Child Safety Category
How to Keep Both Your Pets & Children Safe
We love our pets and our children, but when we hear the tragic news of children being mauled by pets what is a parent to do? A few things to keep in mind so both your child and your pet can be safe.
Teach Your Children NOT To Run Away from Strange Dogs
Your instincts may tell you to “scream and run”, but that will set off the dog’s “prey response.” Instead, teach your child to use a loud, firm voice and tell the dog to “go home”. If the dog is just curious and watching your child (ears perked, tail wagging, relaxed stance) tell the child to walk away calmly. If the dog is standing in a threatening manner with ears laid back along his head, body tense, tail up (may or may not be wagging slowly) tell the dog to “Go lay down” in a firm voice, do not yell, do not scream. Any sudden move may trigger an attack. Tell your child to start to walk away slowly.
Never Approach a Pet When It Is Eating
Every child should know to leave a pet alone when it is eating. Animals are protective of their food and may snap at, bite or claw at someone who tries to disturb them while eating.
Give Your Pet Space
Your pet should have a place it can go where it cannot be bothered: a pillow, a crate, a doghouse, whatever. This place should be totally off limits to kids and adults.
Never Leave Your Child With a Pet Unattended
Even the friendliest pet will bite if it is in pain or just had enough. Teach your child to be gentle and respect the pet just as she would respect any member of the family.
More tips for pet safety can be found on the ASPCA website.
What tips do you have for pet and child safety? Please share them with us!
Water Safety
This past Sunday tragedy hit a Chicago neighborhood when an 8-year-old boy fell into the Chicago river while playing tag. The little boy couldn’t swim and despite efforts to rescue him, he was swept away in the strong river current. Unfortunately, tragic drownings are the second cause of death among children. It’s easy to forget simple tips for water saefty so we wanted to post a reminder.
Water Safety Tips:
- When your children are around water (pool, lake, river, even bathtub) it is important that they have adult supervision at all times. It only take an inch or two of water and a few seconds for a child to drown.
- Make sure you continually stress to your child that he/she shouldn’t play near water without an adult present and go over clear water safety rules with your child.
- Remind your child of water safety rules such as not running near water, no pushing or shoving near water, etc.
- Be sure to have your child wear a life vest when you are boating, etc.
- Teach your child to swim or at least float. While knowing how to swim isn’t a security against drowning, it can help your child know what to do if he/she falls into water.
We liked this Kid’s Health site for great water safety tips especially for kids.
What ways have you promoted water safety with your children?
Children’s First Aid Kit
No parent ever wants to think about having a medical emergency with their child, but no matter how vigilant you are, your child will get sick and can have an accident. One thing you will always want handy in the car and at home is a child’s first aid kit. You will want the kit to contain medications, “instruments” such as sharp scissors, tweezers and emergency contact numbers of your pediatrician, etc. A great resource for suggestions of what to put in your child’s first aid kit can be found at babycenter.com.
Do you have an emergency plan or first aid kit for your child?
If so, please share with us what you have included in it.
