Issue 2 - Summer - Providence Washington - Providence Health ...

{children’s health}
Safety First
Protecting your kids is paramount.
Here are five precautions every
parent should take By Amy Lynn Smith
As a parent, you’ll do anything to keep your children
safe. It’s instinctive. But exactly how you ensure your
kid’s safety is something every parent has to learn.
Your pediatrician is a great source of information and can also
recommend books and other resources.
Just to be on the safe side, though, put these five safety
essentials at the top of your list—and don’t put it off.
“Accidents are a major factor in childhood injuries, and
most of them happen around the home,” says Susan Stacey,
RN, executive director of Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
“You can never let down your guard for a moment, but there
are also some great tools out there to help you.”
1Car Seats
Parents know they need to use car seats, says Stacey,
but it’s essential to use them correctly. Rear-facing
seats should never be installed facing front, and
infant car seats should always go in the back seat. Kids should
be in a car seat or booster seat until they are at least 4 feet
9 inches tall so that the seat belt fits properly. Regular inspections
are important, too. Through Safe Kids Spokane, Sacred
Heart Children’s Hospital offers free car seat checks performed
by certified experts. (See sidebar.)
2
BIKE HELMETS
In a bike accident, kids are at increased risk for
hitting their heads because they tend to be topheavy,
says Stacey. “Their heads will go forward
first and head versus concrete or any hard surface is a bad
injury,” she explains. “The rule of thumb is that if you’re
moving faster than you can run, you need a helmet.” This
rule applies to other sports, as well, such as skating and
skateboarding, which require a helmet specifically designed
for those sports.
A helmet is a necessity for all ages, and a good way to encourage
kids to wear them is for parents to use helmets themselves.
Smart Move
Download free safety
guides for kids of
all ages, and check
out the listings for
upcoming events
at the Safe Kids
Spokane website. Visit
shmcchildren.org and
look for the Safe Kids
Spokane tab.
10 ● Summer 2012 Heart Beat