Practical Parenting Tips to Prevent Kids from Accidents

Kids are so precious to us. That is why it is always a good parenting advice to always watch children as they play or stay in one corner as accidental injuries are among the reasons for death among children in UK. More particularly, one million children under the age of 18 are sent to accident and emergency units everyday due to accidents occurring in the home. It can also be noted that children under 3 years of age are the most to visit the ER while an appalling 70 percent of children who die from accidents are 4 years old and younger.

Much as we want our children to stay put, we cannot make them as it is a natural thing for them to go about and explore their surroundings. And with that, they get closer to accidents. Only prevention is the best thing for avoiding accidents. The following are some of the common accidents and how these can be avoided.

1.Fall
This is a very common accident. To avoid this, the following have to be followed:Toys should have to be kept from the floor. Furthermore, when a child starts to walk, he or she should be closely supervised and must not be left to himself. The floor also has to be dry all the time and must be regularly checked for raised surfaces or cracked areas. When the baby is in the cot, the bedrail must be raised and securely locked to keep the baby inside it. Also, some harness or belt must be put on to prevent the baby from moving about too much.
Should falling happen, the child should immediately be checked for consciousness. His airways must also be cleared. Should there be bleeding, pressure has to be placed on it to stop the bleeding. Calling for help should also be done.

2.Choking
Choking happens when a baby places a foreign object inside his mouth and swallows it. This is very dangerous as it can block the baby’s airways. The following parenting tips have to be observed.
Toys should be appropriate for the child’s age. These should also be kept out of their reach especially if the mother’s back is turned. Strings, cords, and curtains should not be accessible to children as they easily get attracted to such things. Even the feeding bottle has to be given to the child under the close supervision of an adult. Also, the blanket or pillow should not be left alone to the child when sleeping. Choking can also mean near-drowning. So it is essential to bathe the baby very carefully.
When choking occurs, CPR must be applied if necessary and call to the ER must also be done.

3.Burn/Scald
This is when the baby touches hot surfaces or hot water.When a child is eating, make sure that the noodles, soup, or other food is at room temperature. This also goes true when bathing a baby. The water’s temperature must be ensured safe. Furthermore, put the baby down when holding something hot as this may attract the baby and he may touch it. Materials for making fire must be kept away from children as is with kitchen utensils.
Should burn/scalds occur, the adult must make sure that the airways of the child are clear. Then, the burnt skin will have to be rinsed with tap water for a good ten minutes and afterwards, this should be covered in bandages. Applying toothpaste or ointment should be prevented and any cloth that sticks to the burnt area must be left alone as removing this will hurt and worsen the injury.

4.Poisoning
Poisoning is the accidental ingestion of drugs, pesticides, and other chemicals.To avoid this from happening, adults must make sure that medicines and chemicals are kept away from children’s reach and must be labeled appropriately. Also, children must not be misled by telling them that medicines taste good. In fact, the opposite must be stated.
Should this happen, one should immediately call for help and apply CPR if necessary. The child must be placed in a lateral position if breathing is normal and clear. Also, the adult must steer clear from making contact with the chemicals. When bringing the child to the ER, make sure to bring a small amount of the vomitus to help identify the type of chemical ingested.

Every adult must remember the ambulance service at 999 as well as the Fire Services Communication Center at 27353355.

Parenting Blog recognizes the challenges of being a parent and looking after children. That is why it advocates for practical parenting so the job does not need to be too difficult.

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