Tips to protect your children during National Safety Month
June is National Safety Month and despite much progress, unintentional injury accounts for 40% of the child deaths in the United States.
No family should have to experience the heartache of losing a child to an injury that could have been prevented.
“Many people are surprised to learn that unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children,” says Kelli England, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and nationally known child-safety researcher in EVMS Pediatrics’ Community Health and Research division. “Injuries related to car crashes, drowning, and poisoning top the list.”
Families can keep their children safe by following safety recommendations for avoiding hazards in the home, around water, and on the road.
Get started with one or more of the actions below from Prevent Child Injury:
At Home
- Look for hazards in your home using an app or checklist
- Make Safe Happen app (available in app stores)
- Safe Kids My High 5 checklists
- End Injury actions
- Share safety information on social media
- Submit an article on safety to an organization’s newsletter or blog
- Ask questions about home safety when taking your children to visit family and friends
In Your Community
- Set up a car seat check in your neighborhood or at a church, school, or recreational event
- Help students find safer routes to school
- Send a letter to your local newspaper editor
- Decide to be a good role model by not texting or looking at your phone when driving or walking
Test your knowledge on the facts of child safety with an online quiz from Prevent Child Injury.
Learn more about injury safety programs here in Hampton Roads and across the country.