Child Safety - Page 2
Violence prevention strategies help your children to look out for themselves and each other. Teach them to:
- Settle arguments with words, not fists or weapons.
- Don’t stand around and watch when others are arguing. A hostile group setting can flare into violence.
- Learn safe routes for walking in the neighbourhood, and know good places to seek help in case of trouble.
- Trust their instincts, and if there is a sense of danger, get away fast. Run and scream if they are being molested.
- Say no, get away, and tell a trusted adult immediately if someone tries to abuse them. Reassure the child that it’s not the victim’s fault.
- Report any crimes or suspicious actions to the police, school authorities, and parents.
- Never go anywhere with a stranger.
- Never stand too close to the car if somebody in a car asks for directions.
- Scatter his or her books or belongings to let people know something is wrong, if somebody is bothering them or trying to touch them.
- Never play in empty or deserted buildings. Never play in basements or sub-basements or underground parking lots. Never play alone in alleyways or isolated areas.
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When used as directed, medication, household cleansers, insecticides, etc. are harmless. It is only when they are misused that they become harmful, and sometimes, deadly. Negligence is the ingredient that transforms these objects into potential killers. Parents of young children must be aware that a young child will eat and drink almost anything. IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL POISON AREAS OF YOUR HOME (medicine chest, under the sinks, etc.) – then begin the process of child-proofing them. Here are the basic principles of poison prevention:
- DO – keep all poisonous liquids and solids well out of a young child’s reach. Install high, child-proof locked cabinets, to protect against “climbing youngsters.”
- DO – keep prescription drugs in child resistant containers whenever possible.
- DO – keep all products in original containers.
- DO – store household cleansers on HIGH SHELVES, not below the sink.
- DO – return medication or cleaning products to a safe place immediately after use.
- DO – make sure ALL LOCKS ARE CHILD-PROOF
- DO NOT – Call medicine “candy”. When alone, children may look for the bottle and eat the contents.
- DO NOT – Keep food and household cleaners near each other. A fatal mistake may result.
- DO NOT – Hold on to old products… dispose of medication by sending it or taking it back to your pharmacist to dispose of properly and put household products down the drain if you must… never place in a garbage dumpster where children could get at it.
There are more than 50,000 accidental child poisonings each year. If poisoning occurs, contact the Poison Control Centre, your doctor, or your pharmacist for advice as soon as possible.
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