National Safe Kids Week

National Safe Kids Week runs from April 26 to May 3, 2009. To kick off Safe Kids Week, Safe Kids and its founder Johnson & Johnson commissioned a safety study. (It’s the first time a scientific study has been released that links age-appropriate safety tips to children’s cognitive, behavioral and physical development.) Relevant study findings can be found below:

Did you know that infants…?

Have spines that are not fully developed, leaving them vulnerable to injury if they are not correctly positioned in a vehicle. They have a slower digestion rate and a lower tolerance for medication. Their skin is thinner and more sensitive, meaning it can burn more quickly than that of an adult. To keep your infant safer:

• Use a rear-facing, semi-reclined car seat until your baby is at least age 1 and 20 pounds. Use a rear-facing car seat longer if the seat has higher weight and height limits.
• Always follow directions and read labels when giving your baby medicine to avoid over-medicating.
• Do not hold an infant while cooking or carrying hot liquids and foods.

Did you know that children 1 to 4 years old…?

Have muscles and bones not yet fully developed. They are also still learning how to balance themselves and adjust their stance to avoid falls. They may wander off unsupervised to explore cupboards and drawers that may contain chemicals and poisons in them. To keep your 1-to 4-year old safer:

• Provide safe places to play. Only allow your child to play on playgrounds with 12 inches of safe surfaces such as shredded rubber, hardwood fiber/mulch or fine sand below the equipment to create a softer landing in case of a fall.
• Install stair gates so your curious child will not fall down stairs, and secure furniture to the wall to avoid it tipping over on them if they try to climb on it.
• Keep medicines and poisonous household items locked up and out of reach. Also, choose products with child-resistant packaging.

For information about Safe Kids Week events taking place around the country or for a copy of the Raising Safe Kids: One Stage at a Time report please visit www.usa.safekids.org.