Quarterly Focus

Did you know?

Every day, six teens are killed in a motor vehicle crash in the U.S. In fact, crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, ahead of all other types of injury, violence or disease.

Distracted Driving Month

Top Tips

  1. It’s never too late to be a good role model. Your son or daughter has been watching what you do in cars since they were small, and will model their good and bad behavior after what they see you do. Even if you’ve made mistakes, start doing the right thing today.
  2. Buckle up on every ride, every time; front seat and back. Make buckling up a habit starting when kids are young.
  3. Make a formal agreement with your teen driver, setting clear expectations about your family rules.– Discuss different scenarios your new driver may encounter and what scares you about these situations. Define your zero-tolerance rules for driving, addressing speeding, alcohol and texting.
  4. Make sure your teen gets at least 50 hours of practice with an experienced driver in a variety of road conditions. Check your state law to find out what’s required, but don’t stop there if your child needs more time.
  5. Limit the number of passengers that is allowed in the car with your teen. The risk for a fatal crash increases as the number of passengers increases. Every child is different so set your rules based on your own assessment of your child.
  6. Encourage your child to speak up if a driver of any age isn't driving safely and makes them feel scared. Provide them with alternative plans to get home, just in case.

SPRING CLEANING - POISON PREVENTION TIPS

Keep Cleaners and Other Toxic Products Out of Reach

  1. Store all household products out of children’s sight and reach. Young kids are often eye-level with items under the kitchen and bathroom sinks. So any bleach, detergents, dishwasher liquid or cleaning solutions that are kept there should be moved to a new storage location.
  2. Install child safety locks on cabinets where you have stored poisonous items. It only takes a few minutes, and it gives you one less thing to worry about.
  3. Read product labels to find out what can be hazardous to kids. Dangerous household items include makeup, personal care products, plants, pesticides, lead, art supplies, alcohol and carbon monoxide.
  4. Don’t leave poisonous products unattended while in use. Many incidents happen when adults are distracted for a moment on the phone or at the door.
  5. Keep cleaning products in their original containers. Never put a potentially poisonous product in something other than its original container (such as a plastic soda bottle) where it could be mistaken for something else.
  6. Throw away old medicines and other potential poisons. Check your garage, basement and other storage areas for cleaning and work supplies you no longer need and can discard.

Check Your Purse for Potential Hazards

  1. Be aware of any medications or makeup that may be in your handbag. Store handbags out of the reach of young children.

Use Original, Child-Resistant Packaging

  1. Buy child-resistant packages when available.
  2. Keep products in their original packages to avoid confusion.

Keep Medicines Up and Away

  1. Make sure that all medications, including vitamins and adult medicines, are stored out of reach and out of sight or children.
  2. Even if you are tempted to keep it handy, put medicine out of reach after every use. When you need to give another dose in just a few hours, it may be tempting to keep medicine close at hand. Accidents can happen fast. It only takes a few seconds for children to get into medicine that could make them very sick. Put medicine up and away after every use. And if you need a reminder, set an alarm on your watch or cell phone, or write yourself a note.
  3. Learn more medication safety tips.

Put the Poison Help Number in Your Phone

  1. Put the toll-free number for the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) into your home and cell phones. You should also post it near your phone or on your refrigerator for the babysitter. Hopefully you'll never need it, but it’s nice to have just in case.
  2. Poison control centers offer fast, free, confidential help in English and Spanish. Most poisonings are resolved over the phone. The number works from anywhere in the United States 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  3. If your child has collapsed, is not breathing, or has a seizure, call 911.
  4. Do not make children vomit or give him anything unless directed by a professional.

Check for Lead

  1. Check homes built before 1978 for lead-based paint. If lead hazards are identified, test your child for lead exposure and hire a professional to control and remove lead sources safely.
  2. Remove any peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.
  3. Regularly wash your child’s toys and pacifiers to reduce the risk of your child coming into contact with lead or lead-contaminated dust.
  4. Check www.recalls.gov for more info on product recalls involving lead-based products. Follow the recommendations to eliminate any products such as toys or cookware that contain lead.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm to Prevent Poisoning

  1. Install a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas, and keep them at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.
  2. Learn more carbon monoxide tips.