Five Star Safety - Child Safety

Child Safety

Child Safety and the Risk of Choking

2800 children and infants die each year of choking-related deaths. This is an astounding number that seems far too high. And the saddest fact is that most of them could have been prevented if the caregivers and the children only knew a little more about child safety. The death of a child is by far one of the most tragic things that can occur, but when it could have been prevented, it only adds to the misfortune. As adults and caregivers, it can be difficult for us sometimes to understand child safety and gage potential choking hazards accurately. Children are unpredictable at times and will often do things that we would never imagine, so we have to make sure that we have the proper safety products and knowledge at hand to both prevent and treat accidents when they occur.

One of the most important child safety tools you can arm yourself with as a caregiver is the Heimlich maneuver that has been developed specifically for use on babies. Knowing how to properly do this can definitely save a life, and every care giver should take the time to find a class where they can develop this child safety skill. There are simply no child safety products that can do what this maneuver can. Buying every child safety product on the market will not take away the risk of choking.

Infant safety can be ensured by following these rules:

Close supervision at all times
Keep small objects away from children
Make sure children chew their food well
Eat only when seated, and certainly not in a moving vehicle
Cut food into small pieces
Be cautious about giving children foods that are easy to choke on (hard candies, nuts)

Keeping these things in mind and practicing home safety will greatly increase child safety and decrease the risk of choking. And if you are not a parent, but have a child coming to your house for a visit, you too need to think about baby safety and child safety and prepare your home accordingly. Safety does not stop at home, learn more about the things that you can do to ensure the proper school safety for your children as well.

Kids all grown up? Then check out the pages we have on the site regarding safe teens too!