Taking care of your child's health | Safety guidelines |
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Be a role model for your child--have regular check-ups, eat healthy, exercise, and do not smoke. | Know CPR, care for choking, and first-aid basics. Many organizations, such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association, offer courses in child and infant CPR. |
Make sure your child has regular check-ups and immunizations. | Put safety first. Know how to safety proof your home and your child's environment. The best treatment for injuries is prevention. |
Provide a healthy diet and regular exercise for your child. Helping your child stay healthy and strong may help minimize problems when they do occur. | Install safety devices in your home, such as smoke detectors, handrails, stairway gates, and fire extinguishers. Cover electrical outlets, as needed. |
Teach your child to wash his or her hands well, especially before meals and after using the toilet. | Place medicines, cleaners, chemicals, and potential poisons out of your child's reach. Install safety locks on cabinets that contain dangerous or sharp items. |
Never leave a baby or young child alone--not even for a moment. | Develop a fire escape plan and make sure each family member knows what to do in case of fire. |
Put babies to sleep on their backs or sides until they can turn over by themselves. | If you must keep a gun in the home, make sure it is unloaded and store it in a locked cabinet. Lock ammunition in a separate place. |
Supervise your child and make sure he or she takes part in age-appropriate activities. | Wear your seat belts and make sure your child uses an approved car safety seat or seat belt that has been installed properly. |
Help your child to learn how to handle anger and stress in appropriate ways. | Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy, including your local emergency medical services (EMS), your child's physician or healthcare provider, police, and fire departments, and your local poison center. |
Learn about your child's school, friends, and environment. Be on the lookout for unsafe behaviors and be ready to intervene if they occur. | Teach your child how to dial 911 or your local EMS system in case of an emergency. |
Teach your child how to be safe--at home, at school, and with play and sports activities. | Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit handy at home and in the car. |
Make sure sitters and other childcare providers know the appropriate safety and first-aid measures to take in the event of an emergency. | |