Safe Outside

The backyard

• Make sure your porch/deck railings are no more than 2 3/8ths inches apart.
• Wading, swimming pools, and even buckets with a little bit of water pose drowning dangers—keep an eye on your child at all times near water.
• Remove dangerous plants—babies love to learn by taste. To learn more about which plants are toxic for your child, visit the National Capital Poison Center.
• Don’t let your kids play where herbicides or pesticides have been used.
• Surround play areas with soft surfaces.

Water and drowning

If you have a pool or a hot tub in your backyard surround it with a fence, at least 5 feet tall with latched gates (place the latches out of children's reach). Covers alone do not prevent children from going in.

• Keep a cordless phone by the poolside so you can always watch children, rather than dashing inside to get a phone call.  Your children should have constant supervision by the pool.
• Make sure there are two outlets for drains and suction devices, so that if a child gets caught in one, the suction will have other outlet.
• Keep the hot tub temperature under 104 degrees F.
• Learn CPR and keep your certification updated.
• Keep rescue equipment (lifesaving ring, shepherd’s hook, and emergency numbers and telephone) by the poolside.

The National Safe Kids Campaign injury facts provides statistics for drowning and water safety measures.  It also includes many tips on keeping you and your children safe.

Water Safety from the SafeUSA site has information on keeping your children safe near pools, lakes, and other water sources.  It also includes links to many other sites dealing with water safety.

Guidelines to Water Safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics offers important information to keep children safe around water.

Pets

Pets can play a significant and wonderful role in the family, but having a pet while your child is young is a big and important decision.  Do your research when choosing an animal to make sure that it will be the right fit for you, your baby, and your pet.  Even if you do not have a pet, there are some guidelines to follow to keep your child safe around other animals that may be in the neighborhood.

• Never leave an infant alone with a dog.
• Teach your pet to be gentle.
• Teach your child to be gentle with pets.
• Teach your child never to approach a strange animal.
• Remember, all animals bite and scratch, no matter how loving.  Usually, the bigger the animal, the worse the bite.
• Ask your veterinarian about what type of pet to get. 

Sun

Baby skin is not meant to be in direct sunlight.  Protect your child from the sun, and start teaching your toddler smart sun sense when she is young.  This will help keep her protected from the sun’s powerful rays for the rest of her life.

• Never put sunscreen on an infant less than 6 months old.  Instead, cover the baby’s skin thoroughly with clothes, hat, and umbrella. 
• For children 6 months and older, use sunscreen without PABA.  Have your child wear sunglasses with 99-100% UV protection. 
• Wear a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses yourself, and your child will learn to imitate you.
• Teach your child never to look directly at the sun.