At Home
On the Go
At Play

 

 

 

 

Fires can be deadly, but planning and education can save loved ones. Developing a home fire escape plan is essential for every family, and practicing it often is even more important. Children under the age of four are at greatest risk from fire-related death and injury. More than 11,000 children are injured by fire in their homes every year. Only 26 percent of households have developed a family fire plan.

 

 

 

It is important to eliminate all potential sources of fire. Keep matches, lighters and other heat sources out of children's reach. Avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket. Replace old or frayed electrical wires and appliance cords.

 

 

 

Planning ahead is key in the event of a home fire. Buy and install smoke alarms and test them regularly. Plan and practice two escape routes out of the house and each room. Designate an outside meeting place.

 

 

 

Teaching your children what to do may save their lives. Often, children become frightened and hide. It is important to teach children the sound of a smoke alarm and how to call 911. Also, teach them how to "stop, drop and roll" and how to test if a doorknob is hot. Most importantly, develop a home safety fire escape plan that shows two routes out of each room and designates an outside meeting space.

 

 

On the Go

 

Safety belts and car seats can be life savers, but they may not protect your child in an accident if they are used incorrectly. In fact, four out of five car seats are used incorrectly, which drastically reduces their ability to protect your child in the event of an accident.

 

 

 

Safe Kids frequently holds car seat checks throughout Greenville and the surrounding counties. Parents can bring their children and their car seats to the event to have them properly installed by certified car seat technicians. You can call Safe Kids at 864.454.1109 to find out about an upcoming car seat check or see our calendar of events.

 

 

 

Infants under 1 and less than 20 pounds should be in rear-facing car seats.
Children over 1 and between 20 and 40 pounds can be in forward-facing car seats.
Children between 40 and 80 pounds (usually 4 to 8 years old) should be in booster seats.
Usually children over 80 pounds and 8 years old can fit correctly in lap/shoulder belts.

 

 

Recline seat at a 45-degree angle and put the car seat handle down. Route harness straps in lower slots at or below shoulder level. Keep harness straps snug and fasten clip at armpit level.

 

 

 

Place seat in upright position and route harness straps in upper slots at or below shoulder level. Keep harness straps snug and fasten harness clip at armpit level.

 

 

 

To fit correctly, children must be tall enough to sit with knees bent without slouching. Lap and shoulder belts should fit low over hips and upper thighs and snug over the shoulders. Never let children put belts under their arms or behind their backs.

 

 

 

A booster seat makes lap and shoulder belts fit correctly over children who are too small to sit in a regular seatbelt.

 

 

 

Use a high-back booster seat if the car's seat is lower than your child's ears to provide extra support for your child's head and neck. Both types of booster seats should be used with both lap and shoulder belts.

 

 

 

 

 

Drownings occur in a matter of seconds. Each year, more than 1,150 children age 14 or under drown. Drownings and near-drownings occur 40 percent of the time on the weekends and 66 percent between the months of May and August. Of children surviving near-drownings, up to 20 percent suffer sever or permanent disability. Most accidents occur in residential swimming pools and could be prevented with improved supervision.

 

What can I do to protect my pool at home?

 

Assign a designated "water watcher" to supervise the pool/spa area. Keep a cordless phone and emergency numbers next to the pool. Also, keep the pool area secured on all four sides to prevent your child from accidentally wandering near the water's edge.

 

 

 

Absolutely. Close supervision is the key to preventing drowning. Don't rely on swimming lessons, life preservers or any other equipment to make a child "water safe." Accidents can happen in a matter of seconds.

 

 

 

Yell for help and get the child out of the water. Have someone call 911. If the child isn't breathing, begin CPR immediately and continue until help arrives.

 

 

 

Knowledge about water-related tragedies is a powerful tool. Know the steps to take to avoid danger and prevent water-related injuries. Finally, learn CPR. It may be the valuable tool that saves the life of a loved one.

 

 

 

Yes, all children under the age of 16 are required to wear a helmet when they ride. Even more important, properly fitted bike helmets can reduce the risk of head injury or death by more than 75 percent.

 

 

 

It is important to buy a helmet that meets or exceeds current safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Correct fit is also essential. Helmets should fit snugly, comfortably and shouldn't rock back and forth or side to side.

 

 

 

If your children are reluctant to wear their helmets, try letting them choose their own. If their friends  don't wear helmets, try talking to other parents or neighbors with children about helmet safety.

 

 

 

Bicycle helmets can be life savers, but they may not protect your child in an accident if they are worn incorrectly. Children who wear their helmets tipped back have a 52 percent greater risk of a head injury. It is important that the helmets are worn correctly every time they ride.

 

 

 

Following the rules of the road is important to young riders. Make sure they ride with traffic, not against it, and they should also ride as close to the curb as possible. It is important that they follow proper traffic laws, including stopping at all stop signs and using appropriate hand signals. Ride with them and supervise their riding until they develop the necessary traffic skills and judgment.

 

 

 

Proper bike fit can help prevent injuries. Your child's feet should reach the ground while sitting on the bike seat.

 

 

 

Bike maintenance is very important. Make sure the reflectors are secure, the brakes work, the gears shift smoothly and the tires are tightly secured and inflated.