Not only leaves fall

 

This fall I was thinking what can I write about so I thought fall, fall "I got it Fall" I remember when I was a child my mother was what you could say "some what over protective". I remember riding my new bicycle around and around in my back yard to the point there were little dirt ruts surrounding the parameter, on a humorous note she actually expected me to ride my skate board there as well. I longed for the chance to ride in the street and feel the smooth road under my wheels. I imagined I could go places like easyrider. Well that never happened I was driving a car in the street before a bike. What my mom didn't know was only 1% of child injuries occur in streets or highways.

I actually developed a daredevil attitude (sorry Billy) partly because of her over protectiveness. But maybe it also played a part in me working in safety because she never failed to warn me about being burned, swimming too soon after eating, running with scissors and many other warnings. Children need us to protect them from being hurt. There is nothing more sad then seeing a child hurt and it is a million times worse when you know they were hurt because we didn't protect them. Unintentional death is the leading cause of death in children under 15 and it saddens me to say 99% of those tragic losses of could have been prevented but were not.

The leading cause of injury for children 1 and under is falling from one level (roofs of cars, changing tables, counter tops down, dropped when bathing) to a lower level.

2-4 year olds tend to fall down stairs out of high chairs and out of windows. This usualy happens when little ones are scampering through the house on their walker and that broom mom had on the floor to stop Junior only slowed him down. Another is when mom "or Dad" feeds the toddler in a high chair and continues working on the dishes or talking on the phone. Apartment windows a another culprit because many people cant modify windows because their lease wont allow them to.

The next area where children get injured is on the playground but those injuries are in children from 5 – 9 years of age. You would think play grounds would be safer because they are designed for children. The truth is most of those kids are hurt through lack of adult supervision. Other contributing factors in this are poor playground maintenance or children playing on equipment not appropriate for their age.

Continuing to the next group is 10 -15 and the main injury culprit is sports injuries and the injuries mostly happen to boys. Most of these are due to well meaning football dads with visions of their pride and joy getting that football scholarship or dare they even dream "The NFL". To see thier sons waving from the end zone at the super bowl "Hi Dad!" so they push them a little harder and they have our little chat with their coach and he pushes a little harder and then they wind up with a son with knee pain at 14. Additionally we need to take a close look at those weekend coaches and ask if and how they were/are qualified to teach our kids safely.

Now that I have painted such a bleak picture what do you do?

 1.Never for any reason leave a infant unattended even for literally ½ a second on a changing table, in a high chair and never set them on the roof of a car keep them low to the ground and in your hand. Expect your angel to be very slippery when bathing.

2.Supervision supervision supervision is the only way to protect a toddler. Use bouncers not walkers and child gates at the top of steps as a mater of fact even if its only one step. Secure your windows. Use quality high chairs and use those straps even if little Suzie throws a ring tail hissy fit and for goodness sake stay focused on the task at hand the dishes will wait…

3."You have to just knuckle down and check out the play ground" look at the equipment check for protruding nails, splinters, loose bolts, pinch points for little fingers. Even those padded play grounds are not safe children can receive nasty head injuries and some time transients sleep in them and leave all kinds of horrible things in tunnels and slides. Remember S. A. F. E. (Supervision, Age-appropriate, Falls to surface, and Equipment maintenance.)

4.Sports "Whew" there is so much to cover but remember the basics; He/She are just children and although they are young they can get hurt easer then adults so support and encourage safe training and let the coach do the coaching. Ask the tough questions like "What qualifies you to be a coach?"

In closing there are many websites on children safety surf get in the know to be a better parent they deserve it and remember you will make a difference so make it a good one.