Keeping kids safe, on the road, at home and at play 

Safe Kids Worldwide was founded in 1987, dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries to children ages 14 and under. CHoR is the lead agency for the Safe Kids program in Virginia. We educate children and their parents about safety at home, in the car and at play. Our public awareness activities include car seat safety checks, safety fairs, seasonal injury prevention activities and participation in public policy.  

Safety at home: Tips to prevent injury

Avoid accidental poisonings

It only takes a second for a child to swallow something they shouldn’t. Save the Poison Helpline number – tel: 1-800-222-1222 – on your phone and remember these tips so you hopefully won’t need it.

• Store cleaning products safely, in their original containers and out of children’s reach and sight
• Don’t forget about keeping medications out of kids' reach and sight

Read more tips for preventing poisonings and medication mishaps.

Prevent falls

Kids love adventure and they’re great at finding things to climb and explore, especially when Mom or Dad is distracted. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for kids in the U.S.

• Securely strap them into high chairs, strollers or swings, be sure to secure them with the straps.
• Install approved safety gates at the top AND bottom of staircases. 
• Secure TVs and furniture by using mounts, brackets or wall straps

Prevent choking and strangulation

• Cut food into tiny pieces
• Round, hard food such as hot dogs, cheese sticks, hard candy should not be given to children under the age of 5
• Separate toys by age
• Keep cords out of reach

Cook safely

Adults may be cooking while simultaneously watching kids, or trying to get work done. Older kids might be taking on new responsibilities during the day, including helping with meal prep. Review these tips for minimizing distractions and maximizing safety.

• Create a baby-free zone that is at least three feet from the oven/stove. If they;re too young to understand, secure them in a high chair or using another method so you can see them while you cook.
• Use the back burner when cooking
• Remind teens that they must tend to food while cooking and that oven mitts or potholders are a must when handling hot pots and pans
• Use caution with the microwave by helping children take food out of a microwave safely to avoid scalding

Carefully walk or ride outside

While most people’s time is spent in the home these days to prevent the spread of coronavirus, getting outside to stretch and play a bit is important too. If your family’s outside play involves taking a walk or going for a bike ride, review the following safety tips before setting off on your adventure or allowing your kids to go alone.

• Wear a helmet for all wheeled-sports activities like biking, rollerblading, riding a scooter or skateboarding
• Teach kids to look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
• Walkers and bikers can protect themselves by taking the extra step to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.

Read the full article on keeping kids safe