Most injuries that occur in young children are avoidable and happen in the home where they spend most of their time. Young children are curious and like to explore their environment but they are unable to identify hazards on their own.
Think about what your child is able to do. Can he or she roll over, crawl, or walk.
Think about what can hurt your child now. Can they roll off furniture, climb out a window, or reach for a pot of boiling water on the stove?
Think about what you can do to keep your child safe. For example, once your child can climb out of his or her crib on their own, move them to an infant bed to prevent a fall.
Safe sleep |
Knowing the facts about safe sleep will help to reduce the risks of sudden unexpected deaths. |
Burns and scalds |
Burns are the third leading cause of hospitalization in children 0 to 4 years of age in Canada. To prevent burns in the kitchen:
To prevent burns in the bathroom:
To prevent burns with lighters, matches, and candles:
To prevent burns from fireplaces:
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Alcohol, drugs, and poisoning |
PoisoningPoisoning happens when something is swallowed that makes a person sick. Poisoning is the second leading cause of hospitalization in children 0 to 4 years of age. To prevent poisoning in your home:
If you suspect your child has been poisoned, call the Ontario Poison Centre, 24 hours a day at 1-800-268-9017. If your child stops breathing, collapses, has a seizure, is unconscious or unresponsive, call 911 right away. Cannabis safety around young children at homeCannabis smoke, plants, resin, joints, and edibles can be harmful to the health of children in your home. Cannabis poisoning in childrenDue to their size, children can experience more intense ‘highs’ and negative reactions to the chemicals in cannabis compared to adults. Common signs of cannabis poisoning include:
If you suspect your child has been poisoned with cannabis, call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017, 24 hours a day at 1-800-268-9017. If you notice any of the cannabis poisoning signs or if your child stops breathing, collapses, has a seizure, is unconscious or unresponsive, call 911 right away. Cannabis exposureThere are many ways in which children at home can come in contact with cannabis, including:
Safety precautionsStorage
Consumption
Safe disposal
Communication
Emergencies
Education
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Drowning |
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths among Canadian children under 10 years of age. Infants and young children under 5 years are especially at risk in the bathtub. A child can drown in as little as 10 seconds. To prevent drowning:
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Choking and suffocation |
Babies are curious and put almost everything in their mouth. Follow these simple steps to help keep your baby safe from choking:
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Falls |
Falls are the leading cause of hospitalization in children 0 to 4 years of age. Infants and young children fall for different reasons depending on their age and stage of development. To prevent falls:
Falls often happen from household items, so watch your child when they are playing and keep your child's environment free of items that they may trip and fall on. |
Furniture |
When your child is able to walk, they begin to explore their environment, climbing, and jumping on furniture. To keep your child safe it is important to:
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Carriers and slings |
Choose a carrier that fits your baby, and learn how to correctly use the cling or carrier to help keep your baby safe. Follow these Health Canada safety tips:
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Stairs |
Once your child can wiggle, walk, or crawl they can easily get to the stairs. Install wall mounted safety gates at the bottom and top of the stairs. When your child is able to climb over the gate it is no longer safe. Remove the gates and teach your child how to walk up and down the stairs using the hand rail. |
Windows |
Screens will not act as a barrier to keep your child from falling out of a window. Use window locks and guards to prevent windows from opening too far, and your child from falling out. |
Playground and outdoor safety |
Playgrounds can be a great place for children to be active, develop important skills, use their imaginations and make friends! By encouraging a few simple safety rules, your child can learn how to play safely. For more information on playground safety, visit Parachute Canada. |