telephone by the pool so you can dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

Oceans, Lakes and Rivers

• Always use US Coast Guard-approved life jackets when boating.
• If you are swimming and get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore; once free of the current, swim toward shore.
• Research weather conditions before planning a day on the water. Strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are very dangerous.

General Water Safety Tips

• Learn to swim! The best thing you can do to stay safe in the water is to learn to swim if you don’t know how.
• Designate a responsible adult to watch young children in or around water, including the bathtub. The supervising adult should be completely focused on the children (not watching television or reading a book) and avoid drinking alcohol.
• Never swim alone.
• Always enter water feet-first, except if the area is clearly marked for diving (headfirst is acceptable in this case).
• Be knowledgeable of where you’re swimming – inform those swimming with you of currents, deep and shallow areas and obstructions.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Your CPR skills could save someone’s life.

For more helpful tips, view water-related injuries information from the Centers for Disease Control.