Dr. Koality Care Shares Helpful Tips to Prevent Pediatric Injuries

Children are naturally curious and energetic, which means they are prone to bumps, cuts, bruises and sometimes more serious injuries. For parents, it’s important to create a protective home environment while also teaching kids how to navigate the world as safely as possible. Midwest Express Clinic’s in-house pediatric health expert, Dr. Koality Care, offers some key strategies to help parents keep kids safe from injury.

Create A Safe Home Environment

The first step in preventing pediatric injuries is to ensure your home is a safe space for children to play and thrive. Here are some helpful tips for creating an injury-free living space for your child.

• Babyproofing: For infants and toddlers, use safety gates on stairs and make sure all heavy furniture is secured to the wall to prevent tipping. To prevent electricity-related injuries, it’s recommended to cover all electrical outlets in the home.
• Kitchen safety: Keep sharp objects, cleaning supplies and hot liquids out of your child’s reach. Use back burners on the stove and turn pot handles inward to prevent burns.
• Bathroom safety: Never leave young children unattended in the bath. Use nonslip mats in the tub and shower to prevent falls. Make sure that medications and cleaning products are locked away and not accessible to your child.
• Window safety: Install window guards and stops to prevent falls. It is also important to keep furniture away from windows to discourage your child from climbing on it and potentially injuring themselves.

Encourage Safe Playtime Practices

Play is vital for your child’s growth and development, but it’s crucial to take steps to ensure their playtime is as safe as possible. Dr. Koality Care highlights that the most important rule is to ensure that young children are always supervised during playtime. Adult supervision is especially important when your kids are using playground equipment or playing around water. It’s also strongly encouraged to choose toys that are suitable for your child’s age and avoid those with small parts for young children, as they are a choking hazard.

If your child is riding a bike, skateboard or scooter, ensure that they always wear protective gear such as a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. The same goes for when they are playing sports. Protective gear plays a significant role in preventing common sports-related injuries like sprains, strains and dislocations, as well as more severe injuries such as bone fractures and concussions.

Teach Safety Awareness

Here are some tips for teaching your child how to keep themselves safe from harm.

• Road safety: Teach your child to look both ways before crossing the street and show them proper crosswalk etiquette and how to understand traffic signals.
• Stranger danger: Educate your child about the dangers of talking to strangers and the importance of staying with a parent or trusted adult in public spaces.
• Emergency preparedness: Make sure your child knows their full name, home address and a parent’s phone number in the event of an emergency. Show your child how to call 911 and ensure they know what constitutes an emergency situation that requires it.

Promote Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Safe Behavior

Promoting these habits to your child can play an important part in reducing the risk of injury. A balanced diet supports the development of strong bones and muscles, which helps mitigate the risk of injuries from falls and other accidents. Regular physical activity improves coordination, balance and overall fitness, which can help prevent injuries during play and sports. Practicing good sleep hygiene results in a well-rested child who is more alert and less likely to have accidents.

To foster good habits and safety awareness in your child, it’s important to practice safe behavior in your day-to-day activities. Dr. Koality Care encourages parents to always wear a seat belt in the car, whether you are the driver or a passenger. Check that your child is in the correct car seat or booster seat for their age, height and weight. Demonstrating safe practices like wearing helmets when biking and using handrails on stairs can make a large impact on your child’s safety awareness and behavior as they age. In the event of a hazardous situation or emergency, it’s essential to remain calm and be cautious. This shows your child how to handle hazardous scenarios, which can further have an impact on their developing safety awareness and behavior.

Dr. Koality Care Is Here for All Your Pediatric Urgent Care Needs

With 50+ locations open daily across Northwest Indiana and Illinois, the Midwest Express Clinic team is here to care for your child’s non-emergency health needs. From injury care to school and sports physicals, find urgent care that fits your schedule at midwestexpressclinic.com/locations.