Parenting: Preschoolers

Think your home is the safest place for your children? According to the National Safety Council's Injury Facts 2002 Edition, there were more than 3,000 deaths caused by unintentional injuries in children ages 5 to 14 years of age. Similarly, the National Safe Kids Campaign reports that "More than 4.5 million children, ages 14 and under, are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries that occurred in the home."

While the statistics vary according to age, drowning, mechanical suffocation (i.e. suffocation by bedding, clothes, blinds), burns and motor vehicle accidents continue to be among the leading causes of death. So just how prepared is your family to handle any one of these emergencies?

Prepare Yourself
If you are one of the many of us who has been putting off the task of learning first aid, consider this: "Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among children," says Ann Kulenkamp, director of communications for the Minnesota Safety Council. "It only takes seconds for a tragedy to occur. Parents should start early with a clear message about safety."

Learning about first aid can be fun and educational for both parents and children, and it can mean the difference between life and death.

"With two active boys who are into everything, it was necessary for me to brush up on my knowledge of first aid as well as teach them how to be safe," says Kathy Burman, a mother from Beaverton, Ore. "Even if my house is childproof, it is unrealistic to expect that everywhere we go will be childproof. I want to know that my kids have the basic knowledge to stay away from danger."

The following are some basic guidelines to follow when your kids need first aid:

Burns
According to the Keep Kids Healthy First Aid Guide, "After your child has been removed form the source of the burn, if they have a minor burn, you should soak it in cold water for about 15 minutes by placing it under running tap water or by covering the area with a cold, wet towel. You should not put ice or butter or any ointments on the burn, and do not break any blisters that have formed. If possible remove burned clothing or cut it away. Next, place a sterile dressing over the burned area and call your doctor for further instructions, especially for second- or third-degree burn, which should be seen by a health care professional."

Poison Ingestion
Contact your local poison control center immediately. Make sure that you have the following information available: child's condition, age and weight, product containers or bottles, time the poisoning occurred and your name and telephone number.

The Keep Kids Healthy First Aid Guide recommends that you keep syrup of ipecac on hand, in case you are instructed to induce vomiting, but you should never do this unless instructed by a medical professional. You can find the number for your local poison control center in the front of your phone book, on the Internet at www.aapcc.org or you can call 1-800-222-1222.

Choking
According to the National Safety Council, for a conscious adult or child older than 1 who is choking, experts recommend the Heimlich maneuver. Stand behind the victim, make a fist, place it above the navel, put your other hand on top of your fist and give quick, upward thrusts.

Head Trauma
According to Keep Kids Healthy, you should seek immediate medical attention for treatment if your child has head trauma and loses consciousness, has a seizure, becomes lethargic or drowsy, has frequent vomiting, double vision or any other changes in their usual personality.

Prevention, the Best Form of First Aid
Some specific steps that parents can take to help prevent a tragedy from happening in their home are:

Childproof your home. "Parents of younger children should literally get down to the child's eye level and look for hazards in every room of the house," says Kulenkamp. "Childproofing the home and constant supervision of younger children are critical."

Educate yourself and your family on first aid/safety. The Minnesota Safety Council has developed a terrific Web site at www.safe-a-rooni.org, where children can go on a Snappy Safari and learn about safety. It is a terrific tool for parents to use when discussing safety with their children. In addition, there are several sites for kids focused on specific areas of safety. For example, www.sparky.org has fire safety-related activities.

Discuss a family emergency plan. The National Safety Council provides a Family Preparedness Checklist on its Web site at www.nsc.org/issu es/firstaid/familychklist.htm. This is a great way to develop your family emergency plan.

Prepare a first aid kit. The National Safe Kids Campaign urges parents to keep first aid supplies on hand. Make sure parents and other caregivers know where to find the supplies in your home. It is important to remember to check expiration dates on all medication every couple of months and restock items after you use them.

The National Safety Council provides this list of items for first aid that you should always keep in your home or car: a first aid manual, emergency telephone numbers, list of all allergies/medications for each member of the family, antibiotic ointment, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, syrup of ipecac, bandages and gauze of assorted sizes, roller gauze bandages, CPR barrier device, medical exam gloves, elastic wraps, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, cold packs for icing injuries, thermometer, tweezers and small scissors.

Unfortunately, living free of emergencies is unrealistic, but by educating yourself and your family, you can make a difference between life and death. Brush up on your first aid skills, teach your child basic first aid techniques and improve your odds.

"To prepare for emergencies, parents should know first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation," says Joe Larking of the National Safety Council. "Post emergency numbers near all telephones, your child should know their street address, how to dial 911 and their last name." Take the necessary steps to make your home environment the safest it can be for your children.