This document outlines various safety tips for keeping children safe from burns, poisoning, dangerous toys, cars, home hazards, water dangers, falls, streets, and emergencies. It recommends using safety measures like child locks, safety seats, gates, fire extinguishers, closed bathroom doors, helmets, supervision, and education to prevent injury from things like hot surfaces, medications, small objects, traffic, stairs, pools, playgrounds, matches, streets, and emergencies. The document advises teaching children safe behaviors to avoid risks as they get older.

1. **from The Merck Manual of Children’s Health 2007**
Keeping Children SAFE
Burns
 Keep children out of the
kitchen and away from hot
objects.
 Keep electrical appliances,
cords, matches and lighters
out of reach.
 Always test the bathwater
before putting the children
in.
Poisoning
 Use safety caps on all
drugs and toxic household
products. Keep them in
their original containers
and store them out of sight
and out of reach in a
locked cabinet.
 Never call drugs candy.
Toys
 Give age-appropriate toys.
 Check toys for small parts
that children could choke
on.
Cars
 Install child safety seats.
 Do not leave children alone
in the car.
(Age 1yr. & older)
Home
 Use gates on stairways and
remove sharp-edged
furniture from rooms.
 Keep emergency telephone
numbers by the telephone.
 Buy a fire extinguisher for
the home.
Water
 Do not leave a child alone
in or near a bath tub,
swimming pools, or
containers of water even
for a moment.
 Keep bathroom doors
closed.
(Age 2 yrs. & older)
Falls
 Teach children how to use playground
equipment safely.
Street
 Don’t let children play in the street.
Burns
 Teach Children not to play with
matches and lighters.
(Age 5 yrs. & older)
Street
 Make sure children wear helmets
when they bike or skate.
 Teach children never to cross a
street without an adult.
 Make sure children come home by
dark.
Emergencies
 Teach children to alert an adult if
emergency occurs.
 Make sure children know their name,
address, and telephone number.
 Have an escape plan and practice it.
 Teach children about common
poisons and chemicals.
Water
 Teach Children to swim.
 Teach children to check depth of
water before jumping or diving in.
 Encourage the buddy system.
 Make sure children wear life jackets
in boats.