Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years-Safety Measures Around the Home You can help protect your child from accidents and injuries by taking general safety measures around your home. Think ahead about what potentially dangerous situations will attract your child. Supervise your child, but keep in mind that constant hovering over children can limit their experiences and confidence. Balancing supervision with safety precautions will help prevent accidents and injuries as well as allow children to explore.

The following are common accidents and injuries that can occur around the house, and some suggestions on how to prevent them.

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Falls

Preventing falls isn't always easy. Toddlers and young children often move quickly. Their excitement about their mobility and their lack of experience can make them unaware of dangers, such as stairs or hills. Children ages 4 to 5 years anticipate many dangers, but they may not have the physical skills to avoid accidents. Some ways to help prevent falls are to:

• Use sliding gates at both ends of stairways.
• Use safety straps in high chairs and changing tables.

Choking

Children ages 2 to 5 years can easily choke on everyday objects and food. Your child needs your supervision even though he or she may be able to eat independently.

• Prevent choking. Your child can choke on things smaller than 1.25 in. (3.2 cm) in diameter and 2.25 in. (5.7 cm) long. These include button batteries and coins. Keep items like these out of your child's reach.
• Learn to recognize signs of choking. For example, a child who is choking can't talk, cry, breathe, or cough.

Strangulation and suffocation

Many household items can strangle a young child. Make sure that loose cords, objects, and furniture don't pose strangling risks.

• Keep cords for blinds and drapes out of reach. Attach cords to mounts that hold them taut, and wrap them around wall brackets. Cords with loops should be cut and equipped with safety tassels.
• Do not use accordion-style gates. Babies and young children can get their heads trapped in the gate and may strangle.
• Make sure that furniture doesn't have cutout portions or other areas that can trap your child's head.

Suffocation is another danger for young children. Teach your child about suffocation and the importance of a safe play area. Pay attention to possible suffocation dangers, such as:

• Trunks of cars. Keep rear fold-down seats closed so children aren't able to climb into the trunk from inside the car. Also, always lock car doors and keep the keys out of sight and out of reach of your child.
• Refrigerators and freezers, even those that aren't in use. If you are storing an old refrigerator or freezer, be sure to take off the door.
• Plastic sacks. Don't let your child play with plastic sacks. Keep them out of reach. Children may put sacks over their head during play, which can lead to suffocation.

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