Safety
It's the most common reason accidents happen: "I only looked away for a minute." "I was gone for a second."
It happened to me, too, many years ago. I was feeding my son in his infant seat on the kitchen table. He was only inches away from me. My four-year-old daughter wanted a glass of milk. Because I did not want to leave the baby, I told her to get the carton out of the refrigerator. As she did, she dropped the almost-full container, spilling milk all over the floor. Without thinking, I jumped up to help her, and in that split second, my son fell out of his infant seat and hit his head on the metal track of our sliding glass door. He suffered a hairline concussion and was hospitalized overnight. I was filled with grief and guilt. Still, we were lucky. For too many parents, grandparents, and children, there are no happy endings to sudden accidents.
Accidents Do Happen
There is no way to prevent all accidents, but there are lots of ways to avoid many of them. At the same time, it's easy to get drawn into the trap of seeing danger everywhere and becoming overly protective of our grandchildren. Children need freedom to play, explore, and take some risks. If we are aware of the dangers most likely to injure our grandchildren, we can take appropriate preventive measures. Then we can relax and let our grandkids be kids.
Suffocation, the No. 1 Danger for Infants
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the number one "unintentional fatal injury" for infants is suffocation. For grandparents, that means concentrating on crib safety. One of the most important things to consider is whether our hand-me-down crib or a crib from a garage sale or thrift shop is safe. Becoming familiar with crib safety standards is easy. Search the Internet for "crib safety." Check on the type of crib you have.
And, remember, things have changed. Babies should not be put to sleep on their stomachs. Put them on their backs or sides on a firm, flat mattress that fits the crib snugly. Remove all soft bedding (quilts, comforters, pillows) and stuffed animals. They're cute and colorful, but they can be dangerous to infants as they sleep. Use only a thin cotton blanket to cover baby.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Not surprisingly, the number one cause of death in children ages 1-14 is motor vehicle accidents. Making sure our grandchildren are "buckled up," no matter how young or old they are, is the best way to protect them from serious injury or death. Infants from birth to one year should be secured in the back seat in a rear-facing seat. Children age one to four should be secured in the back seat in a forward-facing toddler seat. Children age four to eight (or under 4'9") should ride in the back seat in a belt-positioning booster seat. Older children should wear their seat belts all the time.
Despite our best intentions, between 80 and 90 percent of all children placed in car safety seats are improperly restrained. We can check whether our child safety seat is properly installed by going to a child safety seat inspection center station. Seatcheck.org has a lot of good information about safety seat installation and where you can get free inspections.
Drowning
The second most common cause of death for children age 1-14 is drowning. Surprisingly, a study by the National Safe Kids Campaign and Johnson & Johnson found that 88 percent of children who drowned were under adult supervision. The adults, however, were also doing other things: reading, talking on the phone, conversing with friends, etc. Those minor distractions led to tragedy.
And it's not just swimming pools that pose drowning dangers. Small ponds, fountains, wading pools, and even toilets can be fatal attractions. Young children can drown in less than one inch of water in a matter of seconds. We can't afford not to pay attention every minute.
Equipment Recalls
Even the most respected manufacturers can produce products that later prove to be hazardous to children. Often our first warning of a recall is on television or radio. The best way to keep abreast of recalls, however, is to visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site. All recent government recalls are listed here, and the information is comprehensive. Among other things, the Commission gives the name of the product, the manufacturer, the specific hazard, the number of incidents or injuries reported, the remedy, and a consumer contact. Best of all, you can sign up for e-mail announcements of recalls when they occur.
Little Lifesavers
There are some simple, small precautions we grandparents can take to help prevent accidents or deal with them quickly and efficiently if they happen.
- Be watchful. When we're supervising grandchildren, don't let other distractions intrude. Keep both eyes open. One eye isn't enough.
- Learn first aid and CPR, especially if you have a pool. If the unthinkable happens, be prepared to act. The faster you can begin basic first aid or CPR, the more likely your grandchild will have a good outcome.
- Post emergency numbers by all telephones, not just the one in your kitchen. Don't forget your cell phone. Include the number of the U.S. National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
- Introduce your grandchild to basic safety principles. Make sure they know their name, address, and phone number. Teach them how and when to dial "911." Rehearse a fire escape plan with them. If there's a Safety Town program in their neighborhood or yours, enroll your grandchildren. It's a great way for little ones to learn safety rules
- Safety-proof your house before the kids arrive. Place medication and cleaning supplies out of reach. Cover exposed electric sockets. Move fragile, breakable items.
Danger, Danger Everywhere
None of us ever wants to see our grandchildren hurt in any way. And there are so many ways for them to get hurt. It's enough to make us want to lock them away until they're grown up. But we know from experience that even adults can't avoid all accidents. The most important thing we can do is watch, watch, and watch some more. Try to keep everything in balance. Staying safe is important, but so is having fun. Grandchildren are going to fall, scrape their elbows, or cut their knees. Let's make sure that's all that happens to them.
AARP Resources
-
Your
Grandchild's Health Care
Information on how basic health care has changed for infants and children. -
AARP Driver Safety Course
Most of us haven't taken a driving class since we were 16. Maybe it's time to sharpen your skills—and become the safer driver you want your grandchildren to ride with.
Additional Resources
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Seatcheck.org
Search this database to find where you can get a free check-up to be sure your child safety seat is installed right. -
U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission
One of the most comprehensive sites on child safety. Includes recall information, safety tips on child equipment and play dangers, and a sign-up service for e-mail announcements on recalls. Also has an interactive section "especially for kids," where children can learn safety rules for biking, skating, and other play activities. -
National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control
Information on injury care and prevention, violence, and unintentional injuries. Fact sheets on specific injuries and statistics on injuries and injury-related deaths by age group and state. -
National Safe Kids
Campaign
Safety tips on specific dangers, safety checklists, answers to frequently asked questions, product recalls, and activities that help kids think and act safely. -
Car
Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2004
Everything you need to know about the use and installation of car seats from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Information on "best" car seats, types, installation and use, used car seats, and manufacturers' phone numbers and Web sites. -
Water Safety
Guidelines for keeping children safe in and near the water. -
The Danny
Foundation
Information on crib safety. - American Red Cross Health and Safety Services The American Red Cross provides health and safety services, such as first aid and CPR courses, HIV/AIDS education, caregiving and babysitting resources and checklists, and much more.
- KidsHealth KidsHealth has an extensive website that provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence, including separate age-appropriate areas for kids, teens, and parents/caregivers.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes & Noble
- " Consumer Reports Best Baby Products," Sandra Gordon, editor, Consumer Reports Books, March 2004. Advice on making the best choices when furnishing a nursery, buying a car seat, and getting other products for your grandbaby.
