By Marilyn Morris
Child Advocacy Specialist
Going to grandma’s house or on vacation can be fun and exciting for children, but a trip can become a nightmare when injuries occur. When you visit grandparents, go camping, stay in a hotel, or any place besides home, be aware that there may be hidden dangers that could be minimized with a little extra care.
Here are some Summer@Safety tips while away from home:
- When you first arrive, make a safety sweep inside and out.
- Check out the furnishings: Look for sharp corners on tables or fireplace mantles, see if there are heavy objects that could topple over, and check the spacing on stair and balcony railings. Move beds or chairs that are placed next to windows in upper floor rooms. We are seeing a big increase in injuries from falling out of windows. Screens keep bugs out, not kids in.
- Move dangerous, breakable or valuable objects out of reach. It’s great to teach your child not to touch, but do you really want to chance your mother’s cherished crystal?
- Check for poisonous substances within a child’s reach such as cleaning products, yard/car care products, medications, and plants. It’s a good idea to discover the poison ivy near your campsite before your child does. Also at grandmas, make sure she has picked up all the thyroid pills she may have dropped on the carpet or are loose in her purse next to the gum.
- Check for cords such as frayed electrical, dangling appliance, or long window blind pulls.
- Be aware of any nearby bodies of water such as ditches, creeks, fountains, or swimming pools. Even dog dishes can be a hazard if your host owns a Scooby Doo.
- Check out the other people around you. Remind children to be careful around strangers and to never go with someone they don’t know. Teach your children a family code word to use in an emergency. Don’t put your child’s name on luggage tags or backpacks.
- Dress your children properly for the occasion such as wearing long pants when hiking or camping. When in public places, have your children wear bright colors and distinctive clothes so they are easier to supervise in a crowd. And don’t forget the sunscreen!
- If you are attending a party or reunion, have adults take turns being responsible for each child. Often injuries occur where there were plenty of adults nearby, but everyone was so busy having fun that no one was watching little Jenny. It only takes a child a second to fall into the water, pull the TV over, or wander into the road.
The Best Tip: Supervise! Supervise! Supervise!
There is no better way to make sure your child does not get into a dangerous situation. You don’t need to be a helicopter mom and continually hover, or even wrap your child in bubble wrap. Just Be There and Be Aware!
