Why Education on Accident Prevention is Important
Accidents are a leading cause of harm and death in young individuals. Most of these accidents are predictable and therefore preventable. Equipping mothers (and other caregivers) with knowledge and strategies can significantly reduce the risk.

General Principles of Accident Prevention

• Supervision: Direct, attentive supervision is the most effective way to prevent many accidents, especially for younger individuals and toddlers.

• Safe Environment (Childproofing): Modifying the home and play areas to remove or minimize hazards. This needs to be an ongoing process as the individual grows and develops new abilities.

• Age-Appropriate Safety Rules: Teaching individuals simple safety rules as they grow older and can understand them.

• Role Modeling: Adults demonstrating safe behaviors.

• Knowing the Individual’s Developmental Stage: Understanding what an individual is capable of at different ages helps anticipate potential risks (e.g., a crawling infant can reach low cupboards, a toddler can climb).

Specific Areas of Accident Prevention to Discuss with Mothers

1. Falls
Common and can cause serious injuries.

• Prevention Strategies:

  • Never leave infants unattended on high surfaces like changing tables, beds, or sofas.

  • Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

  • Install window guards or window stops (ensure they can be opened by an adult in an emergency). Keep furniture away from windows.

  • Ensure playgrounds have soft landing surfaces (e.g., wood chips, sand, rubber matting) under equipment.

  • Keep floors clear of clutter and spills. Secure rugs.

  • Do not use baby walkers with wheels; stationary activity centers are safer.

  • Teach individuals not to climb on furniture.

2. Burns and Scalds
Painful and can lead to long-term scarring.

• Prevention Strategies:

  • Set water heater thermostats to a safe temperature (e.g., 120°F or 49°C) to prevent tap water scalds. Always test bathwater temperature before placing an individual in.

  • Keep hot liquids (coffee, tea, soup) and foods well out of reach. Avoid carrying hot drinks while holding an individual.

  • Use back burners on the stove and turn pot handles inward.

  • Keep matches, lighters, candles, and flammable liquids locked away and out of reach.

  • Install and regularly test smoke alarms on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. Have a fire escape plan.

  • Use outlet covers for unused electrical sockets. Keep electrical cords out of reach and ensure appliances are in good condition.

  • Teach individuals that stoves, ovens, and irons are hot.

3. Poisoning
Young individuals explore by putting things in their mouths.

• Prevention Strategies:

  • Store all medicines (prescription and over-the-counter), cleaning products, pesticides, alcohol, cosmetics, and other chemicals in their original containers, locked up high, and out of sight and reach.

  • Use child-resistant caps, but remember they are not childproof.

  • Never refer to medicine as “candy.”

  • Keep the Poison Control Center phone number readily accessible.

  • Identify and remove poisonous plants from the home and yard, or keep them out of reach.

  • Be aware of button batteries (found in small electronics, toys, remotes) as they are extremely dangerous if swallowed. Keep items with button batteries secure.

4. Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation
Airways are small and can be easily blocked.

• Prevention Strategies:

  • Keep small objects (coins, buttons, small toy parts, marbles, beads) out of reach. Check toys for small, loose parts.

  • Cut food for young individuals into small, manageable pieces (e.g., grapes in quarters, hot dogs lengthwise and then into small pieces). Avoid hard, round foods like whole nuts, hard candies, and popcorn for very young individuals.

  • Supervise individuals closely during mealtimes. Teach them to sit down while eating and chew food well.

  • Ensure cribs and playpens meet current safety standards. Use a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. Keep pillows, soft bedding, bumpers, and stuffed animals out of the crib for infants to prevent suffocation.

  • Place infants on their back to sleep.

  • Keep plastic bags, plastic wrap, and balloons away from young individuals.

  • Tie up or cut short any looped cords on blinds, curtains, or appliances to prevent strangulation.

  • Ensure gaps in cot slats, banisters, and railings are too small for an individual’s head to get trapped.

5. Drowning
Can happen quickly and silently, even in small amounts of water.

• Prevention Strategies:

  • Never leave an individual unattended near or in water (bathtub, pool, bucket, toilet, pond), not even for a second.

  • Empty buckets, wading pools, and bathtubs immediately after use.

  • Install four-sided fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates around home swimming pools.

  • Keep bathroom doors closed. Use toilet lid locks.

  • Teach individuals to swim, but remember that swimming lessons do not make an individual “drown-proof”; supervision is still essential.

  • Learn CPR.

6. Road and Car Safety
Traffic accidents are a major cause of injury.

• Prevention Strategies:

  • Always use an appropriate car seat for the individual’s age, weight, and height, and ensure it is correctly installed according to manufacturer’s instructions and vehicle manual. Individuals should ride rear-facing for as long as possible, then forward-facing with a harness, and then in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly.

  • Always ensure individuals are buckled up, on every trip, no matter how short.

  • Never leave an individual unattended in a car.

  • Teach pedestrian safety: look both ways before crossing, use crosswalks, obey traffic signals. Hold a young individual’s hand near roads.

  • Ensure individuals wear helmets when biking, scootering, or skateboarding.

  • Supervise play near driveways and streets carefully.

7. Other Safety Considerations

• Firearms: If firearms are in the home, they must be stored unloaded and locked away, with ammunition stored separately and also locked.

• Toy Safety: Choose age-appropriate toys. Check for small parts, sharp edges, or long strings. Regularly inspect toys for damage.

• Pet Safety: Teach gentle behavior with pets. Supervise interactions between individuals and animals. Never leave a young individual alone with a pet.

Key Messages for Mothers

• Active Supervision is Key: Nothing replaces watching your individual closely.

• Childproof Your Home: Look at your home from your individual’s height to spot potential dangers.

• Learn Basic First Aid and CPR: Knowing what to do in an emergency can save a life.

• Be Aware of Developmental Changes: As your individual grows, new risks emerge.

• Consistency is Important: Ensure all caregivers follow the same safety rules.

• It’s Okay to Ask for Help: If unsure about safety, ask a healthcare provider or look for reliable resources.